Broke-Buck Mounting After Soft PPI; Crude, Crypto, & The Yield Curve Soar

Following a benign CPI release Wednesday, the June PPI release also came in softer than expected this morning (and initial claims fell), sparking calls for "mission accomplished" headlines for The Fed.

But tomorrow marks the kick-off for the bulk of earnings season (with the banks reporting) which could spark some renewed volatility (although many suggest the bar for earnings season is already set so low that even Zelenksy could step over it).

The 'good' inflation news sent rate-change expectations for the rest of the year tumbling (July remains a lock for 25bps). The market is now pricing in a 25bps hike in July, no move through year-end, and a rate-cut in Jan '24...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

The biggest headline-maker in the markets today was the USDollar. The DXY tumbled for the 6th straight day - the longest losing streak since July 2020 - down 4.5% in that period (the biggest such drop since Nov 2022).

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

The Dollar Index is back to pre-COVID-lockdown levels...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

Nasdaq soared higher today as The Dow lagged (barely in the green) with Small Caps and the S&P up comfortably too...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

The S&P 500 is now 3% above the level it was at when The Fed first hiked rates in March 2022...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

Meme stocks are now up 17% in the last few days...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

As 'most shorted' stocks continued to get squeezed, now up 20% in the last two weeks...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

If those charts don't make you laugh, nothing will...

Treasuries were bid once again today with the belly outperforming once again (5Y-15bps, 30Y -5bps), and all notably lower in yield on the week...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

With 2Y Yields now down over 50bps from last week's highs, having thoroughly rejected the 5.00% and pre-SVB levels...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

The yield curve (5s30s) surged steeper again today, edging ever closer to un-inverting...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

Bitcoin soared to it highest since May 2022, helped by the SEC losing its case against Ripple. Ethereum also ripped today, back above $2000.

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

Oil prices extended gains today, helped by news that Libya's Sharara oil field will be halted, and the weak PPI easing restrictive Fed fears. WTI topped $77, back above pre-OPEC spike levels from March...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Gold held on to yesterday's gains...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Finally, as cash exits the Fed's reverse repo facility, it appears the US equity market is benefiting...

broke buck mounting after soft ppi crude crypto the yield curve soar

Source: Bloomberg

Is this what The Fed wants? Another wealth-creating bubble that will re-juice inflation?

Authored by Tyler Durden via ZeroHedge July 13th 2023