If the US effectively removes the diesel exports from global markets, we will have a new low in global refining capacity available for energy markets
Potentially VERY big deal, but I think it is a trial baloon from the administration. Source: Andreas Steno Larsen
As widely expected, the Swiss National Bank held rates at 0%. But the message has shifted.
In June, the SNB warned more forcefully about franc appreciation and signalled an increased willingness to intervene. That exceptional language has now disappeared. Three things changed: → Inflation rose to 0.8% in August. The SNB has raised its forecast, though much of the pressure comes from energy prices and a weaker franc rather than persistent domestic inflation. → Growth surprised on the upside. The SNB now expects Swiss GDP to grow 1.5–2% in 2026, up from around 1%. Pharmaceuticals boosted the headline figure, and capacity utilisation remains below average. → The weaker franc is doing some of the easing. It supports growth while lifting import prices, reducing the case for another rate cut. Our take: A December hike looks premature. But if domestic price pressure builds, the first quarter of 2027 could bring the SNB’s next rate increase. The risk of negative rates has receded. The question now is how long zero lasts.
The US unemployment Rate has now been below 5% for 60 months, the 2nd longest streak in history, trailing only the 64-month streak that began in the mid-1960s.
Source: Charlie Bilello
In case you missed it... France vows to cut its deficit to 5% of GDP in 2027 after missing the 2026 target.
A €54bn savings drive looks ambitious with growth at just 0.5% and parliament deeply split. Markets show the credibility gap: 10y OATs yield ~97bps more than Bunds; near Euro-crisis highs. Source: HolgerZ, Bloomberg
The Bank of Japan delivered a hawkish message.
The Bank of Japan reaffirmed that it will continue raising interest rates as growth and inflation evolve. Yet the yen weakened immediately after the announcement. The market’s verdict was clear: 25 basis points is not enough. Even with the policy rate now at 1.25%, the interest-rate differential remains wide—and so does the incentive to borrow in yen and invest in higher-yielding currencies. If Japan wants to support the yen without hiking more aggressively, it may have to return to FX intervention: selling dollar assets and using its reserves to buy yen. But intervention only buys time. It does not solve the underlying rate gap. The longer the BOJ waits to close that gap, the more aggressive future rate hikes may ultimately need to be. Key details: 1. BOJ voted 7-2 in favour of raising interest rates to 1.25%. 2. BOJ warns underlying inflation could rise above its 2% target. 3. Inflation pressure is spreading from producer prices into consumer prices. 4. Inflation expectations continue to rise. 5. Wage increases are increasingly being passed into selling prices. 6. Weak yen, higher oil prices and strong AI-related demand are adding inflation pressure. 7. Japan’s economy is still recovering moderately, supported by employment, income growth and AI-related demand. 8. CPI is expected to accelerate clearly above 2% from the second half of FY2026. 9. BOJ still says financial conditions remain accommodative despite the hike. 10. Future hikes will depend on economic activity, prices and financial conditions. Governor Ueda’s remarks will be closely watched for clues on the timing and pace of further hikes. Source: Bull Theory
This is a comparison of Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee statement with the one issued after the Fed’s previous policymaking meeting in July.
As expected, the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points in a unanimous decision The dot plot showed that 16 of 18 participants expect at least one additional hike this year. However, this does NOT appear to be the start of an aggressive tightening cycle. Policymakers do not project further increases in the federal funds rate over the following years. A unanimous rate-hike decision, and large majority also signaling at least one more hike in 2026 hides the reality that 2027 outlooks are massively divided with four members signaling a 'policy error' implicitly with 3 seeing 2 cuts and 1 seeing 4 cuts... The statement and dots were more hawkish than expected overall as The Fed took away the projected median cut next year. October odds initially declined but then jumped (right before Midterms?) to 57% while December odds of a hike jumped to 75%... While noisy, 2027 rate-hike expectations rose to around 40bps (2026 expectations are now for another 30bps)... 👉 Warsh explained that a resilient labour market, persistent inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions had shifted the committee in favour of a hike. 👉He described the hike as removing a degree of accommodation. In practice, the Fed may be reversing the three rate cuts delivered in 2025—leaving room for UP TO TWO additional hikes. Warsh also suggested that intense competition for capital, particularly from technology hyperscalers, may be contributing to higher US bond yields. 🔴 Conclusion: Yesterday’s hike, and potentially another 25-basis-point increase this year, gives the Fed time to see whether oil prices retreat. A third hike could follow in early 2027 if necessary, fully reversing last year’s easing cycle. Source image: zerohedge
My take on yesterday's FOMC 👇
As expected, the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points in a unanimous decision The dot plot showed that 16 of 18 participants expect at least one additional hike this year. However, this does NOT appear to be the start of an aggressive tightening cycle. Policymakers do not project further increases in the federal funds rate over the following years. A unanimous rate-hike decision, and large majority also signaling at least one more hike in 2026 hides the reality that 2027 outlooks are massively divided with four members signaling a 'policy error' implicitly with 3 seeing 2 cuts and 1 seeing 4 cuts... The statement and dots were more hawkish than expected overall as The Fed took away the projected median cut next year. October odds initially declined but then jumped (right before Midterms?) to 57% while December odds of a hike jumped to 75%... While noisy, 2027 rate-hike expectations rose to around 40bps (2026 expectations are now for another 30bps)... 👉 Warsh explained that a resilient labour market, persistent inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions had shifted the committee in favour of a hike. 👉He described the hike as removing a degree of accommodation. In practice, the Fed may be reversing the three rate cuts delivered in 2025—leaving room for UP TO TWO additional hikes. Warsh also suggested that intense competition for capital, particularly from technology hyperscalers, may be contributing to higher US bond yields. 🔴 Conclusion: Yesterday’s hike—and potentially another 25-basis-point increase this year—gives the Fed time to see whether oil prices retreat. A third hike could follow in early 2027 if necessary, fully reversing last year’s easing cycle. Source image: zerohedge
There is now an 89% chance of another rate hike by December
Source: Barchart
