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Analysts at Rabobank are expecting the Bank of Canada (BoC) to leave the policy rate unchanged at 1.75% on Wednesday, 4th September.

• “CAD OIS implies less than 10% chance of a cut.
• We maintain the view that the Bank of Canada is reticent to cut rates but will be forced to as a result of external headwinds and a weak domestic backdrop when looking below the headline numbers which paint a somewhat misleadingly robust picture.
• We now expect the BoC to begin its easing cycle with a 25bp cut in January before taking rates down to 0.50% by the end of 2020.”

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that construction spending edged up 0.1 percent m-o-m in July after a revised 0.7 percent m-o-m drop in June (originally a 1.3 percent m-o-m decline).

Economists had forecast construction spending increasing 0.3 percent m-o-m in July.

According to the report, investment in public construction increased 0.4 percent m-o-m, while spending on private construction fell 0.1 percent m-o-m.

On a y-o-y basis, construction spending declined 2.7 percent in July.

U.S. manufacturing activity contracts in August - ISM

A report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed on Tuesday the U.S. manufacturing sector’s activity contracted in August.

The ISM's index of manufacturing activity came in at 49.1 percent last month, down 2.1 percentage points from the July reading of 51.2 percent, and missed economists' forecast for a 51.1 percent reading.

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 percent indicates contraction.

According to the report, the Employment Index registered 47.4 percent, a fall of 4.3 percentage points from the July reading, while the New Orders Index stood at 47.2 percent, a drop of 3.6 percentage points from the July reading, and the Production Index came in at 49.5 percent, down 1.3-percentage point from July. At the same time, the Inventories Index was at 49.9 percent, up 0.4 percentage point from July and the Prices Index reached 46 percent, a 0.9-percentage point increase from July.

Timothy R. Fiore, Chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee said, “The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the PMI for August (49.1 percent) corresponds to a 1.8-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis."

• Many also support QE, but opposition from some northern states complicates discussion
• Any ECB rate cut is likely to be accompanied by tearing
• New ECB guidance will emphasize conditions needed for rate lift-off, deemphasized date component
• Discussion about ECB stimulus package open, ongoing, no decision made

U.S. stock-index futures fell on Tuesday, as trade concerns increased again after the U.S. and China began imposing new tariffs on one another’s goods.

Global Stocks:

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Snap (SNAP) upgraded to Outperform from In-line at Evercore ISI

Amazon (AMZN) target was raised to $2600 from $2250 at RBC Capital Markets

• Hopes two sides seek common ground while setting aside differences
• Hopes the issues can be solved with mutual respect

• We have the lawmakers to support it, we expect Labour MPs to back it
• Our priority remains to stop a no-deal Brexit
• Сould call no-confidence vote when time is right

• Application for the Brexit emergency debate will follow after today's statements in parliament

Rabobank's analysts say that today’s main economic data release is the ISM manufacturing index for August, which is the longest running PMI for the U.S. and is seen as an important indicator of the U.S. business cycle.

• “After peaking at 60.8 in August last year the index has fallen to 51.2 in July. The Bloomberg consensus expectation is for the index to remain unchanged. However, the preliminary estimate for the ISM’s lesser-known alternative, the Markit US manufacturing PMI, already dropped below the neutral level of 50 in August, to 49.9. Today also sees the final estimate for this index in August.
• The Bloomberg consensus is 50.0. What is clear from both surveys is that the US manufacturing sector has come to a standstill, most likely because of the global economic slowdown and the uncertainty about international trade policy.”

FX Strategists at UOB Group notes the USD/JPY is seen keeping the broader consolidative theme in the next week.

• "24-hour view: Expectation for USD to “test 105.80 first before stabilizing” did not materialize as USD traded in a relatively quiet manner. The current movement is viewed as part of consolidation and USD is likely to trade sideways for today, expected to be within a 105.90/106.40 range.
• Next 1-3 weeks: USD surrendered some of Thursday’s gain as it closed lower by -0.19% (106.29) last Friday (30 Aug). The price action offers no fresh clues and we continue to expect USD to “trade sideways and within a broad range” for now. In other words, the outlook remains mixed and USD trade between 105.00 and 107.00 for a while more."

• The Speaker, John Bercow, will consider the motion later today
• If successful, the debate takes precedence over today's scheduled business under Standing Order 24

• Working assumption is that Brexit happens on 31 October
• No-deal Brexit is a distinct possibility, but remains a scenario we don't want
• Whenever there is progress in technical talks to be announced, we will announce it
• But still needs concrete proposals to replace backstop

Karen Jones, the analyst at Commerzbank, suggests that USD/JPY has recently sold off to and reversed from the 104.55/10 January low and the 2013-2019 uptrend and this support is reinforced by the 200-month ma at 104.44 and this should act as a near term floor for the market.

• “It has now also eroded the 20-day ma and we would allow for further gains to the 107.21 18th July low. A recovery above here is needed to alleviate immediate downside pressure. This guards the 108.99/109.32 recent highs.
• Failure at 104.10 would target 99.00 the 2016-low, but for now, we would allow for consolidation and look for the market to hold at circa 104.50/10.”

