Market Rather Calmly Awaits More Details on Tariffs

Treasury yields are a tad lower this morning as the market continues to buy the fact on tariffs perhaps not being as onerous as threatened after the election. With Trump talking about 10% tariffs on China, and not 60%, along with the possibility that some may be rolled out in increments, the market is taking…

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Latest Data Shows Economy/Consumer Still Doing Good

Treasury yields are lower and equities rallying as the week draws to a close and markets make final preparations for a second Trump Administration. Second-tier data greets investors today so the combination of cooler inflation numbers and solid retail sales from earlier this week are combining to close the week in an upbeat tone, at…

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Cool Core CPI has Markets Leaning the Wrong Way

Treasury yields are lower and equities rallying on a near as-expected CPI report for December that obviously had the market leaning towards a more bearish surprise. The combination of friendly PPI and CPI numbers for December has restored hopes of a rate cut sometime around mid-year and that’s aiding in the rally in both stocks…

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After Strong Employment Report, Inflation Week Greets Investors

Treasury yields are inching ever-so-slightly higher this morning as the post-jobs report skittishness continues, albeit with much less impetus than last Friday. Also, investors are no doubt nervous with a trio of inflation reports looming on the horizon, along with retail sales on Thursday. So, the week is full of catalysts for even higher yields…

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December Jobs Report Will Lengthen Rate Cut Pause

December nonfarm payrolls rose 256 thousand, easily beating the 165 thousand expected and 212 thousand in November (revised down from an initial 227 thousand). October was revised up by 7 thousand jobs, which goes against the year-long trend of lower revisions. Private sector job growth was strong at 231 thousand which is well ahead of…

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Bond Portfolio Trends: Fourth Quarter 2024

Bond Portfolio Trends: Fourth Quarter 2024 Background Beginning in May 2012, we started tracking  portfolio trends of our bond accounting customers here at SouthState|DuncanWilliams.  At present, we account for over 130 client portfolios with a combined book value of $13.8 billion (not including SouthState Bank’s portfolio), or $106 million average per portfolio.  Twelve months earlier,…

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Soothing Words from Waller

Treasury yields continue to creep higher, but soothing words from Fed Governor Waller on inflation have at least stabilized the short end and kept larger moves at bay on the long end. The Treasury will finish its trio of auctions this week with $22 billion in 30yr bonds this afternoon and that will likely keep…

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Labor Market Data Will Dominate This Week

Treasury yields have been volatile this morning with overnight seeing higher yields, but a bid was found in early US trading and those gains are now back near unchanged as equities ready to open at 9:30am ET. The data calendar is chock full, with the jobs report on Friday headlining the December releases. Meanwhile, the…

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ISM Manufacturing Numbers Spell End to the Holiday Week

Treasury yields are slightly lower in another low-volume overnight session. The only item on the docket today is the December ISM Manufacturing Index at 10am ET (more on that below). The typical rush of reports in the first week of a new month has been pushed into next week due to the New Year holiday…

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Equity Profit-Taking Pushes Treasury Yields Lower

Treasury yields are heading lower in this thinly traded market as profit-taking continues in the big Tech winners of 2024, and that has equity futures under pressure once again.  With a limited data calendar, and no Fed speak, it will be the price action itself across equities that drive Treasuries. That said, with light staffing…

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Light Data Week Meets With Light Staffing

Treasury yields are edging higher with new supply coming this week. With Christmas on Wednesday, staffing levels are skeletal at best so don’t read too much into any movements due to the expected light volumes. That said, the Treasury will be auctioning 2yr notes today, 5yr notes tomorrow, and 7yr notes on Thursday so that…

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Cool PCE and FOMC Thoughts

Treasury prices have improved after a cool read on inflation from the Fed’s preferred inflation measure PCE. The spending numbers and savings rate indicates the consumer is not going away and still has plenty of ammunition to continue spending which bodes well for fourth quarter GDP. There remains a skittish risk-off tone in equities, but…

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