The dollar index (DXY00) on Wednesday rose by +0.03%.  The dollar found support on Wednesday on an increase in safe-haven demand from an escalation of geopolitical risks in Europe after Poland shot down Russian drones that had entered its airspace.  However, the dollar gave up most of its advance after bond yields declined on a weaker-than-expected US Aug PPI report, which cemented expectations for at least a 25 bp rate cut by the Fed at next week’s FOMC meeting.  The forex markets now await the key US CPI ...

Summary of Morgan Stanley Global Macro Forum Call Industry and Company Involved - **Industry**: Global Macro Economics, focusing on US CPI and Asia Tariffs - **Company**: Morgan Stanley Key Points and Arguments US Consumer Price Index (CPI) - Core CPI is expected to rise by 0.32% month-over-month (3.04% year-over-year), up from 0.23% in June, indicating an acceleration in inflation pressures [5][57] - Headline CPI is projected at 0.25% month-over-month (2.76% year-over-year) [5][57] - The increase in core CPI is primarily driven by core goods, with categories exposed to tariffs showing signs of pass-through, while services remain stable [57] Tariff Impact on Asia - US trade-weighted effective tariff rate on imports from Asia has increased significantly to 25%, compared to 5% at the beginning of the year [13][57] - Asian currencies are appreciating in this cycle, contrasting with the previous cycle in 2018-19 [15][57] - The tariff burden on Asian economies is substantial, with initial signs of impact on capital expenditure (capex) cycles [17][57] - Aggregate demand in Asia is likely to have continued to slow down in July, with the PMI remaining in contraction mode [29][31][57] Economic Outlook for Asia - Despite favorable domestic fundamentals in India, external challenges such as China's deflationary pressures and rising tariffs are present [57] - The Reserve Bank of India's easing measures over the past four months have lowered real rates, which should support economic reflation [57] Emerging Markets (EM) and Asia Equities - The rally in EM equities since early April appears to be waning, with valuations at all-time highs and evident downside growth risks [57] - Earnings revision breadth remains negative in EM and has turned down in Japan, indicating potential challenges ahead [35][57] - Historically, August has been the worst month for EM and Japan equities, with September also lagging [44][57] US Equities Outlook - A bullish view for the next 6-12 months is supported by rebounding earnings and cash flow, with the market having already priced in a growth slowdown [57] - Preference remains for sectors such as Industrials and Financials, while Consumer Discretionary is underweight due to tariff pressures [57] - A strong CPI print could lead to quality leadership in equities, while a weaker print may favor small caps and lower-quality stocks [57] Other Important Insights - The uncertainty regarding tariff levels has decreased, but the significant increase in US tariff rates on Asia implies a considerable burden that has not yet been shared by Asian exporters [21][57] - The aggregate US import price from Asia has risen above February 2025 levels, indicating that the tariff impact is being felt [21][57] - The call highlighted the importance of monitoring trade tensions and their effects on both trade and capital expenditure cycles in Asia [25][57]