Key Events This Week:
1. Fed Chair Powell Speaks - Wednesday 2. Initial Jobless Claims - Thursday 3. Fed Chair Powell Speaks - Thursday 4. Consumer Sentiment data - Friday 5. ~10% of S&P 500 reports earnings this week 6. Total of 12 Fed speaker events All attention remains on the Fed. Source: The Kobeissi Letter
The Fed is now expected to start cutting rates in May 2024
Here's how bonds have performed during prior rate-cutting cycles... Source: Charlie Bilello
The Fed's balance sheet hit its lowest level since May 2021 this week, down $1.1 trillion from the peak in April 2022
Annual changes in the Fed's balance sheet since 2002 by Charlie Bilello
The end of the rate hikes is typically followed by plateaus before rate cuts begin
The end of the rate hikes may not be here yet, and the Fed has already said a many times for months that the plateau is going to be “higher for longer". How long will the plateau be this time? Source: Wolfstreet
And we're back to Bidenomics trendline
Source: www.zerohedge.com
No change as expected
Nothing really new except that they acknowledge strong growth and strong wage gains versus September, effectively upgrading their economic assessment. This is the 3rd time they upgrade their view on growth. Our view is unchanged: we are due for a long pause. High rates is the new normal.
When will the Fed start cutting rates?
This chart from James Bianco is derived from market pricing. The first cut is currently priced for August 2024 (top panel), or 337 days away (bottom panel). Notice the first cut is always about 10 to 12 months away. It never gets any closer.
How long does it take for the FED to break the corporate bond market?
2008 : 1 year of plateau, resulted in credit event after another 1 full year. (Total 2 years) 2020 : 7 months of plateau, resulted in credit event after 6 months. (Total 13 months, 54% of 2008) 2023 : it's been 3 months into plateau so far. Chart made from MacroMicroMe - source: James Choi
