Bassanese Bites: Higher for longer – August 21 2023
Global markets US stocks weakened for the third week in a row under pressure from rising US bond yields and concerns over the Chinese economic outlook. Strong US retail sales in July along with the market’s hawkish interpretation of the minutes of the Fed July policy …
Bassanese Bites: All priced? – August 14 2023
Global markets US stocks continued their consolidation last week, after a strong run over previous weeks as the ‘soft landing’ scenario started to become the consensus call. Indeed, last week there was a sense that the good news now appeared largely priced in, with equities and …
Bassanese Bites: Debt downgrade – August 07 2023
Global markets After a strong run in recent weeks, US stocks pulled back last week due to a sharp rise in bond yields which, in turn, reflected the Fitch credit downgrade and official plans for higher US long-term public debt issuance. The US July payrolls report, …
Bassanese Bites: Extended Pause – July 31 2023
The ‘melt-up’ in US stocks continued last week, with the S&P 500 adding another 1.0%. There were various reasons for investors to remain upbeat: the Fed hiked rates but displayed a more neutral outlook, the Q2 US earnings reporting season remained encouraging (thanks to …
Bassanese Bites: CPI week – July 24 2023
Global markets The effective ‘melt-up’ in US stocks continued last week, with the S&P 500 adding another 0.7%. Although earnings misses by Netflix and Tesla briefly weighed on markets, the overriding narrative remains that of growing hopes of a soft landing given resilient economic growth, easing inflation, and …
Bassanese Bites: Recession averted? – July 17 2023
Global markets The key development over the past week was the weaker-than-expected US CPI result, which has reduced the risk of further aggressive Fed action that ultimately pushes the economy into recession. According to Fed comments, it still seems likely the Fed will hike at next …
Bassanese Bites: Rate surge – July 10 2023
Global markets The key development over the past week was ongoing solid US economic reports, which along with hawkish Fed minutes saw bond yields move notably higher. US 10-year bond yields rose by 0.22% to 4.07% – a new high for the year though still a …
Bassanese Bites: Line-ball RBA Day – July 03 2023
Global Markets Solid economic data and a reasonably benign inflation report provided further reassuring signs to Wall Street last week that the US economy remained on a “soft landing” track. Even Powell’s ongoing threat of two additional rate hikes is being taken in its stride – …
Bassanese Bites: Sweet spot? – June 19 2023
Global markets It was another encouraging week in global markets, with investors taking the ‘hawkish pause’ by the US Fed well in their stride. …
Bassanese Bites: Fear of Fed surprise lingers following RBA hike – June 13 2023
Global markets Global equities continued to grind ever higher last week, with some improvement in breadth as US small-cap stocks posted better performance than large-cap stocks. …