PPI Jumps Again, CPI Up Next

The US Dollar has come under fresh selling pressure on Wednesday, despite hotter-than-forecast PPI data yesterday and hawkish comments from Fed chairman Powell. April PPI was seen topping forecasts at 0.5% on both core and headline readings, up from -0.1% prior in both readings, above forecasts for 0.2% and 0.3% respectively.  The key now will be in seeing whether producers passed these rising costs onto producers in today’s CPI release. The annualised figure is expected to cool slightly to 3.4% from 3.5% prior. However, on the back of yesterday’s figures, there are clear upside risks for today’s data.

Powell Warns Restrictive Rates Needed for Longer

Speaking yesterday, Fed chairman Powell admitted that inflation was taking longer to return to target than many in the Fed expected. With inflation still elevated, the Fed chief warned that rates would need to stay at current restrictive levels for longer in order to ensure inflation travels back to target. Powell downplayed speculation that the Fed might even need to hike again but warned that the bank will need to be patient with rates at current levels.

Dovish Bias Remains

Commenting on the PPI data, Powell referred to the report as mixed, highlighting some components of the data which had eased, including downward prior revisions. Powell comments were seen as further evidence of the dovish bias within the Fed, partly explaining the decline we’ve seen in DXY on the back of the data. All eyes will now be on CPI today. Any undershooting of forecasts will clearly feed into a sharply lower Dollar while any upside surprises will be more difficult for markets to digest.

Technical Views

DXY

The index is once again testing support at the 104.95 level. With momentum studies bearish, focus is on a continuation lower and a test of the bull channel lows next, which bulls will need to defend to prevent a test of deeper support at the 103.48 level thereafter.