Macro Monitor
Fed Funds Rate Above The CPI—Inflection Point Likely
Stock market bulls hope for an end to the tightening cycle in the not so distant future. However, the last two rounds didn’t end until the fed funds rate was raised above the prevailing rate of CPI.
Risk Aversion Index: Stayed On “Lower-Risk” Signal
The market has responded quickly to global central-bank pivots, and favorable seasonality can carry the rally a bit further in the near term. However, the risk for a severe recession still looms in the medium term.
Six Themes Around A Full Yield-Curve Inversion
The main yield curve drivers—fiscal and monetary policies—might be suggesting a steepening move is coming soon, while bank stock performance may also be hinting at a turn in the curve. However, a durable selloff in the U.S. dollar would be needed to support a steeper yield curve, so the tightening pain could last a while longer.
Risk Aversion Index: A New “Lower-Risk” Signal
Given depressed market sentiment and favorable seasonality, near-term prospects look better for risky assets.
The Great British Pivot
The latest BoE and RBA pivots fueled the market’s hope that global central-bank hawkishness has possibly peaked. We believe the market is likely to be lured by the prospect of a Fed pivot in the near term, only to be disappointed as that hope fades away.
Recession Dashboard Update—More Deterioration
The latest ISM Manufacturing numbers resulted in a downgrade to that factor from “green” to “yellow.” Unemployment claims is the lone component with a green light on the dashboard. Overall, the various measures we track suggest the risk of a “real” recession is high—better than 50%.
Midterm Elections—Not A Typical Year
While midterm elections are not typically big market movers, there is really nothing typical about 2022.
Risk Aversion Index: Stayed On “Higher-Risk” Signal
The market seems very eager to price in peak central-bank hawkishness; but only time will tell if the BoE pivot marks the beginning of a global pivot cycle. Caution is still recommended.
Inflation Reduction Act—Corporate Tax Hike Implications
We take a look at the impact of past corporate-only tax hikes versus tax hikes of any type (personal income, corporate, capital gains). The gist is, there isn’t much difference at all.
Fed-Pivot Watch—Pivot Pushed Further Out
Since our July report, market action felt like the pivot had already occurred. However, according to our latest update, numerous measures have moved away from levels that would support a pivot. In other words, the eagerly-awaited Fed pivot has been pushed further out.
Risk Aversion Index: Stayed On “Higher-Risk” Signal
The risk of a policy error is the top concern as the Fed doubles the pace of Quantitative Tightening, even with the U.S. technically in a recession. Caution is recommended.
Yield Curve Inversion—Count Down To A Bull Steepener
Now that the yield curve has inverted, its dynamic is apt to change from bear flattening (higher rates, flatter curves) to bull steepening (lower rates, steeper curves) fairly soon.
Recession Dashboard Update—Real Recession More Likely Than Not
Our recession indicators have continued to deteriorate. Given the stagflation backdrop, the Fed’s tightening cycle is very likely to end in a recession.
Risk Aversion Index: Stayed On “Higher-Risk” Signal
The risk of a policy error is extremely high as the Fed stays on an aggressive tightening path even with the U.S. in a “technical” recession. Caution is recommended.
Additional Factors
The six-week rally that started mid-June featured advances from AAPL (+25%), AMZN (+30%), and TSLA (+39%), which accounted for one-fourth of the S&P 500’s gain. Despite the recent preference for Value, a spike in interest rates, and the bear market, the index’s concentration in the top-five firms is still near it’s all-time high set in August 2020.
Bond Yields - More Room on the Downside
We have seen the high in bond yields this year and expect a volatile grind lower in rates over the summer: Bearish Treasury positions remain significant, the Copper/Gold ratio fell sharply, and the Citi Economic Surprise Index implies more downside.
Fed Pivot Watch
The late 2018 policy error and subsequent pivot of Chairman Powell’s rookie year is probably the best case-study for today’s pivot debate. Here we evaluate the current status of key pivot triggers and compare them to the readings of late 2018. Given the political environment and backward-looking nature of the Fed, we think the bar is higher for a pivot than the market hopes.
Risk Aversion Index: Stayed On “Higher-Risk” Signal
The risk of a policy error is elevated as the Fed stays on an aggressive tightening path even though growth materially slows. Caution is recommended.
From Tighter Lending To Margin Pressure
Intuitively, what happens in the credit market is usually echoed by lending activities. This was a key concern when the credit market joined the stock-market rout in May. Another big leg up in real interest costs, through higher rates and/or lower growth, will surely create more headwinds for profit margins.
Recession Dashboard Update—More Warning Signs
Overall, there are now more warning signs, but it still doesn’t suggest a recession is imminent.