The following are the key points in Goldman Sachs note on the ECB meeting today
1- The rate decision will be announced at 12:45 London time. Given that a deposit cut was telegraphed a month ago, the main question is whether this decision will be in line with market consensus (a 10-15bp cut) or greater (say 20bp). In the former, we expect EUR/$ to be essentially flat into the start of the press conference at 13:30, while the latter could see the cross fall around a big figure into the start of the press conference.
2- The next stop is the opening statement, which ECB President Draghi will read out during the early minutes of the press conference. This will broadcast what credit easing measures will be taken and reveal the latest inflation forecast. On the former, the strongest signal for EUR/$ downside would come if the ECB gives a headline number for the liquidity impact of credit easing (something like “…the combined measures are ultimately expected to inject EUR200bn in liquidity), while the least favourable scenario is a kind of “rolling” LTRO, for example where banks can get liquidity for new lending every six months. The latter example would likely be a disappointment to the market, taking EUR/$ higher by a big figure or two, while the former could see EUR/$ weaken another big figure or two (especially if credit easing surprises the market, i.e., a 4-year LTRO with broad collateral and favourable haircuts or larger-than-expected ABS purchases).
3. In FX strategy, the single most important node in tomorrow’s decision tree is the inflation forecast, specifically that for outlying years. If the 2016 forecast is marked down to 1.3% or 1.4%, this would be a de facto strengthening of the ECB’s easing bias, since it would openly acknowledge that further easing measures are needed to bring inflation back to target. We see this as the strongest possible signal for EUR/$ downside, since it subsumes many different kinds of future easing, including Fed-style QE. We think this could take EUR /$ down another big figure or more, as the market updates its reaction function for the ECB. If instead the inflation forecast is left unchanged in the context of a reluctant easing, this will set the stage for EUR/$ to move back up to 1.39. 6. There is obviously lots of ambiguity in all this.
4- A lot will hang on wording, demeanor and emphasis, where there are many shades of grey. However, our basic view remains that the ECB will surprise on the dovish side tomorrow, given the drop in core inflation and the signal sent at the last meeting.
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