1- If you follow me you know I am an “inflationista“ - nevertheless the following deflationary trends are worth highlighting today:
- Oil -6%
- US Nat Gas -4% (power)
- DXY +1.2% (cheaper imports)
- Wheat -3%
- 1yr inflation expectations -6.8%
- 2yr real rates at 2% (!)
2- Markets evolve around narrative, and a positive narrative could now emerge a la “the Fed medicine is WORKING“
This of course glosses over the fact that inflation is deeply tied to labor market imbalances - savings eg from lower gasoline prices are then spent elsewhere
3- But narratives are mental constructs that investors fit to price action, they can be wrong and still find traction
My sense remains that markets feel panicky and everyone sees a crash
The narrative I outlined could drive the reversal, along a local top in US bond yields