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The Bond Market And The Fed May Be Heading For An Epic Showdown

The Fed and bond market may be headed for a clash as they have differing views on whether interest rates are sufficiently restrictive to cool the economy and bring inflation back to target.

seekingalpha.com
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US bond-market selloff continues as resilient economy prompts investors to anticipate elevated interest rates even after the Federal Reserve finishes its hikes, leading to a 16-year high in 10-year yields and increased inflation expectations.
A stock market rally is likely to occur in the near future, as recent data indicates that a bounce is expected after a period of selling pressure, with several sectors and markets reaching oversold levels and trading below their normal risk ranges. Additionally, analysis suggests that sectors such as Utilities, Consumer Staples, Real Estate, Financials, and Bonds, which have been underperforming, could provide upside potential in 2024 if there is a decline in interest rates driven by the Federal Reserve.
Experts are divided on whether the US Federal Reserve should raise its interest rate target to 3% to combat inflation and cushion against recessions, with some arguing that raising inflation targets would be futile.
Despite recent market gains, investors are concerned that the current rally may be the last hurrah before an economic contraction, especially after the Federal Reserve indicated that it could hike interest rates twice more this year.
The tone of the Jackson Hole economic symposium in 2023 is expected to focus on how long rates will stay high rather than how far they may rise, as the bond market prices in a higher for longer policy path from the Fed, potentially delivering a blow to the market's expectation of a more accommodative Fed.
Gold and silver prices rise as the weaker U.S. dollar index and dip in U.S. Treasury yields attract futures traders and bargain hunters, while anxieties build over upcoming speeches from the Fed and ECB on future monetary policy direction and the potential shift in the Fed's inflation goal.
Two officials at the Federal Reserve have expressed differing views on whether or not the central bank should raise its benchmark interest rate again to combat inflation, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding future rate hikes, with more clarity expected from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at a Fed conference in Jackson Hole.
Two Federal Reserve officials, Boston Fed President Susan Collins and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, suggested that the Fed may be nearing the end of interest rate increases, although Collins did not rule out the possibility of further hikes if inflation doesn't decline.
The dollar is expected to continue strengthening as bond yields rise, with the Fed likely to hike rates at least once more this year, and a barrage of economic data this week will heavily influence Fed policy decisions and impact the direction of the dollar and interest rates.
The Federal Reserve meeting in September may hold the key to the end of the tightening cycle, as markets anticipate a rate hike in November, aligning with the Fed's thinking on its peak rate. However, disagreement among Fed policymakers regarding the strength of the economy and inflation raises questions about the clarity and certainty of the Fed's guidance. Market skeptics remain uncertain about the possibility of a "soft landing," with sustained economic expansion following a period of tightening.
Traders believe that the US Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further this year, as the latest jobs report showed an increase in unemployment and a cooling wage growth, prompting the Fed to potentially halt rate hikes and keep policy on hold.
The latest inflation data suggests that price increases are cooling down, increasing the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in their upcoming meeting.
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge increased slightly in July, suggesting that the fight against inflation may be challenging, but the absence of worse news indicates that officials are likely to maintain interest rates.
The U.S. is currently experiencing a prolonged high inflation cycle that is causing significant damage to the purchasing power of the currency, and the recent lower inflation rate is misleading as it ignores the accumulated harm; in order to combat this cycle, the Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates higher than the inflation rate and reverse its bond purchases.
Treasury yields are on the move and investors should pay attention to where they might be headed next.
The United States Federal Reserve's financial woes and potential implications for cryptocurrency are discussed on the latest episode of "Macro Markets," highlighting challenges posed by inflation and the consequences of loose monetary policies during the pandemic.
Bond traders are anticipating that the Federal Reserve will continue with interest-rate hikes, and next week's consumer-price index report will provide further insight on how much more tightening may be required to control inflation.
The bullish and bearish narratives in the market are clashing over whether there will be a soft landing or economic problems in the future. The battle over the economy and concern over inflation will be the primary issue for the market in the coming months.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
Investors are growing increasingly concerned about the ballooning U.S. federal deficit and its potential impact on the bond market's ability to finance the shortfall at current interest rates, according to Yardeni Research.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Goldman Sachs may be optimistic about a "soft landing" scenario for the US economy, but the author remains skeptical due to factors such as a deeply inverted yield curve, declining Leading Economic Indicators, challenges faced by the consumer, global growth concerns, and the lagging impact of the Fed's monetary policy, leading them to maintain a conservative portfolio allocation.
Popular analyst Arthur Hayes argues that traditional economic theories about Bitcoin's relationship with interest rates will fail due to the US government's substantial debt, as inflation may become "sticky" and bond yields may not keep up with GDP growth, leading bondholders to seek higher yielding "risk assets" like Bitcoin.
The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about disruptions in the US Treasury market due to hedge fund trading strategies that could exacerbate market crashes.
