As we head into decision day on U.S. interest rates it is important to note that all the major equity indices remain under their 200-day moving averages, despite recent rallies amid short covering (and bargain hunting remains an active sport). The consensus based on the pricing of FED FUNDS futures contract has the odds in favor of a NO CHANGE in policy by the FOMC. I caution that bargain hunters have been on the prowl as the voices of Summers, Lagarde, World Bank and others have given fortitude to those needing to put cash to work. If the FOMC stays the present course the immediate impact MAY be an initial equity rally but be patient to see how the market is reacting after at least 12 hours.
Posts Tagged ‘taper tantrum’
Notes From Underground: Things To Do Before Thursday’s FOMC Decision
September 15, 2015Notes From Underground: Waiting For The Fed To Raise Rates … Hold On
April 8, 2015The Fed released the minutes from the March 17-18 FOMC meeting and we would all do well to remember to be PATIENT and not be so quick to react to the headlines. (Again, I am going on record to plead that the Fed not release any data early to journalists so they may be able to release their headlines in unison with the actual Fed release. Many journalists write headlines that are misleading and allow the HFT algorithms to exploit key word phrases that are not substantiated by the actual story.) A case in point is the CNBC headline that appeared at the moment of the Fed release: “Several Participants Judged That Economic Data And Outlook Were Likely To Warrant Beginning Normalization At The June Meeting.” Yes, this is a direct quote from the minutes but it comes with a QUALIFIER. Following that line is this: “HOWEVER [emphasis mine], others anticipated that the effects of energy price declines and the dollar’s appreciation would continue to weigh on inflation in the near term, suggesting that conditions likely would not be appropriate to begin raising rates until later in the year, and a couple of participants suggested that the economic outlook likely would not call for liftoff until 2016.”