Bassanese Bites: CPI hurdle ahead – February 12 2024
Global markets The US S&P 500 rose further last week – the fifth weekly gain in a row and a new record high, closing above the psychological 5,000 level. It remains in a strong uptrend. US 10-year bond yields ticked up from 4.02% to 4.17%, however, and …
Bassanese Bites: RBA circus – February 05 2024
Global markets The US S&P 500 rose further last week – the fourth weekly gain in a row and a new record high – and remains in a strong uptrend. US bond yields edged lower last week after a mini-move higher in previous weeks, as markets …
Bassanese Bites: CPI test ahead – January 29 2024
Global markets* My last Bassanese Bites blog of last year was on Monday 18 December. At the time, I expressed hope that the ‘soft landing’ scenario for both the Australian and global economy appeared increasingly possible for 2024 – indeed, Fed chair Powell was close to popping …
Bassanese Bites: Festive Fed – December 18 2023
Global markets Bond and equity markets surged last week after a surprise dovish pivot by the US Federal Reserve. US 10-year bond yields dropped a lazy 0.32% to 3.91%, while the S&P 500 popped 2.5% higher. The $US also dropped 1.4%, helping the $A rise to …
Bassanese Bites: Hawkish hold – December 11 2023
Global markets Global equities inched ahead for a sixth week in a row and bond yields edged higher as both equity and bond markets took a breather after strong gains over the past month. Underlying the renewed caution, markets may well be questioning the aggressiveness of …
Bassanese Bites: Move carefully – December 04 2023
Global markets Global equities were up for the fifth week in a row as the remarkable bond rally continued. US 10-year bond yields dropped a lazy 0.27% to 4.2%, with markets getting very excited about potential Fed rate cuts next year. Importantly, this growing expectation does …
Bassanese Bites: December rate risk – November 27 2023
Global markets Global equities continued to grind higher last week as the main event – the Fed minutes – did little to dissuade markets from the view that the Fed has finished raising interest rates. With inflation continuing to ease and some signs of softening in …
Bassanese Bites: Stone-cold stunning – November 20 2023
Global markets Global equities rose for the third week in a row as a slightly lower-than-expected US CPI result led to a chunky decline in bond yields and increased hopes that the Fed has finished raising interest rates. A further easing in oil prices contributed to …
Bassanese Bites: US CPI Watch – November 13 2023
Global Markets Global equities eked out further gains last week despite a modest rebound in bond yields. As feared, it was a return to more hawkish commentary from US Fed chair Powell that was the main event – in particular, he indicated he was “not confident” …
Bassanese Bites: RBA to hike – November 06 2023
What a week! Softer-than-expected US economic data, reduced Treasury issuance, Middle East containment and a somewhat more dovish Federal Reserve saw bond yields plummet last week and equities bounce back. US 10-year yields dropped a lazy 0.26% to 4.57%, while the S&P 500 rebounded by an …