According to the New York Federal Reserve, one-year inflation expectations rose to 3.0% in the latest survey from 2.8% previously and the highest reading since the middle of 2015.
Inflation expectations will be an important element of Fed thinking over the next few months, especially as the FOMC had worried previously that low expectations would prevent a rise in the inflation rate. Dallas Fed President Kaplan stated that the Fed should raise interest rates again sooner rather than later with rates increasing in a gradual and patient manner.
The dollar’s trade-weighted index hit the highest level for over three weeks and the Euro dipped to test support below the 1.0600 level as strong risk appetite curbed Euro support.
Commentary from Fed Chair Yellen will be watched very closely on Tuesday with markets currently putting the chances of a March interest rate increase at around 22%.
Any hints of a March hike would provide further net dollar support as the Euro edged back above 1.0600 on a wider US retracement.
EU Stagflation With inflation blipping up and business activity turning down, the S word is back on the table. Not only manufacturing but also the services sector fell sharply in November with the Purchasing Managers Index at its lowest level this year. The EUR facing a rampant Dollar is increasingly undermined by its own weakening […]
UK Housing Market Best performance in the past two years etc etc with the Halifax average house price up 4.8% as at the end of November. Without being curmudgeonly or seasonally Scroogelike the real house price performance allowing for inflation in the last 2 years is minus 10.5% for all those mistakenly regarding their house […]
UK Equities We wrote recently about a European wide Santa Rally in Equities despite the political headwinds in Continental Europe, but it looks as if the UK market has finally managed to break out on the top side of its range and without wishing to jinx it, may be set fair. One well known Fund […]