US Fed: Counting the hikes – ING

FXStreet (Delhi) – Research Team at ING, suggests that as we head into the first full week of 2016 and with one hike under the Fed’s belt, the question on most people’s lips is, how many more can we expect this year?

Key Quotes

“Both we and the markets are currently looking for two hikes, which we expect to come in June and towards the end of the year. After a relatively quiet festive period, this week’s data will provide the first real test of these expectations and naturally most of the focus will be on Friday’s labour report.”

“We look for a respectable non-farm payrolls figure of around 200k and for the unemployment rate to remain at the post-crisis low of 5%. Average hourly earnings growth should increase on an annual comparison, although base effects are the main driver and should work in the opposite direction next month. All in all though, there shouldn’t be much to significantly knock current FOMC expectations off track.”