Forex Major Currencies Outlook (May 31, 2017)

Personal income and spending both posted 0.4% gains as expected while the CB consumer confidence index for May surprised with a tumble from 119.4 to 117.9 instead of improving to 120.1. Chicago PMI, pending home sales, and the Fed Beige Book are lined up next.

EUR

The shared currency moved mostly sideways even as economic data turned out weaker than expected. German import prices ticked 0.1% down instead of posting the projected 0.2% uptick while preliminary CPI fell by 0.2% versus the projected 0.1% dip. French consumer spending increased by 0.5%, short of the projected 0.8% gain, while the Spanish flash CPI also fell short. German retail sales and unemployment change, as well as French preliminary CPI, are lined up today.

GBP

The pound suffered a sharp selloff in the latter trading sessions when a YouGov poll reflected a narrowing lead for the Conservative Party, also indicating that it would fall short of securing the majority by 16 seats. There were no reports out of the UK economy yesterday while today has medium-tier reports such as net lending to individuals and mortgage approvals data lined up.

CHF

The franc was also in a weak spot as sentiment in Europe appears to have turned sour. Also, the Swiss KOF economic barometer fell from 106.3 to 101.6 versus the projected 106.2 reading. The Swiss UBS consumption indicator is due next and another weaker than expected read could mean more franc weakness.

JPY

The yen had a mixed performance as it functioned more of a counter currency instead of setting its own direction. The BOJ core CPI posted a 0.2% uptick, representing a rebound over the earlier 0.1% drop. Preliminary industrial production is due next and a 4.2% rebound is eyed.

Commodity Currencies (AUD,NZD, CAD)

The Loonie turned lower as economic data from Canada came out weaker than expected. The current account deficit widened from 11.8 billion CAD to 14.1 billion CAD while the underlying inflation readings came in below consensus. According to the RBNZ, financial risks are subsiding and upward pressures to home prices are lower. Chinese official PMI readings are due next and another round of declines could mean more weakness for the comdolls.

By Kate Curtis from Trader's Way