USDJPY, H1
Another mixed set of US data today, with the Weekly Claims once again falling but just as importantly missing expectations. Durable Goods were a positive beat but the advance goods trade deficit widened and the final reading of Q1 GDP remained unmoved at -5.0%.
US initial jobless claims fell -60,000 to 1,480,000 in the week ended June 20 following the disappointing small -26,000 drop to 1,540,000 (was 1,508,000) in the June 13 week which also coincided with the BLS survey period. This is a 12th straight decline in claims after the record surge to the all-time high of 6,867,000 in the March 27 week. The 4-week moving average continued to slip and was at 1,620,750 versus 1,781,500 (was 1,773,000). Continuing claims dropped -767,000 to 19,522,000 in the week of June 13 after falling -317,000 to 20,289,000 (was 20,544,000).
US durable goods orders bounced 15.8% in May, a little firmer than expected and the biggest leap since July 2014, following the -18.1% (was -17.7%) plunge in April (the second worst on record) and the -16.7% drop in March. Transportation orders climbed 80.7% after April’s -48.6% (was -47.3%) plunge. Excluding transportation, orders rebounded 4.0% from -8.2% (was -7.7%) previously. Nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft climbed 2.3% from -6.5% (was -6.1%). Shipments were up 4.4% in May from -18.6% (was -18.2%). Nondefense capital goods shipments excluding aircraft rose 1.8% from -6.2% (was -5.7%). Inventories edged up 0.1% versus the prior unchanged reading (was 0.2%).
US Q1 GDP was unrevised at -5.0% in the third look at the data, and compares to -4.8% in the Advance number, and 2.1% in Q4 2019. Personal consumption was down -6.8%, as it was in the second report, and was -7.6% in the Advance, and 1.8% in Q4. Fixed investment was revised up to a -1.3% pace from -2.4% in the second look, and was -0.6% in Q4. Government consumption was bumped up to 1.1% from 0.8% previously and 2.5% in Q4. Inventories subtracted -1.56%, revised down from -0.98%, while net exports added 1.3%, also lowered from 1.5% previously. The GDP chain price index posted a 1.4% rate, as it did in the second look, and was 1.3% in Q4. The core rate rose to 1.7% from 1.6% previously and 1.3% in Q4.
Finally, the US advance goods trade deficit widened to -$74.3 bln in May from -$70.7 bln (was -$69.7 bln). Exports fell -5.8% to $90.1 bln after plunging -25.1% to $95.6 bln in April. Imports dropped -1.2% to $164.4 bln following the -13.6% decline to $166.3 bln previously. Wholesale inventories declined -1.2% to $642.2 from $649.9 bln (was $651.5 bln), with retail inventories dropping -6.1% to $604.5 bln from $643.8 bln (was $644.9 bln).
All of this has taken the shine off the USD recovery today – USDJPY slipped from 107.45 back under R1 at 107.20 and EURUSD moved up from S2 sub-1.1200, to 1.1225. However, both remain on trend from key moves which were initiated yesterday.
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Stuart Cowell
Head Market Analyst
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