Thought Of The Week
Powell’s Testimony, Jobs Report, OPEC Meeting
After months of defending that inflation is “transitory”, Fed chair Jerome Powell told Congress on Tuesday that it is time to retire that word as it is proving more powerful and persistent than expected. Continued strength in goods spending, shortage of microchips and shipping squeeze have increased costs and pushed the consumer price index (CPI) persistently above Fed’s 2% inflation target. After Powell’s remarks, money markets are estimating that the Fed will hike as early as May.
U.S employers added 210,000 jobs in November compared to expected 550,000. While the headline number disappointed, the report also showed that the unemployment rate had dropped, and the overall participation rate increased. Friday’s jobs report was not weak enough and it is unlikely to change the market’s view that the Fed could push up the timing of rate increases to tamp down inflation.
Meanwhile, OPEC agreed to continue increasing oil production in spite of falling oil prices and the new Omicron variant. The group decided to stick to its existing policy, giving in to the pressures by the consumer countries as it is part of core inflation and affects consumer inflation expectations disproportionately.
Delisting Jitters
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced its final plan on Thursday for a new law that mandates foreign companies to comply with U.S disclosure requirements within 3 years in order to stay listed on U.S exchanges.
After the rule was announced, Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index (which tracks China-exposed firms listed in the U.S) plunged 9.1% on Friday, adding further pressure to its YTD performance of -43%. The slump came amid a broader drop in equities on the day with China’s government ordering Didi Global Inc. to delist from the New York Stock Exchange as it is able to amass enormous amounts of data from hundreds of millions users both at home and abroad.
The move marked an expansion and escalation in a broader campaign to curb the growing power of internet titans which could someday threaten the Communist Party’s grip on power if given enough resources and influence. The regulatory crackdowns have chilled the global investment community and ratcheted up uncertainty. Investors will need to be more selective of the industries that can promote President Xi’s common prosperity that will fuel a more broad-based economic growth over the next few decades.
Chart Of The Week
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Fixed Income Yield and Returns: All returns represent total
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