Markets today: Bond Yields Climb with Eyes on Powell’s Address
The stock market encountered its third consecutive day of declines, with bond yields on the rise, underscoring a robust labor market that could obstruct the anticipated interest-rate cuts. Investors are particularly keen on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s forthcoming remarks for additional insights into the monetary policy’s future direction.
This downturn in equities follows a significant boom that propelled the S&P 500 to reach multiple milestone levels earlier in the year. However, investor morale has taken a hit, primarily due to a rise in Treasury yields and a recent surge in oil prices, which stokes fears of inflation acceleration.
Hours before Chair Powell’s address, Raphael Bostic, President of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, suggested that a rate cut might be more plausible in the year’s final quarter. This assertion comes amidst fluctuating inflation rates and robust hiring data from U.S. companies, observed last month, pointing to a strong labor market with accelerating wage gains.
Expert Yung-Yu Ma from BMO Wealth Management highlights that the anticipation of diminishing inflation and imminent Federal Reserve rate reductions, which fueled the stock market’s initial quarter gains, is now facing skepticism. Concerns loom over delayed rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, rising oil prices, and increasing long-term yields, dampening investor spirits.
Tech stocks, such as chipmakers, were notably impacted, with Intel Corp. reporting escalating losses in its factory network operations. Moreover, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. experienced a halt in some of its chip production activities following the largest earthquake the island has witnessed in over two decades.
Treasury 10-year yields experienced a significant rise by seven basis points, standing at 4.42 percent. Meanwhile, the dollar exhibited fluctuations, and the decision by OPEC+ to maintain oil supply cuts for the first half of the year prompted an increase in oil prices.
Chris Larkin of E*Trade from Morgan Stanley observes that the unexpectedly strong ADP employment report corroborates the notion of an economy tilting towards the hotter end of the spectrum. However, he maintains that the current data might not significantly alter the projected course of second-half rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, unless upcoming job reports or inflation readings indicate otherwise.
Investors have previously misjudged the Federal Reserve’s pivot towards easing policies, as inflation remained persistently high, compelling the central bank to maintain elevated rates. The apparent misalignment between market expectations and the Federal Reserve’s actions has led to doubts regarding the feasibility of rate cuts by year-end.
T. Rowe Price Group Inc.’s Eric Veiel cautions that the Federal Reserve risks its credibility if it prematurely cuts interest rates. Reflecting on historical precedents from the 1970s, when premature easing led to prolonged inflation, Veiel underscores the importance of a cautious approach in adjusting monetary policies.
Analysts from Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), Tiffany Wilding and Andrew Balls, expect the Federal Reserve to commence policy normalization by mid-year. However, they predict a more gradual trajectory for subsequent rate cuts, aligning with the central bank’s vigilant stance against resurgence in inflation.
As the market reacts to these developments, investor focus is increasingly trained on Jerome Powell’s upcoming statements, which could provide critical guidance on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook in the face of prevailing economic indicators.