Analysts at ANZ note that after the release of key partial indicators of Australian economy this week, they are expecting a growth in GDP of 0.5% q/q in Q2, which would see annual growth edge down to 1.4% which would be the slowest pace since the GST.

• “This is a slightly better outcome than we thought last week. The main new pieces of information since our preliminary forecast last week are stronger government spending, net exports and profits, which more than offset the weakness in inventories.”

Analysts at TD Securities note that this month's RBA Statement reads as pretty much a copy of last month's statement.

• “For now, the RBA is keeping the faith that growth is expected to pick up, which is what they said last month and they repeated that domestic consumption outlook remains uncertain, which we will only get some more clarity on when GDP is published tomorrow.
• As such, the RBA kept room to ease monetary policy further 'if needed'. While the RBA is in no perceived rush to cut given commentary from RBA Gov ("gentle turning point) and Assistant Gov Kent stating that financial conditions should ease, the mkt will look to tomorrow's read on private consumption in GDP to validate and confirm the RBA's view.”

Danske Bank's analysts note that Bloomberg reports the U.S. and China are struggling to get a face-to-face meeting in place in September, as the new round of tariffs imposed on Sunday is hurting trust between the two sides.

• “Washington did not meet a Chinese request to delay the tariff hike on 1 September. The fact that the two sides struggle to agree even on the conditions for a new meeting is in our view indicative of how far the two sides are from each other despite US President Donald Trump's frequent messages that the talks are going fine.
• Trust may have been hampered further by Trump referring to a call from Beijing negotiators that apparently never took place. For now, the correspondence is in our view more a matter of damage control and avoiding further escalation than getting any closer to a deal.”

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), reported on Tuesday that industrial producer prices in the Eurozone rose by 0.2 percent m-o-m in July, following an unrevised 0.6 decrease m-o-m in June.

In y-o-y terms, industrial producer prices rose by 0.2 percent, following an unrevised 0.7 percent increase in June. The figure was the lowest since November 2016.

Economists had forecast the Eurozone’s industrial producer prices in June would increase 0.2 percent both in m-o-m y-o-y terms.

According to the report, the July increase was due to gains in the energy sector (+1.0 percent m-o-m and for capital goods (+0.1 percent m-o-m), which, however, were partially offset by decline in prices for intermediate goods (-0.3 percent m-o-m). Meanwhile, prices for durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods were stable. Prices in total industry excluding energy fell by 0.1 percent m-o-m.

The annual growth in industrial producer prices was underpinned by increases in prices for capital goods (+1.5 percent y-o-y), for durable consumer goods (+1.4 percent y-o-y) and for non-durable consumer goods (+1.0 percent y-o-y). These gains, however, were partially offset by decreases in prices in the energy sector (-1.7 percent y-o-y) and for intermediate goods (-0.2 percent y-o-y). Prices in total industry excluding energy rose by 0.6 percent y-o-y.

ANZ analysts note that Australia's retail sales dropped by 0.1% in July and the negative result suggests that it is too early to see the effects of tax cuts, the earliest of which would have been received in mid-July.

• “Sales went backwards in a number of non-food categories, including recreation goods, clothing, dining out and furniture/homewares. This suggests that households are delaying non-essential purchases – partially due to squeezed budgets and partially in anticipation of receiving the tax cuts in late July/August.
• We expect to see stronger retail growth in August, as substantial tax cut refunds are received and spent. Our recent insight has more detail on how tax cuts spur on household spending.
• Annual growth fell to 2.4%. This is the lowest annual growth result since January 2018, and we have only seen lower growth five times in the last five years.”

The report from IHS Markit and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) showed that activity in the construction sector of the UK’s economy in August declined for the fourth consecutive month and at a slightly steeper rate than in July.

According to the report, the Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the UK’s construction sector fell to 45.0 in August from an unrevised 45.3 in July.

Economists had forecast the indicator to increase to 45.9. The 50 mark divides contraction and expansion.

According to the report, the new work recorded the sharpest reduction since March 2009. However, despite a sustained reduction in new orders, employment trends were relatively resilient during August. The latest survey pointed to only a marginal decline in staffing levels, with the rate of decline the slowest since the downturn in payroll numbers began in April. Meanwhile, business optimism slid for the second month running in August, with the degree of positive sentiment the weakest since December 2008. On the price front, input cost inflation moderated to its lowest since March 2016.

Tim Moore, Economics Associate Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, noted: “Domestic political uncertainty continued to hold back the UK construction sector in August, with survey respondents indicating that delays to spending decisions had contributed to the sharpest fall new work for over 10 years.”

Bill Evans, an analyst at Westpac, notes that the RBA Board kept the cash rate on hold for another month and retained the theme that rates can be cut “if needed”.

