Labor Market
The Riksbank held at 2.0% as core inflation remains above target, though easing pressures are building. July headline inflation had slightly cooled, but core remains above both the bank’s forecast and the 1-3% target band. Inflation drivers point to…
US housing data remain weak, reinforcing a fragile growth backdrop and the need for equity downside protection. July housing starts rose 5.2% m/m (annualized), but building permits fell 2.8% following a small June decline. The August NAHB Housing Market…
UK data momentum is fading, keeping Gilts attractive and GBP vulnerable. At 5.60%, 30-year Gilts trade at their highest yields since the late 1990s, reflecting persistent pressure on the long end across DMs. The Bank of England has lagged the ECB in its…
A smooth S&P 500 rally has crushed volatility, but stretched signals argue for buying protection. The index has climbed back to all-time highs with almost no drawdown, producing a steady decline in realized volatility. This has pushed implied…
Retail sales and consumer sentiment data point to slowing underlying momentum despite headline resilience. Retail sales rose 0.5% m/m in July, below estimates and decelerating from 0.9% in June. The control group beat estimates at 0.5% but also slowed.…
July PPI surprised sharply to the upside, but inflation pressures are likely to remain limited. Headline PPI rose 0.9% m/m (3.3% y/y) in July from 0.0% m/m (2.3% y/y) in June, while core PPI gained 0.6% m/m (2.8% y/y). PPI components feeding into PCE…
July US CPI met expectations as leading indicators point to disinflation, supporting our long duration stance and preference for 2s5s steepeners. Headline CPI rose 0.2% m/m (2.7% y/y), while core increased 0.3% m/m and accelerated to 3.1% y/y. Both goods…
The July NFIB survey showed a rebound in expectations, but underlying weakness reinforces left-tail risks and supports a moderate risk-off allocation. The headline index rose to 100.3, a five-month high, but remains below December 2024 levels. The…
The RBA delivered a widely expected cut to 3.6%, but resilient data warrant an ACGBs underweight. The 25 bps cut was the third this year and Governor Bullock’s guidance was consistent with a cut every other meeting, keeping ACGB yields roughly…
In a widely anticipated move, the RBA resumed cutting rates. However, with housing, consumption, and PMIs improving, we see little scope for the RBA to ease beyond market expectations.