Founder

Olivier Desbarres

Exacting. Excellent. Exceeding. Exemplary.

4X Global Research

4X Global Research was founded in 2017 to provide institutional and corporate clients with the substantive research, high-quality analysis and thoughtful insight on Emerging and G20 economies and financial markets they need to make informed and timely decisions and gain an edge in their investments.

FX & Rates

Global FX volatility – as measured by the 5-day Standard Deviation (SD) in the daily percentage change in the spot (closing) price of a turnover-weighted basket of 32 major currency pairs against the US Dollar – remains depressed by historical standards.While global FX volatility rose slightly on 11th August to about 0.32 SD following the release of US CPI-inflation data, it is still well below its level one month ago (0.43 SD) and 10-year average (0.47 SD). Notably global FX volatility is at a similar level (0.30 SD) as it was in the run-up to the 16th June Fed meeting and release of a more hawkish FOMC “<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcprojtabl20210616.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dot-chart</a>”.Volatility versus the US Dollar in most of these 32 developed and EM currencies has either fallen in the past month from already modest levels or been broadly stable. Volatility in the high-yielding Brazilian Real and low-yielding Canadian Dollar, Czech Crown, Norwegian Krone and Hungarian Forint has fallen the most in absolute terms. However, there have been a few notable exceptions, including the Turkish Lira, Thai Baht and Chilean, Colombian and Philippines Pesos.USD/THB volatility has risen further in past month and is now near top end of its admittedly narrow 12-month range. The Baht has been choppy against a strong US Dollar, resulting in the Baht NEER appreciating 1.4% since the multi-year low recorded on 6th August.GBP/EUR volatility is currently at its lowest level since early June. Sterling’s appreciation against the Euro has been slow and steady, in line with our expectations. Volatility in global FX (and the S&amp;P 500) also remains very modest compared to volatility in other asset classes, notably US Treasuries and Brent crude oil (see Figure 5). Most of the price action has been in the US rates market in recent months, perhaps unsurprisingly given protracted debate about the timeline for Fed tapering and rate hikes.There are a number of factors behind this low transmission from US rates to Dollar crosses and equities but, as was the case in late-2019, FX markets are ultimately pricing in very little risk of policy, macro data or geopolitical surprises, in our view.

Global FX volatility – as measured by the 5-day Standard Deviation (SD) in the daily percentage change in the spot (closing) price of a turnover-weighted basket of 32 major currency pairs against the US Dollar – remains depressed by historical standards.While global FX volatility rose slightly on 11th August to about 0.32 SD following the release of US CPI-inflation data, it is still well below its level one month ago (0.43 SD) and 10-year average (0.47 SD). Notably global FX volatility is at a similar level (0.30 SD) as it was in the run-up to the 16th June Fed meeting and release of a more hawkish FOMC “dot-chart”.Volatility versus the US Dollar in most of these 32 developed and EM currencies has either fallen in the past month from already modest levels or been broadly stable. Volatility in the high-yielding Brazilian Real and low-yielding Canadian Dollar, Czech Crown, Norwegian Krone and Hungarian Forint has fallen the most in absolute terms. However, there have been a few notable exceptions, including the Turkish Lira, Thai Baht and Chilean, Colombian and Philippines Pesos.USD/THB volatility has risen further in past month and is now near top end of its admittedly narrow 12-month range. The Baht has been choppy against a strong US Dollar, resulting in the Baht NEER appreciating 1.4% since the multi-year low recorded on 6th August.GBP/EUR volatility is currently at its lowest level since early June. Sterling’s appreciation against the Euro has been slow and steady, in line with our expectations. Volatility in global FX (and the S&amp;P 500) also remains very modest compared to volatility in other asset classes, notably US Treasuries and Brent crude oil (see Figure 5). Most of the price action has been in the US rates market in recent months, perhaps unsurprisingly given protracted debate about the timeline for Fed tapering and rate hikes.There are a number of factors behind this low transmission from US rates to Dollar crosses and equities but, as was the case in late-2019, FX markets are ultimately pricing in very little risk of policy, macro data or geopolitical surprises, in our view. 

Low Global FX Vol: Maturity or Complacency?

Chief Economist, Heteronomics

Phil Rush

Chief Economist

Heteronomics

Heteronomics represents a different kind of economics. We believe analysis should delve into the details of what is really going on, rather than using overly simplistic assumptions to quick-sell stories. Independence from myopic institutional pressures allows us to focus on the realities underlying your asset allocation decisions, without the conflicts of the old market structures. Heteronomics targets the themes driving UK asset prices, offering the benefits of depth, independence and ultimately price.

UK-centric macro research

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>UK GDP growth in Jun-21 was close to expectations overall. Rapid Q2 growth in the UK is the rebound from output being thrown down so much harder than in other countries. The UK remains a global laggard, albeit to less of an extent as it re-opens.</li>
<li>Food, accommodation and health drove the June rise. Unfortunately, restaurant bookings and vaccinations rates dropped in July, which should unwind this support. Most other sectors are only limping up from still depressed levels.</li>
<li>The relatively hawkish BoE was at peak optimism on 5 August, in our view. We see the disappointment of its forecast in Q2 repeating during H2, delaying the first rate hike into 2023. Persistent damage from lockdown and covid seasonality drive that view.</li>
</ul>


UK GDP growth in Jun-21 was close to expectations overall. Rapid Q2 growth in the UK is the rebound from output being thrown down so much harder than in other countries. The UK remains a global laggard, albeit to less of an extent as it re-opens.
Food, accommodation and health drove the June rise. Unfortunately, restaurant bookings and vaccinations rates dropped in July, which should unwind this support. Most other sectors are only limping up from still depressed levels.
The relatively hawkish BoE was at peak optimism on 5 August, in our view. We see the disappointment of its forecast in Q2 repeating during H2, delaying the first rate hike into 2023. Persistent damage from lockdown and covid seasonality drive that view.


