Author: Lior Alkalay

Turkish Lira Will Continue To Plunge

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Investors in the Turkish Lira got a whiff of optimism recently following the AKP party’s landslide victory. What’s the reason for the optimism you might ask? It’s that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would now have a stronger hold at the helm. That means the AKP party could conceivably push through much-needed reforms. But the fact is that’s really just wishful thinking. Any strength in the Turkish Lira should be used for selling not buying.

TRY Looking Bearish

Usually, I like to leave the FX charts for dessert, yet sometimes a quick glimpse can better deliver my point. Looking at the chart it becomes clear that the path towards a higher USD/TRY hasn’t budged a bit. Any inkling of optimism was overwhelmed by pessimists looking to get out of the Turkish Lira. So much so in fact that most of the Lira’s gains have already been lost.

Why are short sellers still dominant if reforms are coming? Because even much-needed reforms would take years before they’d have any impact. Meanwhile, the problems for Turkey and the Turkish Lira are imminent. Continue reading "Turkish Lira Will Continue To Plunge" →

The Next FX Play: Long Sterling

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


This week is expected to be a choppy one for the Pound Sterling. On Thursday, the Bank of England is set to publish its quarterly Inflation Report alongside the BoE rate decision. FX investors want to see if, afterward, a more hawkish picture emerges. If that’s the case, Sterling could quickly move higher against its battered peer, the Euro.

What to Watch for in the Inflation Report

Essentially, there are three different points worth watching in next week’s Inflation Report.

• The first are global risks. In August’s Inflation Report, the BoE warned of downside risks to inflation from global weakness. Yet after the Fed dropped its own warning on global risks, the BoE may follow suit. That will, of course, be the first hawkish sign.

• The second would be the risk of imported inflation or, in this case, disinflation. The BoE has justifiably warned of the consequences of a weak Euro. Many UK imports come from the Eurozone, and the Eurozone is a key export destination. Thus, a weak Euro weighs on UK inflation by lowering prices of goods within the UK. If the Bank sees this risk as more muted, that’s a positive sign. Although with chances of additional ECB stimulus increasing it’s hard to see a change to this segment.

• The third would be inflation expectations. Of course, it all does eventually narrow down to inflation expectations. In its past report, the BoE had expected downward inflationary pressures would gradually recede in the second half of the year. Is this scenario still intact? If, over the past quarter the BoE still sees the risk of deflation diminishing, that’s another hawkish arrow. It’s also another sign that the BoE, although at a somewhat slow pace, is moving toward high rates.

Reasons to be Upbeat

Generally, markets are optimistic on the chances of UK inflation stabilizing and the BoE turning more hawkish. The reason is the dissonance between wage gains and inflation. The chart shows that core inflation (which neutralizes seasonal and external factors) has lagged wage growth. Meanwhile, UK retail sales growth has remained robust, growing at 6.5%. This suggests that Britons are earning more and spending more. That, eventually, has to translate into higher inflation. Continue reading "The Next FX Play: Long Sterling" →

Fed Rate Hike Could Come in November

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Once again a Fed rate decision is coming. Yet, unlike the rate decision in September, investors are at ease. Recently, we've seen disappointing non-farms, weak retail sales and plunging new home sales. So, given that, it would seem that the Fed's decision is obvious. Of course, investors have come to the conclusion that a rate hike won't be coming. But investors are wrong, both in the perception of a soft US economy and in their conclusion.

Housing Market Not Really Weak

The first argument that Fed doves are using is the weak new home sales figure. It's true; the figure did undershoot. But take a look at US housing in the global scheme of things. It means nothing. In fact, the US housing market is actually getting stronger.

Here's why… Continue reading "Fed Rate Hike Could Come in November" →

Bank Earnings To Impact Dollar Sentiment

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Generally, Wall Street earnings have no direct impact on how we view the dollar outlook. Yet, there are exceptions and this week is one such notable example. What types of earnings are significant enough to shed light on the dollar’s future; you might wonder. The simple answer is this: Bank earnings, which are abundant this week.

Why do Bank Earnings Matter?

As we all know, the Federal Reserve has the greatest impact on the dollar. Outside of the Fed, bank earnings impact the dollar’s outlook because they reveal the credit supply. Of course, the supply of credit in the US economy affects the American consumer. In turn, the American consumer impacts inflation. And that brings us full circle since the inflation outlook typically helps shape Fed policy. Continue reading "Bank Earnings To Impact Dollar Sentiment" →

Mario Draghi Must Act Now

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


The coming weeks could be pivotal ones for the Euro. This time, it isn’t because of a threat to its existence or a member state’s bankruptcy. No, this time, it will be because of the actions of Mario Draghi and the European Central Bank. The ECB chief has the power to ignite the momentum desperately needed to awaken the Eurozone from its economic stupor. Simply put, Mario Draghi must push the Euro below 1 Dollar.

The Eurozone Lately

When we examine the latest trends in the Eurozone, we do see some positive signs. Exports have recovered, and industrial production has increased, as well. On the consumer front, retail sales have also been accelerating nicely. On top of that, the Eurozone’s GDP growth rate has been inching up, albeit at a very moderate pace. Continue reading "Mario Draghi Must Act Now" →