Weekly Market Update
Market Insights & Commentary
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…
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…
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…
Fed Cuts 25bp, Now Expects Only 2 Cuts in 2025
Meeting Highlights As widely anticipated the Fed cut the funds rate by 25bp moving the target rate range to 4.25% – 4.50%. The updated rate forecast, or dot plot, now sees another 50bp in rate cuts in 2025 vs. 100bp in the September forecast. That would put the year-end 2025 rate at 3.875%. The lowered…
FOMC Day is Here
Treasury prices have moved from lower to higher this morning as investors await the FOMC rate decision at 2pm ET. The November Housing Starts and Permits report provided a mixed read to distract traders until the Fed decision with starts dropping -1.8% while permits rose 6.1%. The miss in starts was mostly due to a…
Fed Week Awaits Investors
Treasury yields are trending lower this morning as some of the selling last week is reversed, but it will be tentative moves until after the FOMC rate decision on Wednesday, followed by the PCE inflation series on Thursday. While the Fed is expected to cut, it’s what Powell may say about the future of cuts…
While PPI Heads Higher, PCE Could Move Lower
Treasury yields are moving slightly higher this morning as the inflation data this week, and the Import/Export prices this morning, are sketching out a challenging environment to get to the Fed’s 2% target anytime soon. Thus, some hesitation is the mood as investors also await the FOMC rate cut next week, and perhaps more importantly…
CPI Meets Expectations but Hints that Further Improvement will be Challenging
Treasury yields are moving slightly lower this morning as November CPI came in mostly as expected which firms up odds for a rate cut next week and belied some whispers that the report could be on the hot side. We suspect, however, that further improvements in the months ahead may be hard to come by…
Inflation Week Awaits Investors
Treasury yields are edging higher this morning as some of the post-jobs report rally is reversed, and inflation reports loom on the horizon. The quick fall of the Assad Regime in Syria adds to the geo-political risk in a region already full of it, but so far there hasn’t been a flight-to-safety rally in Treasuries….
November Jobs Report Rebounds from October’s Disappointing Results
November nonfarm payrolls rose 224 thousand, just above the 215 thousand expected and 36 thousand in October (revised up from an initial 12 thousand). September was also revised up by 32 thousand jobs to 225 thousand, which goes against the year-long trend of lower revisions. Given, all the noise from hurricanes and strikes, the three-month…
Easing Political Strife and Solid Labor Market Data Keeps Pressure on Treasuries
Treasury yields are higher this morning as some easing in the Korean political drama and decent labor market data so far this week, is putting pressure on Treasuries across the curve. The ISM Services Index remains to be seen at 10ET, so there is still a possibility for additional volatility (more on that below). Currently, the 10yr…
Plenty of First-String Economic Releases Due This Week
Treasury yields are higher this morning as the light volume rally from Friday is partially reversed as more traders return to their posts. Plenty of first-tier data is on tap this week and Fed speak gets started with Fed Governor Waller and NY Fed President Williams both on tap later this afternoon. They are some…