US Treasury yields and the Dollar, perhaps unsurprisingly, have risen in the wake of today’s strong US labour market report. However, we think it would be a stretch to argue that markets have “hard-baked” in their view that the Federal Reserve will announce its tapering plans potentially as early as the Jackson Jackson Hole Symposium on 26-28 August. A case perhaps of once bitten twice shy and for good reason in our view.We have been moderately bullish the GBP/EUR cross since late-June and the cross briefly traded above 1.18 this afternoon, its strongest level since February 2020. We maintain a positive outlook in the remainder of Q3. The Kiwi Dollar has been the fourth strongest major currency since the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on 16th June. The Kiwi Dollar NEER has so far in August appreciated about 0.9%, confounding historical patterns which on average in 2010-2019 saw the currency weaken 0.9% in the month of August. However, the currency may not fare quite as well in Q4, in our view – the theme of our next FIRMS report.Conversely, the Thai Baht has underperformed but it’s not just been a tourism issue.

US Treasury yields and the Dollar, perhaps unsurprisingly, have risen in the wake of today’s strong US labour market report. However, we think it would be a stretch to argue that markets have “hard-baked” in their view that the Federal Reserve will announce its tapering plans potentially as early as the Jackson Jackson Hole Symposium on 26-28 August. A case perhaps of once bitten twice shy and for good reason in our view.We have been moderately bullish the GBP/EUR cross since late-June and the cross briefly traded above 1.18 this afternoon, its strongest level since February 2020. We maintain a positive outlook in the remainder of Q3. The Kiwi Dollar has been the fourth strongest major currency since the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on 16th June. The Kiwi Dollar NEER has so far in August appreciated about 0.9%, confounding historical patterns which on average in 2010-2019 saw the currency weaken 0.9% in the month of August. However, the currency may not fare quite as well in Q4, in our view – the theme of our next FIRMS report.Conversely, the Thai Baht has underperformed but it’s not just been a tourism issue.

<ul>
<li>The mix of UK retail sales in Jun-21 made the outcome a disappointment, despite dull headlines. Food sales offset widespread declines in opposition to the desired unwinding of retail’s rotation. The failure to normalise threatens the recovery’s extent.</li>
<li>Rising infections are fuelling a broader surge in disrupted behaviours. Several hundred thousand people are legally required to isolate with guidance and school closures afflicting double that again. We still expect the recovery to disappoint in H2.</li>
</ul>


The mix of UK retail sales in Jun-21 made the outcome a disappointment, despite dull headlines. Food sales offset widespread declines in opposition to the desired unwinding of retail’s rotation. The failure to normalise threatens the recovery’s extent.
Rising infections are fuelling a broader surge in disrupted behaviours. Several hundred thousand people are legally required to isolate with guidance and school closures afflicting double that again. We still expect the recovery to disappoint in H2.


UK: Retail Gorges on Failing Normalisation

<ul>
<li>The BoE has become more concerned about the size of its gilt holdings reducing future policy options: there is less to buy and more uncomfortable fiscal-monetary linkages.</li>
<li>Balance sheet problems can unwind by swapping the BoE’s gilt portfolio for T-Bills with the Debt Management Account. Undesirable linkages would break immediately as monetary and issuance functions are strengthened in their natural institutions.</li>
<li>Recycling these swapped gilts to the market instead of new gilt issuance would entirely normalise monetary policy space, intra-public sector linkages, and the tradeable free float by 2025-26. The BoE needs to innovate in its ongoing review of this, in our view.</li>
</ul>


The BoE has become more concerned about the size of its gilt holdings reducing future policy options: there is less to buy and more uncomfortable fiscal-monetary linkages.
Balance sheet problems can unwind by swapping the BoE’s gilt portfolio for T-Bills with the Debt Management Account. Undesirable linkages would break immediately as monetary and issuance functions are strengthened in their natural institutions.
Recycling these swapped gilts to the market instead of new gilt issuance would entirely normalise monetary policy space, intra-public sector linkages, and the tradeable free float by 2025-26. The BoE needs to innovate in its ongoing review of this, in our view.


United Kingdom

The British Pound Sterling is the official currency of The United Kingdom. 

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Low Global FX Vol: Maturity or Complacency?

Global FX vol is low by historical standards and relative to vol in US Treasuries, and for good resason. But FX markets are pricing in very little...

Olivier Desbarres

UK: Rebound Passed Peak Pace

Rapid Q2 growth in the UK is the rebound from output being thrown down so much harder than in other countries. Disappointment of the BoE's forecast...

Phil Rush

FX Focus: USD, GBP, NZD and THB

US yields and USD have risen following strong US labour mkt report but still not clear markets expect Fed to announce tapering plans in coming...

Olivier Desbarres

UK: Retail Gorges on Failing Normalisation

Food sales offset widespread declines in opposition to the desired unwinding of retail’s rotation. Failure to normalise threatens the recovery’s...

Phil Rush

BoE: How to Unwind QE Concerns

Balance sheet problems can unwind by swapping the BoE’s gilts for T-Bills with the Debt Management Account. Undesirable linkages would break...

Phil Rush

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