Traders Unfazed by ‘not Great, Not Disastrous’ Cpis

Financial markets experienced subtle fluctuations, characterized by a mixed inflation report that has fueled speculation about the Federal Reserve's future rate actions. However, the consensus suggests that the Fed will likely pause its rate hikes without signaling the conclusion of its tightening cycle.

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The S&P 500 index displayed a modest increase. Many major corporations, including the heads of five of the ten largest U.S. companies, engaged in a closed-door Senate session to influence the regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Notably, Apple Inc. faced a decline in its stock value as China raised security concerns related to iPhones. Conversely, American Airlines Group Inc. led the decline in the airline industry after revising its earnings projection downward, citing a significant rise in jet fuel prices. Meanwhile, Arm Holdings Plc is gearing up for its much-anticipated initial public offering, scheduled to be priced on Wednesday.

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In the fixed-income market, yields on two-year Treasury bonds remained close to 5%, while the U.S. dollar exhibited limited movement. Swaps linked to the next two meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained their stance, pricing in minimal chances of a rate hike next week and approximately 50% odds of one occurring in November. Notably, indicators such as credit-default swaps for both investment-grade and speculative-grade companies declined, indicating that market expectations favor a pause by the Fed in September, despite ongoing economic concerns.

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The core consumer price index (CPI), excluding food and energy costs, registered a 0.3% increase from July, marking the first acceleration in six months. Over the past year, it recorded a 4.3% rise, aligning with forecasts and representing the smallest annual advance in nearly two years. However, this figure still exceeds the Fed's 2% inflation target.

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Krishna Guha, Vice Chairman at Evercore ISI, offered his perspective on the report, stating that while it may not be considered exceptional from a policy standpoint, it also does not constitute a crisis. Guha emphasized that the current Fed stance leans toward a reluctance to pursue additional rate hikes, with the prevailing base case being that the Fed's tightening cycle has concluded.

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