The US dollar begun a moderate recovery, with the dollar index (USDX) adding around 0.09% to 0.14% to its value daily since Friday. Investors appear to stay on the sidelines ahead of a key report that could weigh heavily on the Fed’s future monetary policy decisions. The PCE price index data, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, is due on Friday, and could offer more cues on interest rates while inflation is still trending well above the Fed's 2% annual target.
According to the CME's FedWatch, the market is pricing in a 50.9% probability of a 0.25% rate cut in November. Bets for a 50 bps rate currently stand at 49.1%.
Wall Street's primary indices closed moderately higher on Monday, still hovering near record levels in a rather quiet session and ahead of a slew of more signals from the Federal Reserve this week. For the remainder of the week, price action could be driven key inflation data due on Friday and speeches from Fed officials and members of the rate-setting committee. The most notable speech is that of Fed chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday.
Oil prices traded moderately lower on Monday, with the two primary crude oil benchmarks WTI and Brent, down by 0.57% and 0.28% respectively amid a series of mixed readings on business activity from across the globe. Mixed PMI readings from the U.S., the euro zone, and Japan, had markets worry over a potential slowing of manufacturing activity, that would have a direct impact on crude oil demand.
In other news, data on regional business activity released from the eurozone, raised concerns about the growth outlook in the region. Data showed a major and unexpected contraction this month, with the bloc's decline in manufacturing accelerating. This downturn appears to be broad-based with Germany, Europe's largest economy, seeing its decline deepen. The German Ifo business climate index is due later in the session, and could provide more insight on the matter. Nonetheless, the Germany 40 remains elevated, trading right below record highs, as more stimulus measures were implemented from major export market China, but concerns over the region’s growth outlook have limited the gains.
For Tuesday, some price action could be seen upon the release of consumer confidence data from the US, the Richmond Manufacturing Index and the S&P/CS Composite House Price Index.