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I sit reflecting on the 12 months and what has transpired, particularly in relation to the latest FOMC assembly that stunned hawkish and shocked markets. Over one 12 months it felt like we’ve been via 5 totally different variations of the Fed.
Within the winter of 2024, the Fed received spooked by surprisingly elevated inflation prints within the first quarter. This led them to reverse their dovish inclinations they’d arrange within the fall of 2023. Then, in June, the FOMC stunned the market with a hawkish dot plot that implied hardly any cuts in 2024.
Then, a regarding jobs report in August flipped all the narrative on its head. The Fed grew to become involved a few progress scare and dropping the labor market, and as soon as once more flipped dovish, climaxing in a September lower of 50bps to kick off the rate-cutting cycle. We’ve now had 100bps of cuts and the Fed has as soon as once more flipped hawkish. The outlook for 2025 is unsure, with a forecast of solely two cuts occurring subsequent 12 months.
If that every one seemed like a rollercoaster of confusion, belief your intuition — it was.
Now, with January priced for a pause and no assembly in February, I’m as soon as once more anticipating one other flip-flop as we head into the brand new 12 months. Moreover, I see the potential for extra cuts than what’s at present anticipated in 2025 to be priced in in the course of the first quarter.
In order we head into the brand new 12 months, I provide you with my parting ideas: Count on to proceed listening to the noise of flip-flops within the distance.
Benefit from the holidays and see you in 2025!