The Federal Reserve is unlikely to panic over the recent surge in consumer prices, driven by a rise in fuel costs, as it considers further interest rate hikes, but if the rate hikes weaken the job market it could have negative consequences for consumers and President Biden ahead of the 2024 election.
The bond market's 10-year and 3-month yield curve has been inverted for a record-breaking 212 straight trading days, indicating the possibility of an upcoming economic recession despite economists' lowered expectations; however, the inversion's uniqueness, driven by the Federal Reserve's focus on combating inflation during a period of strong economic growth, leaves open the question of whether this inversion will fail to predict a recession, particularly if the Fed is able to declare victory on inflation and cut interest rates to above the neutral rate of around 2.5%.
Traders and investors are betting that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its September meeting, indicating a shift in the market's interpretation of good economic news, as it suggests the Fed may be close to pausing its rate hike cycle despite inflation being above target levels and potential headwinds in the economy.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its upcoming meeting, but market participants will be closely watching for any hints regarding future rate cuts.
Amid indications that the bond market is betting on higher interest rates for a longer period, some investors are placing bets on the economy hitting a wall and a potential reversal in policy in the near future.
The Federal Reserve is expected to hold off on raising interest rates, but consumers are still feeling the impact of previous hikes, with credit card rates topping 20%, mortgage rates above 7%, and auto loan rates exceeding 7%.
The Federal Reserve is expected to signal that another rate hike may be necessary due to strong economic growth and inflation metrics, creating a difference of opinion between the equity and bond markets.
The Federal Reserve faces the challenge of bringing down inflation to its target of 2 percent, with differing opinions on whether they will continue to raise interest rates or pause due to weakening economic indicators such as drops in mortgage rates and auto sales.
The Federal Reserve's continued message of higher interest rates is expected to impact Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar, with the 10-year Treasury yield predicted to experience a slight increase and the U.S. dollar expected to edge higher.
The Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting will focus on the central bank's expectations for key indicators such as interest rates, GDP, inflation, and unemployment, while many economists believe that the Fed may signal a pause in its rate-hiking cycle but maintain the possibility of future rate increases.
The Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision will impact stock and bond investors, with a hawkish stance being unfavorable and a dovish stance being favorable.
The Federal Reserve plans to continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities, agency debt, and agency mortgage-backed securities, which will have an impact on stock markets, while keeping interest rates at current levels due to the lagged effect of monetary policy and the need for the commercial real estate market to adjust; however, there are concerns about the impact of tighter credit conditions on hiring and an increase in strikes, particularly in the auto industry. Elevated interest rates will pressure dividend-income investors and affect Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), while the reduction of securities by the Fed may lead to a decline in stock indices. The Fed is considering raising rates in November or December but is uncertain about how long rates will remain at current levels. The core personal consumption expenditure is falling, and rising energy prices are increasing overall inflation, but the Fed is excluding energy prices due to volatility and suggests that high oil prices may impact its stance in the future. Stock market traders have a short-term time frame and may find instruments like Instacart (CART) and Arm (ARM) more suitable, while long-term investors should prepare for the market adjusting to the Fed's restrictive policy by moving capital gains into money market funds, considering energy stocks at lower prices, and being cautious of high-flying technology stocks and IPOs.
The Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates until inflation decreases, even if it means more people losing their jobs, according to CNBC's Jim Cramer.
U.S. stocks are expected to open lower and the dollar is soaring after the Federal Reserve indicated that interest rates will remain higher for a longer period, while the Bank of England faces a tough rate decision and the Swiss National Bank has paused its rate-hiking cycle.
Central banks around the world may have reached the peak of interest rate hikes in their effort to control inflation, as data suggests that major economies have turned a corner on price rises and core inflation is declining in the US, UK, and EU. However, central banks remain cautious and warn that rates may need to remain high for a longer duration, and that oil price rallies could lead to another spike in inflation. Overall, economists believe that the global monetary policy tightening cycle is nearing its end, with many central banks expected to cut interest rates in the coming year.
The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates and raise its long-term forecast for the Federal Funds Rate surprised many market participants, causing a slight pullback in the stock and cryptocurrency markets while highlighting the need for investors to focus on the actual health and viability of companies and the utility of the crypto ecosystem. Additionally, the article speculates on the impact of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ruling on Bitcoin spot ETF applications and the potential for cryptocurrency to become a mainstream alternative investment.
The Federal Reserve's measure of inflation is disconnected from market conditions, increasing the likelihood of a recession, according to Duke University finance professor Campbell Harvey. If the central bank continues to raise interest rates based on this flawed inflation gauge, the severity of the economic downturn could worsen.
The Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at their highest in over 20 years is posing a "nightmare" scenario for bitcoin and crypto companies, potentially leading to price chaos and further decline in the bitcoin price.
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged while revising its forecasts for economic growth, unemployment, and inflation, indicating a "higher for longer" stance on interest rates and potentially only one more rate hike this year. The Fed aims to achieve a soft landing for the economy and believes it can withstand higher rates, but external complications such as rising oil prices and an auto strike could influence future decisions.