The Kobeissi Letter Profile picture
Dec 19, 2024 12 tweets 5 min read Read on X
Apollo with another HUGE call today:

Not only does Apollo see less rate cuts in 2025, but they are now calling for potential rate HIKES.

Today, Apollo officially said they see a 40% chance of rate HIKES returning in 2025.

Has the "Fed pivot" been canceled again?

(a thread)
The Fed officially made their 3rd interest rate cut of 2024 for 25 basis points.

This marks a total of 100 basis points of rate cuts in 2024 as inflation reaccelerates.

With all key metrics of inflation nearing or above 3%, a new question arises.

Are rate hikes coming back? Image
Apollo makes the case that the economy is strong and growth has been robust.

Over the past 2 quarters, US GDP growth has been 3.0% and 2.8%.

The Atlanta Fed expects GDP growth in the fourth quarter to be 3.2%, well above the CBO’s 2% estimate of long-run US growth. Image
Apollo notes that the strong economy, combined with the potential for lower taxes, higher tariffs, and restrictions on immigration, could spark inflation.

PCE inflation could rise by over 140 basis points due to tariffs, according to Deutsche Bank.

Higher prices are coming. Image
Recent data shows that inflation is already heading higher again.

3-month annualized core CPI inflation is now back up to an alarming 4%.

6-month annualized core CPI fell to 2.5% before rebounding back toward 3% now.

This is BEFORE tariffs and tax cuts are imposed. Image
PCE inflation, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, is trending sharply higher.

1-month annualized core PCE inflation is now at 3.5%+.

1-month, 3-month, and 6-month annualized core PCE inflation are ALL back on the rise here.

Tomorrow's data will show November's numbers. Image
Meanwhile, bond markets are trading like rate hikes already started.

In what Fed Chair Powell has called normal market "fluctuations," something does not add up.

The 10-year note yield is now up ~90 basis points since rate cuts began in September.

Markets are not convinced. Image
Meanwhile, oil prices are surging adding to the case for higher inflation in 2025.

Our premium clients bought the dip into $67, as shown in our alert below.

With inflation rebounding, we are trading.

Subscribe at the link below to access our analysis:

thekobeissiletter.com/subscribeImage
All while the US now has a record $36.2 TRILLION of Federal Debt.

Deficit spending has been highly inflationary and this is coupled with a potential government shutdown.

Treasury yields are rising as the US government is forced to issue trillions in bonds for deficit spending. Image
The Fed is clearly concerned despite the calm image they are trying to paint.

They raised their PCE inflation target from 2.1% up to 2.5% by the end of 2025.

15 out of 19 Fed officials view inflation risks weighted to the upside.

In September, just 3 officials felt this way. Image
So, what does this all mean for investors and for your portfolio?

As we have been forecasting, we expect more volatility in 2025.

These swings will be tradable.

Subscribe now at the link below to gain instant access to our alerts and analysis:

thekobeissiletter.com/subscribe
Lastly, the million Dollar question is if the labor market
can hold up with tighter financial conditions in 2025.

If not, we risk stagflation, the Fed's nightmare.

In fact, stagflation may already be here.

Follow us @KobeissiLetter for real time analysis as this develops. Image

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More from @KobeissiLetter

May 25
What is happening in Japan?

In 45 days, Japan's 30Y Government Bond Yield rose a MASSIVE +100 basis points, to a record 3.20%.

Over $500 BILLION worth of "safe" 40Y Japanese Government Bonds have lost 20%+ in 6 weeks.

Is Japan's bond market imploding?

(a thread) Image
What's happening in Japan is not "normal."

Japan's 40Y government bond that was yielding ~1.3% two years ago is now yielding 3.5%.

As yields continue to surge, inflation has begun to rebound and Japan's economy is decline.

It appears Japan is entering a recession. Image
The surge all began when the Bank of Japan (BOJ) made a major policy shift.

After years after BUYING bonds, the BOJ stopped doing so.

This resulted in much more bond supply hitting the market, which drove yields higher.

