InvestMacro

Stocks rallied first on Wednesday afternoon, with the S&P 500 (US500) and Dow Jones (US30) rising to new record highs and the NASDAQ (US100) rising to a 3-week-high. The FOMC’s decision on Wednesday to cut the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 bps and project another 50 bps rate cut before the end of the year pushed stock prices higher. However, stocks later gave up their mid-session gains and moved lower as hawkish comments from Fed Chair Powell pushed bond yields higher and sparked a sell-off in shares of chip companies. As a result, the Dow Jones Index (US30) was down 0.25%, while the S&P 500 Index (US500) fell by 0.29%. The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) closed negative 0.31%.

The FOMC voted 11–1 to cut the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 bps to 4.75–5.00% and said the committee is “firmly committed to supporting maximum employment” and returning inflation to the 2% target. The market did not expect a 50bp rate cut immediately, but the reaction was rather subdued. Powell tried to reassure participants by explaining that the double cut was not a reaction to economic problems, but rather a catch-up with other central banks and a pre-emptive measure to avoid recession. The FOMC lowered its 2024 US GDP estimate to 2.0% from 2.1% in June and lowered its 2024 core PCE projection to 2.6% from 2.8% in June. The FOMC also raised its 2024 unemployment prognosis to 4.4% from 4.0% in June.

Key talking points from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech:

• The Fed rate was lowered to 5.00%, compared to market expectations of 5.25%; this is the first Fed rate cut in four years.
• Fed balance sheet reduction (QT) continues as planned.
• Declining inflation and a cooling labor market indicate the need for monetary policy easing.
• The US economy is strong, but since other central banks have already cut rates earlier this year, the Fed may act more aggressively.
• The Fed has kept rates high longer than other central banks, and that has had an effect: lower inflation is on the right trajectory.
• The current 50bp rate cut is not a reaction to the economic problems but a signal that the regulator will not allow a significant deterioration in the labor market and the economy.

It should be noted that on Friday the quarterly expiration of derivatives in the US market will take place, and there is an active transfer of positions to the December expiration. The closing of the current week will be key to determining the medium-term prospects of the markets.

Equity markets in Europe were mostly down yesterday. German DAX (DE40) declined by 0.08%, French CAC 40 (FR40) closed down by 0.57%, Spanish IBEX 35 (ES35) fell by 0.16%, and British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed down 0.68%.

On Thursday, WTI crude oil prices fell to around $70.3 per barrel, declining for the second consecutive session, amid a rising US dollar. While the recent half-point cut in the Fed Funds rate would normally support oil prices, market sentiment was dampened by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s statement that the Central Bank would not be in a hurry to ease monetary policy and that the dot plot of the federal funds rate estimate should not be seen as a policy plan.

Asian markets mostly up yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) rose by 0.49%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) gained 0.34%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) added 1.37% and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) was positive 0.02%.

The Australian dollar rose to $0.678 as good employment data suggested that the economy remains strong, giving the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) room to hold policy. The data showed that the number of jobs in Australia increased by 47,55 in August, well above projections of 25,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained at its highest level in two and a half years at 4.2%. Markets currently believe that the RBA will not cut interest rates until at least December, with some economists expecting the first move as early as the second quarter of 2025.

The New Zealand dollar rose to as high as $0.621 even after data showed that New Zealand’s economy contracted in the second quarter. Data released on Thursday showed GDP fell by 0.2% in the June quarter, which was better than the RBNZ’s estimate of a 0.5% contraction. On an annualized basis, GDP contracted 0.5%, which was in line with expectations. Markets have now fully priced in the possibility of another quarter-point rate cut in October, and there is a 28% chance of a 50 basis point rate cut.

At Tuesday’s close, the Dow Jones Index (US30) was down 0.04%, while the S&P 500 Index (US500) added 0.03%. The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) closed positive 0.20%. Yesterday afternoon, equities came under pressure from long liquidations after bond yields rose ahead of the release of the results of the 2-day FOMC meeting on Wednesday.

Retail Sales for August unexpectedly rose by 0.1% m/m, stronger than expectations of a 0.2% m/m decline. US manufacturing production in August added 0.9% m/m, which was stronger than expectations of 0.2% m/m and was the largest increase in the last 6 months. Such data, along with the GDP growth estimates for Q3, allows the US Fed to start the easing cycle with a 0.25% rate hike. Fed Chair Powell’s comments after Wednesday’s meeting will also be scrutinized for further Fed policy intentions. Markets rate the odds of a 25bp rate cut at Tuesday/Wednesday’s FOMC meeting at 100% and a 50bp rate cut at this meeting at 52%.

