New cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel mines needed
Per a McKinsey report, the current 500 cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel mines operating today will need to almost double to 900 in order to meet battery demand. Almost 80% increase in mines needed.
Israel pauses after 10 rate hikes but signals it may not be done
Israel’s central bank left interest rates
unchanged for the first time in over a year, halting an
unprecedented cycle of monetary tightening but signaling it’s
still on alert for the threat of faster inflation.
Source: Bloomberg
China's Inflation Rate Eases to Zero
Deflation in China? China's Consumer Price Index (CPI) year-on-year growth rate in June dropped to 0% (prev. 0.2%). Producer Price Index (PPI) year-on-year growth rate dropped to -5.4% (prev. -4.6%). Source: Bloomberg
10-year German yield : a key technical breakout triggered?
The German 10-year yield has experienced a significant surge of almost 30 basis points since the start of July, marking a notable technical breakout. This breach of the 2.5% resistance level has the potential to alter short-term market sentiment and pave the way for higher rates. The upward momentum has been fueled by several factors, including the synchronized hawkishness observed in developed countries such as the US, Eurozone, and the UK last week. Additionally, hawkish FOMC minutes (release yesterday) and resilient hard data, including strong employment figures in the US and robust industrial production in Europe, have contributed to the yield's upward trajectory. It is worth noting the emergence of a catching-up effect in soft data, as indicated by the latest report on the U.S. ISM composite index. Tomorrow's release of the June NFP report could further ignite the discussion. Will we test the year's highs (2.75%) in this early summer period?
German and US yield curves are deeply diving into low levels of inversion
US Curves flattened further, with the 2s10s curve hitting -109bp, in-line with the lowest level in 42 years.
Bund yields rose, while the 2s10s curve dropped to -83bp, the most inverted level in over 30 years.
Source: Bloomberg, Haver Analytics, Morgan Stanley Whitephone
Swiss Inflation returned below SNB’s 2% Ceiling in June
The figures offer limited reassurance to officials who have already signaled further
tightening is likely.
CPI YoY rose 1.7%, down from 2.2% the previous month, as energy costs fell. Underlying inflation, which strips out such volatile elements, also slowed to 1.8%. Source: BBG, Swiss statistics agency
Shifting Dynamics in 3-Month US Futures: A Hawkish Turn
The recent shift in the 3-month US futures market has grabbed investors' attention. FED Governor Powell's increasingly hawkish tone has sparked a repricing frenzy, altering market expectations for rate cuts. The latest data shows a significant turnaround, with futures no longer projecting any cuts in 2023 and only one in the first half of 2024. This remarkable repricing indicates a growing sentiment of an extended period of higher interest rates. The resurgence of the 3-month SOFR Future June 24 contract to pre-SVB crisis levels further underscores the market's confidence in this new direction. Source: Bloomberg
UK bond market is sending a signal!
The recent developments in the UK bond market have caught the attention of investors. In June, the UK yield curve (2s10s) experienced an unprecedented decline, marking one of the steepest drops in decades, and it is now approaching -100bps. This significant shift reflects the market's conviction that the Bank of England (BoE) will take decisive measures to combat inflation. However, it also raises concerns about the potential impact on the UK economy and its medium-term growth prospects. Should the BoE keep pushing the limits (rate hikes) until something breaks?