• “We think that case has already been made and expect that to be recognized at the October meeting.
• General commentary in the decision statement is very similar to the August decision statement. The most important changes are to be somewhat guarded on housing markets, “further signs of a turnaround in established housing markets”, but to also point out that construction activity has weakened.
• There is also less apparent confidence in the growth and unemployment forecasts. The 2½ percent forecast for GDP growth in 2019, which was explicitly noted in August, was not mentioned, although the expected return to trend growth “over the next couple of years” is noted.
• With less confidence around the economic forecasts and recognition about the weakening activity in the residential construction sector, this decision statement is marginally more downbeat than the statement in August.
• With the emphasis consistently on the labour market in both statements, the monthly employment reports remain important. However, other factors are also key to the October decision.”

• U.S. should stop abusing concept of national security

Analysts at Danske Bank note that focus is again on Brexit with the UK House of Commons returning to the session and it looks like we are heading for a snap election sooner than expected.

• “Today there will be an emergency debate on a bill trying to force PM Johnson to ask and accept another Brexit extension until 31 January in case no deal is reached no later than at the EU summit 17-18 October. A government official has said PM Johnson will start the process for 14 October general election if he loses the vote (needs two-third majority). PM Johnson will make a public statement at 19:00 CEST.
• A key economic release today is the US ISM manufacturing survey for August. Weighted regional PMIs suggest that ISM manufacturing is set to come in stronger, but Markit PMI suggests a decline. We expect ISM manufacturing to fall slightly to 50.8 but given the mixed signals it is not a high conviction call.
• The ISM survey is one out of a few important gauges for Fed policymakers ahead of the crucial September meeting in two weeks. Tonight we will hear Fed's Rosengren's (voter, hawk, dissented first cut) views on the US economy and Fed policy.”

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reported on Tuesday the Swiss Consumer Price Index (CPI) was flat m-o-m in August at 102.1 points (December 2015 = 100).

Economists had expected the CPI would edge down 0.1 percent m-o-m, following a 0.5 percent m-o-m drop in July.

In y-o-y terms, the CPI rose 0.3 percent in August, the same pace as in the previous month. That matched economists’ forecast.

According to the report, airfares (-10.7 percent m-o-m) as well as prices for international package holidays (-1.6 percent m-o-m) and in-patient hospital services (-1.0 percent m-o-m) declined. In contrast, prices for clothing and footwear (+0.3 percent m-o-m), and housing rental (+0.3 percent m-o-m) increased.

The Swiss Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) stood at 101.94 points (base 2015 = 100). This corresponds to a rate of change of +0.1 percent m-o-m and of +0.5 percent y-o-y.

• There will not be another Brexit extension
• We are showing Europe the detail of our plans on the backstop
• The handbrake is the lingering sense in Brussels that parliament will cancel Brexit

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on Tuesday that Australia’s current account turned to a surplus of AUD5.85 billion in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a revised AUD1.12 billion gap in the prior quarter. That was Australia's first current account surplus since the second quarter of 1975.

Economist forecast a surplus of AUD1.4 billion.

According to the ABS report, the goods and services surplus surged 34 percent q-o-q to AUD19.90 billion, while the primary income gap narrowed by 10 percent q-o-q to AUD13.93 billion and the secondary income deficit fell by 74 percent q-o-q to AUD 0.12 billion.

Australia's net international investment position was $1.00 trillion at June 30, up from the revised March 31 position of $992.3 billion. Its net foreign debt liability position increased 2 percent q-o-q to AUD1.14 trillion, while its net foreign equity asset position rose 8 q-o-q to AUD141.90 billion.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.00 percent at its September monetary policy meeting. The move was widely expected by the markets.

In its statement accompanying the decision, the regulator noted it will ease monetary policy further if needed to support sustainable growth in the economy and the achievement of the inflation target over time. It also added that “it is reasonable to expect that an extended period of low interest rates will be required in Australia to make progress in reducing unemployment and achieve more assured progress towards the inflation target”.

According to the RBA, “the outlook for the global economy remains reasonable, although the risks are tilted to the downside”. In regard to outlook on Australia, the growth “is expected to strengthen gradually to be around trend over the next couple of years”, supported by the low level of interest rates, recent tax cuts, ongoing spending on infrastructure, signs of stabilization in some established housing markets and a brighter outlook for the resources sector. However, “the main domestic uncertainty continues to be the outlook for consumption”, the bank added. The Australian central bank also noted that “the Australian dollar is at its lowest level of recent times”, while “wages growth remains subdued and there is little upward pressure at present, with strong labour demand being met by more supply”. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on Tuesday that Australia’s retail sales edged down 0.1 percent m-o-m in July, following an unrevised 0.4 percent m-o-m advance in June. That was the first monthly drop in retail sales since April.

Economists had forecast retail sales would increase 0.2 percent m-o-m in July.

According to the ABS, there were declines in four of the six industries, with cafes, restaurants and takeaway services (-0.6 percent m-o-m) leading the falls. There were also decreases in Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-1.0 percent m-o-m), Other retailing (-0.4 percent m-o-m) and Department stores (-0.2 percent m-o-m). Meanwhile, Food retailing (+0.3 percent m-o-m) and Household goods retailing (+0.1 percent m-o-m) posted gains in July.