Equity markets in Europe traded flat yesterday. The German DAX (DE40) rose by 0.50%, the French CAC 40 (FR40) closed higher by 0.51%, the Spanish IBEX 35 (ES35) Index gained 1.06%, the British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed up 0.38%.

The UK’s annual inflation rate for August 2024 remained at 2.2%, in line with July expectations. CPI rose 0.3% from the previous month, after falling 0.2% in July and matched expectations. The latest data had little impact on expectations that the Bank of England will keep policy steady on Thursday.

WTI crude oil prices fell to around $71 a barrel on Wednesday, breaking a two-day streak of gains, amid an unexpected increase in US crude inventories. API data showed US crude inventories rose by 1.96 million barrels last week, breaking a three-week streak of declines and beating market expectations for a 0.1 million barrel decline.

Silver fell below $30.5 an ounce, retreating from two-month highs, as traders grew cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s expected monetary policy decision. In addition, disappointing economic data from China added to concerns about demand in the country, the world’s top metals consumer. Data released over the weekend showed that China’s industrial production, retail sales, and fixed asset investment in August fell short of prognoses.

Asian markets traded mixed yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) was down 1.03%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) did not trade due to a holiday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) was up 1.37%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) was positive 0.24%.

In Australia, investors await the country’s employment report on Thursday to gauge the state of the labor market and its potential impact on domestic monetary policy. Markets see a 4.35% cut in the money rate at next week’s Reserve Bank meeting as unlikely, given that policymakers have consistently maintained a hawkish stance.

On Friday, the Dow Jones (US30) was up 0.72% (for the week +2.07%), while the S&P 500 (US500) added 0.54% (for the week +3.38%). The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) closed positive 0.65% (for the week +5.04%). The S&P 500 and Nasdaq100 hit 2-week highs, and the Dow Jones Industrials hit a one-week high.

Former New York FRB President Bill Dudley said Thursday there is a strong case for a 50 basis point interest rate cut at the Fed’s September 17–18 meeting. But Goldman Sachs is still calling for a quarter percentage point rate easing at this week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Markets rate the odds of a 25 bps rate cut at the Sept. 17–18 FOMC meeting at 41% and a 50 bps rate cut at that meeting at 59%.

The US University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for September rose more than expected to a 4-month high, supporting the outlook for a soft landing for the economy, a favorable factor for indices.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem opened the door for an increased pace of interest rate cuts: Macklem told the newspaper that regulators are concerned about Canada’s labor market and the possibility that lower oil prices will hit the economy.

Equity markets in Europe rallied on Friday. Germany’s DAX (DE40) rose by 0.98% (up +1.74% for the week), France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed up 0.41% (up +1.20% for the week), Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) increased by 1.23% (up +2.86% for the week), and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) closed positive 0.39% (up +1.12% for the week).

ECB President Lagarde said she is willing to consider an interest rate cut in October if the Eurozone economy suffers a major setback, but a rate cut at the December ECB meeting is more likely as the ECB will have better information on the economy by then. ECB Governing Council spokesman Kazakhs said the ECB would need a downturn in the Eurozone economy for it to cut interest rates at its next meeting in October.

Silver rose to $31, hitting a two-month high, amid growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will opt for a more aggressive interest rate cut at this week’s meeting. Markets now estimate the probability of the Fed going for a larger 50 basis point rate cut on Wednesday at 59%, up from 25% a month ago, while the probability of a modest 25 basis point rate cut is 41%, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. Those expectations came as signs of a slowing labor market outweighed a better-than-expected reading on key inflation indicators last week.

WTI crude oil prices fell slightly to $68.65 a barrel on Friday, breaking a two-day winning streak. As of Thursday, official data showed that nearly 42% of oil production, which is more than 730,000 barrels per day, remained shut in due to the hurricane. Despite these supply disruptions, oil prices are under downward pressure amid ongoing concerns about sluggish demand in major markets. The IEA has warned of a slowdown in global oil demand growth, particularly due to China’s weakening economy, and predicted a potential supply glut in 2024, even as OPEC+ production cuts continue. Last week, data was released showing a 3.1% year-on-year decline in China’s crude oil imports from January through August 2024.

Asian markets were mostly up last week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) rose by 2.17%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) lost 1.26%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) gained 0.62%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) posted a positive 1.08%.

China’s economic recovery continues to face major challenges amid persistent weak domestic demand and mounting external pressures, the National Statistics Agency said in a statement. The remarks followed weak activity data in August, marked by the slowest growth in industrial production in five months, and updated retail sales data that missed market estimates. Meanwhile, the urban unemployment rate hit a six-month high of 5.3% in August.