FX & Currencies
US Dollar Weekly Outlook (June 1-5)
01 Jun 2015
The US dollar index rallied last week, climbing nearly 2% to 97.00. Dollar pairs could face significant price action this week, as a barrage of economic data ranging from personal spending to nonfarm payrolls make their way through the financial markets. In Europe, consumer inflation data and a rate announcement by the European Central Bank will also pressure the forex market.
Below is a snapshot of the key market moving events for the US dollar this week.
June 1
The Department of Commerce will report on personal income and outlays at the start of the week. Personal income is forecast to rise 0.3% in April, while personal spending is forecast to climb 0.2%. The core PCE price index – the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure – is forecast to rise 0.1%.
Separately, both Markit Group and the Institute for Supply Management will report on US manufacturing PMI. Both indicators are expected to show improvement in May compared to the previous month.
June 2
Eurostat will release May CPI figures for the 19-member euro area. The consumer price index is forecast to rise 0.2% annually in May after registering no growth the previous month. Core CPI is forecast to climb 0.2% annually.
In the United States, the government will report on factory orders. April factory orders are forecast to drop 0.1% following a 2.1% increase the previous month.
June 3
The European Central Bank wraps up its policy meetings on Wednesday with an official statement and press conference. Central bankers are widely expected to hold interest rates at 0.05%.
In the United States, the ADP Institute is expected to announce the creation of 200,000 private payrolls in May, according to economists polled by Bloomberg News. Private payrolls growth was only 169,000 in April.
June 4
The Bank of England will vote on monetary policy in the latter half of the week. The BOE’s decision-making body is expected to vote unanimously in keeping interest rates at a record low of 0.5%.
June 5
The week’s biggest data release comes on Friday when the Department of Labor releases its monthly employment report. Nonfarm payrolls are forecast to rise 220,000 in May, according to the Bloomberg consensus. Economists’ estimates range from 190,000 to 289,000. The unemployment rate is not expected to change, holding steady at 5.4%.
Average hourly earnings are expected to rise modestly, climbing 0.2% in May following a 0.1% gain the previous month.
