An oversold reflex rally is due in major US indices. This week, major tech outfits report their March quarter. This could act as a catalyst. If post-earnings reaction instead acts as a headwind, the FOMC meets on May 3-4. The … Continued
Until recently, it looked like the Fed finally had the fortitude to take on inflation head on. Now, the message is getting blurred. Within the FOMC, for every Bullard, there is a Kashkari. Amidst this push-and-pull, late-January lows on major … Continued
In the early months of 2020, the Fed aggressively flooded the system with liquidity, meeting three times in March alone. That was the need of the hour. Now, it probably needs to act with a similar speed – only in … Continued
Last week, the VIX index and the S&P 500 moved together – a rare occurrence. At least near term, the former seems to be itching to move up and the latter down. Medium- to long-term, how tapering evolves, and its … Continued
The post-Great Recession recovery has been uneven. Jobs have been one of the bright spots. In the dying months of last year, job openings – both non-farm and small-business – weakened. It is too early to declare a trend has … Continued
Yet another week and yet another record in the S&P 500, although the Russell 2000 is not in confirmation. Sentiment is complacent, some metrics frothy. But it can get frothier. This also means buying protection is cheap. The US economy … Continued
Amid continued signs of macro deceleration, next year’s estimates for small-caps continue higher. The Russell 2000 index, however, is not quite buying this optimism. Last week, it led its large-cap peers, but remains under crucial resistance. Should small-caps come under … Continued
The FOMC meets this week. No change in expected. But in the remaining four scheduled meetings, markets have priced in at least two cuts. The Fed has a juggling act in hand. The unemployment rate is near a six-decade low, … Continued
Markets are aggressively beginning to price in at least two cuts in fed funds this year. It is a little too early, but the Fed is beginning to come around to this dovish scenario. It is easy to get convinced … Continued
The Fed meets this week. It already shifted its bias from hawkish to dovish, helping stocks. With the economy softening, in due course the Fed may once again deploy balance sheet as a tool, which will initially help stocks, but … Continued