Norges Bank Review - Danske Bank

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Mar 16, 2017 - revision of inflation and the interest rate projections in the new MPR, the FRA .... conflicts of interes
Investment Research — General Market Conditions

16 March 2017

Norges Bank Review Unchanged rates and neutral bias maintained As expected, Norges Bank (NB) this morning left the sight deposit rate unchanged at 0.50%. The Board maintained the ‘neutral bias’ introduced in September, as it stated that ‘the current assessment of the outlook suggests that the key policy rate will most likely remain at today’s level in the period ahead’.

Chart 1: NB kept rates unchanged and repeated neutral stance in statement

The revised rate path published in the Monetary Policy Report (MPR) still suggests a 40% probability of a later rate cut (Chart 2), which is a bit more dovish than our expectations. The Q2 17 weighted average suggests a high conditional probability (of the 0.40pp) of a cut already in Q2 17. Also, the expected time for the first rate hike was postponed. As expected, stronger domestic growth, a weaker currency, higher global rates and slightly higher global growth pulled the rate path upwards, while lower inflation and lower expected wage growth pulled downwards (Chart 3). Also, once again the risk to financial instability stemming from the tight housing market pulled the rate path upwards. However, the view on the domestic economy was clearly less hawkish than we expected. In our view, downside risks to the economy are gradually vanishing, which should alter NB’s risk assessment. There are no signs of such considerations in the report. On the contrary, NB put a lot more emphasis on the recent fall in inflation and wage growth than we expected. While the outcome of private sector wage negotiations justifies a downward adjustment of the 2017 wage growth estimate, as unemployment rates are adjusted downwards and the output gap upwards, the downward adjustment of the 2018 and 2019 wage growth estimates surprised us slightly. 





Reaction and expectations. Given our economic forecasts and NB’s continued ‘neutral’ bias, we expect NB to leave the sight deposit rate unchanged throughout 2017. Even if the housing market starts to cool off, we believe a gradual economic recovery will eliminate the need for another rate cut. FI/rates. Ahead of Norges Bank’s decision, market expectations for 2019 were slightly higher than Norges Bank’s December 2016 projection. Given the surprising downward revision of inflation and the interest rate projections in the new MPR, the FRA curve has become slightly less steep. However, still the market sees higher interest rates in 2019 than projected by Norges Bank. Evidently, the market does not buy into Norges Bank’s dovish projections for 2019. Our somewhat more optimistic view on the Norwegian economy suggests we may see a return to a steeper FRA curve shortly. FX. EUR/NOK has risen 6-7 figures on the announcement, reflecting the slightly more dovish message than expected. However, we do not see it as a game changer for the NOK outlook. External factors and stretched positioning have been the key headwinds for the NOK recently, while the domestics have improved. Indeed, accelerating growth with a narrowing output gap is the ideal cocktail for an undervalued currency such as the NOK. As the global risk environment is more positive today post Fed, we expect the spike in EUR/NOK in today’s session to be minor and probably short-lived when NOK rates have adjusted and FX markets’ focus returns to near-term reduced external headwinds. Hence, we still recommend gradually building up strategic NOK exposure on dips.

Important disclosures and certifications are contained from page 5 of this report.

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 2. Rate path cut probability kept unchanged – later hike expected

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 3: ‘Prices and wages’ (grey) countering positive factors

Source: Bloomberg, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Chief Economist Frank Jullum +47 45 25 85 29 [email protected] Chief Strategist Jostein Tvedt +47 23 13 91 84 [email protected] Senior Analyst Kristoffer Kjær Lomholt +45 45 25 85 29 [email protected]

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Appendix chart pack Chart 4: Rate path cut probability kept unchanged – hike postponed

Chart 5: ‘Prices and wages’ (grey) countering positive factors

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Table 1: Contributing factors for changes to the rate path

Contributing factors for rate path changes (pp) Quarter

Domestic demand

Foreign interest rates and demand

Prices and wages

Exchange rate

Financial imbalances and uncertainty

Total

Q2'17 Q3'17 Q4'17 Q1'18 Q2'18 Q3'18 Q4'18 Q1'19 Q2'19 Q3'19 Q4'19

0.11 0.10 0.07 0.04 0.03 -0.05 -0.11 -0.16 -0.18 -0.17 -0.16

0.05 0.08 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.08 0.07

-0.48 -0.45 -0.42 -0.39 -0.36 -0.32 -0.27 -0.21 -0.16 -0.11 -0.07

0.15 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.02

0.20 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.09 0.10 0.09 0.05 -0.01 -0.11 -0.19

0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.02 -0.06 -0.11 -0.17 -0.22 -0.28 -0.33

Source: Norges Bank, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 6: Mainland GDP forecasts lowered in 2017

Chart 7: Petroleum investments projections were raised

Source: Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

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Chart 8: Household consumption projections close to unchanged

Chart 9: Public demand lowered (as expected)

Source: Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: Norges Bank, Macrobond Financial, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 10: Output gap projection ‘twisted’

Chart 11: Core inflation (quarterly) lowered

Source: Ministry of Finance, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: SSB, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 12: Core inflation (annual)

Chart 13: Wage growth lowered more than expected

Source: Ministry of Finance, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: SSB, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

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Chart 14: Norges Bank raised the I44 forecast…

Chart 15: … but still pencils in limited NOK strength

Source: Ministry of Finance, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: SSB, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Chart 16: EUR/NOK has risen on the announcement but limited move relative to previous Norges Bank meetings

Chart 17: Markets still do not buy into the probability of a rate cut but reduced outlook for rate hike

Source: Ministry of Finance, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

Source: SSB, Macrobond Financial, Bloomberg, Danske Bank Markets

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Disclosures This research report has been prepared by Danske Bank Markets, a division of Danske Bank A/S (‘Danske Bank’). The authors of this research report are Frank Jullum (Chief Economist), Jostein Tvedt (Chief Strategist) and Kristoffer Kjær Lomholt (Senior Analyst). Analyst certification Each research analyst responsible for the content of this research report certifies that the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the research analyst’s personal view about the financial instruments and issuers covered by the research report. Each responsible research analyst further certifies that no part of the compensation of the research analyst was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations expressed in the research report. Regulation Danske Bank is authorised and subject to regulation by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and is subject to the rules and regulation of the relevant regulators in all other jurisdictions where it conducts business. Danske Bank is subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (UK). Details on the extent of the regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from Danske Bank on request. Danske Bank’s research reports are prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the Danish Securities Dealers Association. Conflicts of interest Danske Bank has established procedures to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure the provision of high-quality research based on research objectivity and independence. These procedures are documented in Danske Bank’s research policies. Employees within Danske Bank’s Research Departments have been instructed that any request that might impair the objectivity and independence of research shall be referred to Research Management and the Compliance Department. Danske Bank’s Research Departments are organised independently from and do not report to other business areas within Danske Bank. Research analysts are remunerated in part based on the overall profitability of Danske Bank, which includes investment banking revenues, but do not receive bonuses or other remuneration linked to specific corporate finance or debt capital transactions. Financial models and/or methodology used in this research report Calculations and presentations in this research report are based on standard econometric tools and methodology as well as publicly available statistics for each individual security, issuer and/or country. Documentation can be obtained from the authors on request. Risk warning Major risks connected with recommendations or opinions in this research report, including a sensitivity analysis of relevant assumptions, are stated throughout the text. Expected updates None Date of first publication See the front page of this research report for the date of first publication.

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