And, the BOJ has a colossal balance sheet still. Image
Read 15 tweets
May 23
The trade war is back:

After a brief pause, Trump just threatened 50% tariffs on the EU beginning June 1st and 25% tariffs on Apple.

In 5 days, the S&P 500 has erased -$1.5 trillion of market cap.

What's next? Here's why you NEED to watch the bond market.

(a thread) Image
First, at 7:19 AM ET today, President Trump made the below post.

As Apple, $AAPL, has moved iPhone production to India, Trump said this was not acceptable.

Trump says iPhones must be made in the USA or face tariffs of at least 25%.

The S&P 500 to 5820 on this news. Image
24 minutes later, President Trump made the below post.

He said he is "recommended a straight 50% tariff on the EU, staring June 1st."

This was the first escalation since the 90-day tariff pause and it sent S&P 500 futures down to 5750.

But, why now? Image
Read 13 tweets
May 21
What just happened?

At 1:00 PM ET, the S&P 500 fell nearly -80 points in 30 minutes without any major "news."

What actually happened was a weak 20Y Bond Auction which sent US Treasury Yields soaring.

Investors MUST watch yields here. Let us explain.

(a thread) Image
The US frequently conducts bond auctions, where investors can buy US Treasuries (debt).

Today, the US conducted a $16B auction of 20Y Bonds.

Typically, these auctions happen with minimal impact on markets.

However, today was different which sent yields soaring. Image
Today was different because demand for the bond auction was weak.

In other words, investors wanted to buy these bonds for LESS than initially expected.

The high yield came in at 5.047%, well above expectations of 5.035%.

When bond prices fall, yields rise, as we just saw. Image
Read 14 tweets
May 17
It's official:

For the first time in history, Moody's has downgraded the United States' credit rating.

Moody's cites concerns over soaring US debt levels with interest on US debt set to hit 30% of REVENUE by 2035.

What does it all mean? Let us explain.

(a thread) Image
This isn't the first time the US has seen a credit rating downgrade.

In 2011, S&P downgraded the US' credit rating from AAA to AA+.

As seen below, the downgrade came with an ~8% drop in the S&P 500 in 2 months.

The 10Y Yield fell as much as ~35% within the first 2 months. Image
In 2023, Fitch downgraded the US' long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+.

They cited concerns over rising US debt levels, unaddressed fiscal challenges, and Fed rate hikes.

This seemed to pave the path for the historic Moody's downgrade that we just received. Image
Read 13 tweets
May 5
Gold won't stop.

Gold is surging again, now trading above $3,300/oz, even as the S&P 500 is up +17% from its April 7th low.

Since 2020, the gold ETF, $GLD, has now OUTPERFORMED the S&P 500 by 35 percentage points.

Are you still watching gold?

(a thread) Image
Heading into 2025, $GLD was underperforming the S&P 500 since 2020 by ~10%.

However, as uncertainty has risen, $GLD is now up +109% since 2020 compared to +74% in the S&P 500.

But, why are gold prices surging even as the market recovers?

Uncertainty remains the answer. Image
The equity market's rebound has been a product of SENTIMENT.

The Fear & Greed index is up ~54 points since its April 2025 low.

However, we have not seen a material reduction in macroeconomic uncertainty.

Equity and gold markets are telling two different near-term stories. Image
Read 12 tweets
May 3
This is insane:

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway just announced they now hold a record $348 BILLION in cash.

Since 2022, Buffett's cash balance is up $239 BILLION and he has net SOLD stocks for 10-straight quarters.

What does Warren Buffett see here?

(a thread) Image
Below is Berkshire Hathaway's balance sheet:

They now hold $305.5 BILLION of US Treasury Bills and $36.9 billion of cash in their insurance and other business.

In their Railroad, Utilities and Energy business, they hold another ~$5.3 billion of cash.

This is unprecedented. Image
To put this in perspective, the US Federal Reserve currently holds $195.3 billion in US Treasury Bills.

This means that Berkshire Hathaway now holds ~$110.2 billion MORE of T-bills than the Fed.

Berkshire Hathaway's T-bill balance is ~56% HIGHER than the Fed itself. Image
Read 12 tweets

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