BREAKING >>> Oups... March CPI inflation rate RISES to 3.5%, above expectations of 3.4%. Core inflation beat as well...
-> The Headline CPI for March came in at +0.4% above expectations of +0.3% month-over-month. On a YoY basis, Headline CPI increased 3.5% vs. 3.4% expected and 3.2% in February. This follows January and February being hotter readings than expected. This is the highest headline CPI reading since last September. -> The core CPI (ex-food and energy) also came in above estimates: +0.4% MoM (vs. +0.3% estimates) and 3.8% yoy vs. 3.7% expected and 3.76% in February. This is the first uptick in core inflation since March 2023. Transportation prices are up +10.7% yoy; Shelter is up +5.7% yoy -> Even the "Supercore services" index which FED policymakers have been emphasizing, which strips out housing, ROSE +0.65% on the month, continuing the trend of higher prints. It is up 4.77% yoy, a 11 months high... -> The fed and Powell are not going to like it. This number might decrease rate cuts expectations even more (they have gone from 7 to less than 3 in just a few months). Could we see 0 rate cuts in 2024? Markets don't like it either as S&P 500 futures decreased 90 points in a matter of minutes. The US 10-year Treasury yield ip up +12 basis points to 4.49%. The 2-year is up +17 basis points to 4.91%...
As shown by Meb Faber, holding 40% gold instead of US treasuries within your 60-40 portfolio would have delivered similar results as the 'traditional' 60-40 portfolio...
Going forward, with US Treasuries expected to be a poor diversifier due to supply overhang and sticky inflation, gold might prove to be even more useful within multi-assets portfolios.
Here’s what Wall Street is expecting for US CPI today
Source: WSJ
JUST IN: Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 50 basis points as soon as June and 150 points by the end of this year, says State Street in call against Wall Street consensus
Source: Bloomberg, radar
The 60/40 portfolio doesn't fit all macro regimes by Alfonso Peccatiello / The macro compass
The 60/40 portfolio (60% equities / 40% bonds) did work great for 3 of the last 4 decades, and that's because the macro regime was one of predictably low growth and inflation, and Central Banks ready to support markets and economies. But are you sure the next 10 years be the same as the last 10 years?
US breakeven inflation rates rising
Source: Win Smart; Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg
From expecting 6 Fed rate cuts to just two in 2024 😉
Source: Markets & Mayhem
Ahead of US inflation numbers tomorrow (Wednesday), US 2-year breakeven rates just rose to 13-month highs...
Source: Bloomberg, David Ingles
