US Dollar Up as Wage Inflation, Biden Stimulus Pledge Drive Fed Outlook

US DOLLAR, PAYROLLS, FED, INFLATION, YIELDS, CHINA CPI - TALKING POINTS:

• US Dollar up as wage inflation uptick, Biden stimulus pledge boost yields
• Steepening yield curve, widening rate spreads speak to Fed outlook shift
• Weak Chinese CPI data may moderate risk-off tilt in Asia-Pacific trade

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The US Dollar rose in the wake of December’s labor market report on Friday. While the headline payrolls print disappointed, showing the economy shed 140,000 jobs last month instead of adding 71,000 as projected by economists, wage inflation unexpectedly spiked to a seven-month high of 5.1 percent on-year.

Tellingly, the markets responded to the release with what seemed like a shift away from dovish extremes on Fed policy expectations. The slope of the US Treasury yield curve (10y-2y) steepened alongside the spread between the benchmark US 10 year yield and an average of major alternatives. Gold prices sank.

Traders may have reasoned that incoming fiscal stimulus will underpin employment – making December’s payrolls print somewhat dated – while price growth might only accelerate further. This could more definitively bury the prospects for additional monetary accommodation, at least in the near term.

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Wall Street struggled against this backdrop but shares roared higher into the close as President-elect Biden pledged to lay out plans for another fiscal stimulus boost Thursday this week. Upbeat comments from Fed Vice Chair Clarida talking up scope for recovery in 2021 probably helped as well.

SOFT CHINESE INFLATION DATA MAY CHEER DOWNBEAT FINANCIAL MARKETS

That burst of optimism does not appear to be carrying over into early Asia-Pacific trade as markets return from the weekend. Bellwether S&P 500 futures are pointing lower and Australia’s ASX 200 has started the day on the defensive. Rising yields may well be the culprit. Japan is closed for a holiday.

December’s Chinese CPI data headlines a barebones economic calendar. The on-year inflation rate is seen registering flat (0.0%), marking a cautious recovery from November’s -0.5% contraction. Recent price growth readings have tended to surprise to the downside, warning more of the same may be ahead.

Markets might cheer a lower-than-expected CPI print if it materializes, moderating risk-off pressure. Investors may reckon that such a result gives the PBOC more room to expand its own stimulus efforts, particularly as financial conditions in the world’s number-two economy appear somewhat restrictive.

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--- Written by Ilya Spivak, Head APAC Strategist for DailyFX.com

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January 11, 2021 at 01:07PM
Ilya Spivak
https://www.dailyfx.com/forex/fundamental/daily_briefing/daily_pieces/asia_am_briefing/2021/01/11/US-Dollar-Up-as-Rising-Yields-Signal-Supportive-Fed-Outlook-Shift.html