Will Politics Force a Fed Policy Error?
What’s in Today’s Report:
- Will Politics Force a Fed Policy Error?
- PPI Takeaways: Inflation Still Rising
U.S. equity futures are flat and global markets were mixed overnight as investors digest another hotter-than-expected inflation print and soft growth data ahead of the Fed.
U.K. CPI rose 5.1% vs. (E) 4.7% in November while Chinese growth data missed expectations across the board, rekindling stagflation fears ahead of the slew of central bank meetings in the back half of the week.
There are multiple economic reports due out this morning including: Retail Sales (E: 0.8%), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: 25.5), Import & Export Prices (E: 0.7%, 0.7%) and the Housing Market Index (E: 84). But once again, unless there are any material surprises, the market impact should be limited ahead of the Fed this afternoon.
The FOMC Announcement will hit at 2:00 p.m. ET and Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference begins at 2:30 p.m. ET. Bottom line, the biggest risk to equities remains a more hawkish shift in tone with a faster than anticipated acceleration in tapering of QE and any hints at more than two rate hikes next year.
