Market Overview – Morning Express

Market Overview – Morning Express
E-mini S&P (December) / NQ (December)
S&P, yesterday’s close: Settled at 3872.75, down 44.50
NQ, yesterday’s close: Settled at 11,921.50, down 0.75
Fundamentals: The Federal Reserve concludes its two-day policy meeting at 1:00 pm CT with a rate hike decision and updated economic expectations. The CME FedWatch Tool, driven by Fed Fund futures, is signaling a 75bp hike with an 84% probability. Is a third straight 75bp hike aggressive enough to tame stubborn inflation? Back in April, we coined the ‘Inflation Showdown at Jackson Hole’. This was the idea the Fed’s tightening (tapering, hikes, and balance sheet run-off) would contain the rise of inflation through the summer, but if not, things could get ugly. May’s CPI, released in June, then ran hot and forced more aggressive maneuvers from the bank. Despite added market volatility, front-loading a quicker rise to the neutral rate would have a better shot at derailing rising prices. For a moment in July, it seemed to be working, Core CPI fell back below +6.0% for June, and Gasoline prices were plummeting. Data for July, released in August, furthered that notion as Core CPI YoY stayed at +5.9%, MoM at +0.3% was the smallest rise since March, headline YoY fell from +9.1% to +8.5%, and headline MoM was flat. Although +8.5% was still stubbornly high, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
As Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech neared, something began happening. The Cleveland Fed’s Inflation Nowcast signaled August inflation was tame, but September’s data began re-elevating. During this time, the S&P enjoyed a 19% rally from the June lows to its August 16th peak. The entire summer’s work was dissipating, and Powell had no choice but to cock back and deliver a blow at Jackson Hole. In his speech, he said, “Restoring price stability will take some time and requires using our tools forcefully…higher interest rates, slower growth, and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring pain to households and businesses.” He used the phrase “bring pain” and then went on to say, “We are moving our policy stance purposefully to a level that will be sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2 percent.” Furthermore, he called it the bank’s responsibility to deliver low and stable inflation, he quoted former Fed Chair Volcker, and said, “we must keep at it until the job is done.” The narrow and deliberately hawkish speech concluded, and no questions were taken. It took a moment, but the shock settled into markets.
Do not miss our daily Midday Market Minute, from yesterday.
Today is about shock and awe, just like Jackson Hole. Hiking rates the widely anticipated amount has not worked. Core CPI in August rebounded by +0.6% MoM, while +6.3% YoY was the highest since peaking in March. To make matters worse, the Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast expects September Core CPI at +0.5% MoM and +6.64% YoY. Gasoline prices may have dropped for nearly 100 straight days, but headline CPI is expected to reemerge MoM at +0.3%. By not shocking markets today, there is a real risk of seeing asset prices rally in the aftermath. Yes, the easy answer is the Fed must hike 100bps. If Powell and the committee only move the expected 75bps, it is imperative the economic expectations and 1:30 pm CT press conference do not merely embody average hawkishness.
By shocking markets again, Fed Chair Powell and the committee give themselves another opening, like this summer. Base comparisons of inflation begin rising in October, and more importantly, the stickiest portion of CPI, Owners’ Equivalent Rent (OER makes up about one-third of CPI), should begin tapering off in no more than six to nine months. If a proper 100bps hike is announced today and the Fed remains vigilant through yearend, a victory over inflation could be had by the end of Q1.
Technicals: Price action was soft again yesterday but has remained broadly contained ahead of today’s Fed policy decision. A wave of selling hit overnight and held major three-star support at 3850.25-3853.25. The cause was more fundamental upon Russian President Putin’s press conference where he raised the threat of nuclear action and mobilized of 300,000 reserve troops. Yesterday, the S&P set a new swing low, trading to 3843.25 and sticking its nose below major three-star support briefly before settling firmly. This area at 3850-3853.25 aligns multiple technical indicators including Monday’s opening bell rally. Similarly, major three-star support in the NQ comes in at 11,815-11,828 and held yesterday afternoon. However, the NQ did not set a new low below 11,778 and major three-star support at 11,769. If these levels are breached decisively post-FOMC, we imagine it opens the door to continued selling. We do have our next major three-star support in the S&P at … Click here to get our (FULL) daily reports emailed to you!
Crude Oil (November)
Yesterday’s close: Settled at 83.94, down 1.42
Fundamentals: Despite a soft session yesterday, a hawkish tone from Russian President Putin overnight reinvigorated the tape by raising the threat of nuclear action and mobilizing 300,000 reserve troops. A heavy narrative for Crude Oil has been falling Chinese imports due to lower refinery runs. There are reports Chinese state refineries are considering ramping by 10% in October. Remember, the Chinese city of Chengdu with 21 million residents emerged from lockdowns on Monday. Weekly EIA inventory data will be front and center this morning. Last night’s private API survey was overall slightly bearish to neutral with +1.035 mb Crude, +3.225 mb Gasoline, +1.538 mb Distillates, and +0.51 mb at Cushing. Official expectations are for +2.161 mb Crude, -0.431 mb Gasoline, and +0.42 mb Distillates. Of course, the amount of SPR released will have a great impact on the composite picture.
Technicals: The overnight rally again stalled at major three-star resistance at 86.16-86.28 and is now battling at our Pivot and point of balance. Despite the marginal new swing high on the week, the market is broadly delivering lower highs and lower lows on a weekly basis. Today’s fundamental deluge between EIA and the Fed policy meeting will be critical. A break and continued decisive action below first key support at … Click here to get our (FULL) daily reports emailed to you!
Gold (December) / Silver (December)
Gold, yesterday’s close: Settled at 1671.1, down 7.1
Silver, yesterday’s close: Settled at 19.183, down 0.175
Fundamentals: Despite broad U.S. Dollar strength, Gold and Silver are edging higher from swing lows hit yesterday morning. The U.S. Dollar hit the highest against the Chinese Yuan since July 2020. Russian President Putin’s threat of nuclear action and mobilization of troops signals two things; his back is against the wall, but the war now has a higher probability of escalating. This has encouraged some safe have bid in the precious metals space. If the Federal Reserve were to come across as less hawkish later today, the small net-short position in Gold and historically large one for Silver are offsides. Considering this positioning relative to Putin and the potential for being offsides, there is likely a wave of short-covering underpinning today’s strength. However, per our discussion in the S&P/NQ section, we do believe the Federal Reserve must deliver a hawkish shock today.
Technicals: Seller’s exhaustion kicked in yesterday after price action was unable to chew through major three-star support in Gold upon the fourth test in as many days. Support in Silver also held at 19.05-19.12. The rebound is now testing strong resistance in Gold at 1690-1696 and that in Silver at 19.93-20.00. Our Pivot and point of balance on the session will prove crucial and a decisive move back through … Click here to get our (FULL) daily reports emailed to you!
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