✈️ Download our latest Travel Playbook here. Unravelling the complexities of the travel industry in a globalised world. 🗺️

US economy grows at fastest pace in two years in Q2

  • Go back to blog home
  • All posts
    All posts|Currency Updates
    All posts|Currency Updates|International Trade
    All posts|International Trade
    Blog
    Central Bank Meetings
    Charities & NGOs
    Currency Updates
    Currency Updates|In The News
    Ecommerce
    Fraud
    FX 101
    In The News
    International Trade
    Podcast
    Press Release
    Product Update
    Security & Fraud
    Special FX Reports
    Special Report
    Weekly Market Update
  • Latest

31 August 2017

Written by
Matthew Ryan

Senior Market Analyst at Ebury. Providing expert currency analysis so small and mid-sized businesses can effectively navigate international markets.

The Dollar regained ground against its major peers on Wednesday after revised GDP data out of the US comfortably exceeded expectations in the second quarter.

T
he US economy grew by an impressive 3.0% annualised in the three months to June, way above the previous 2.6% estimate and its fastest pace of growth in more than two years. This will be welcome news to Dollar bulls and could encourage the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at a faster pace than the market is currently pricing in. There is clearly still a significant divergence between the rate at which the market is pricing in higher rates in the US, and that of FOMC member projections (Figure 1).

Figure 1: FOMC June Dot Plot vs. OIS Curve (2017 – 2019)

Moreover, yesterday’s ADP employment change number continued to suggest that the US labour market is performing well and at a level that is suitable for higher interest rates. The private sector of the US economy added 237,000 jobs in August, another massive beat on the 185,000 consensus.

While there is not a direct correlation between the ADP number and Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report, it bodes well for a strong number tomorrow which could reignite another wave of buying pressure in the greenback. Today’s PCE index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of consumer inflation, will also be worth looking out for.

Draghi wary of common currency strength?

The Euro’s rally lost steam on Wednesday with investors potentially wary that the rapid appreciation in the currency may be coming to an end. Traders are beginning to speculate that President of the ECB Mario Draghi may be growth concerned about the single currency’s strength, given its negative effect on the competitiveness of European exports.

News out of the currency bloc yesterday was actually fairly encouraging, although almost completely dismissed by investors. Economic sentiment increased to its highest level in a decade this month according to the European Commission. The monthly index rose to 111.9 from a revised 111.3.

Economic data comes thick and fast in the Eurozone this week with the month unemployment and inflation numbers this morning likely to prove a market mover if we see any sort of positive or negative surprise. Headline inflation is expected to have ticked upwards to 1.4% in the year to August, with the jobless rate forecast to remain unchanged at 9.1%.

Sterling nurses losses ahead of PMI data

The Pound had a mixed session yesterday, although retraced some of its losses against the Euro after falling to an eleven month low. With Brexit talks ongoing and no significant developments on that front, Sterling was largely driven by events elsewhere.

Barring any news out of this week’s negotiations we think the Pound will continue to be driven by developments abroad ahead of tomorrow morning’s manufacturing PMI.

SHARE