After CPI, market focus turns to Jackson Hole
Dow modestly higher, S&P 500 edges up, Nasdaq off ~0.2%
Financials lead S&P 500 sector gainers; Comm Svcs weakest group
Euro STOXX 600 index up ~0.4%
Dollar, gold decline; crude off >1%; bitcoin off >2%
U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield dips to ~3.82%
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com
AFTER CPI, MARKET FOCUS TURNS TO JACKSON HOLE
An uptick in shelter prices in Wednesday’s consumer price inflation report is adding to uncertainty over whether the Federal Reserve is likely to cut rates by 25 or 50 basis points at its next meeting in September. For new clues on the thinking of Fed policymakers, traders will be closely watching next week’s economic symposium in Jackson Hole.
The consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.2% last month after falling 0.1% in June A 0.4% increase in shelter, which includes rents, accounted for nearly 90% of the rise in the CPI. Shelter costs increased 0.2% in June. Core prices gained 0.2% in July after rising 0.1% in June.
“The one thing that was surprising here was rent accelerating,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities in New York. “The market is reassessing the odds of a 50 basis point rate cut in September.”
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to use the Jackson Hole symposium to more strongly signal that a September rate cut is on the way. But with the August jobs and inflation data still due before the Fed’s September 17-18 meeting, questions around the size of a cut may go unanswered.
The data is “all coming together to solidify what the Fed wants,” said Michael Lorizio, senior fixed income trader at Manulife Investment Management in Boston.
But, “they want to retain all flexibility and all optionality. So while they'll signal that a cut in September is very likely, I don't think they would try to push too hard just yet to commit themselves to whether its 25 or 50” basis points, Lorizio said.
The next CPI release for August will be released on Sept. 11. The jobs report for August is due Sept. 6. The labor market data has come under increasing scrutiny after an unexpected increase in unemployment in July to a near three-year high raised concerns about an approaching recession.
Still, traders will pay close attention to any comments by Powell next week for guidance on the Fed’s thinking.
Traders will watch “to see if the Fed makes lots of hay about this number or the labor market and what they're really thinking. I suspect they'll have some guidance out for us next week,” Goldberg said.
Traders are currently pricing in a 44% probability of a 50 basis point cut, down from 53% on Tuesday, with and a 56% likelihood of a 25 basis point reduction, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.
(Karen Brettell)
*****
FOR WEDNESDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:
U.S. INDEXES STRUGGLE TO GAIN TRACTION IN EARLY TRADE - CLICK HERE
U.S. STOCK FUTURES LITTLE CHANGED AFTER MOSTLY IN-LINE CPI - CLICK HERE
HOW YOU COULD JUSTIFY AUGUST'S STOCKS SELL OFF - CLICK HERE
BETTER-THAN EXPECTED UK INFLATION NOT ENOUGH FOR SEPTEMBER CUT - CLICK HERE
AND HAPPY AS THE SCREENS WERE GREEN - CLICK HERE
COOLER-THAN-EXPECTED BRITISH INFLATION DATA BOOSTS THE MOOD - CLICK HERE
MORNING BID: WELCOME TO THE CUTTING CLUB KIWIS - CLICK HERE
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
