S&P 500, Dow Slide as Treasury Yields Rise, Fed Decision Looms By Quiver Quantitative

Quiver Quantitative – The S&P 500 and faced declines on Tuesday, with investors cautiously navigating a modest rise in Treasury yields. This cautious atmosphere is primarily due to anticipation around the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts in 2024 and upcoming inflation data. With the CME’s FedWatch Tool indicating a diminishing probability of a rate cut in March, Treasury yields have been hovering around the 4% mark. The notably reached a high of 4.053% during the session, reflecting the market’s uncertainty.

This week is critical for investors as they brace for additional Treasury supply and key economic data releases, including the consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI). Moreover, the earnings season is set to unofficially begin on Friday with reports from major banks like JPMorgan (JPM). According to Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder in New York, the market’s current volatility is a result of speculation regarding the Fed’s actions and upcoming economic data, with investors trying to anticipate future trends.

Market Overview:
-US equities wobble as Treasury yields inch higher, reflecting diminished expectations for aggressive Fed easing in 2024.
-Data deluge looms with CPI and PPI on the horizon, further clouding the interest rate trajectory.
-Tech shines amidst sector swings, while Boeing (NYSE:) dips and Juniper Networks (NYSE:) soars on acquisition bid.

Key Points:
-Hopes for an early March rate cut fade, with CME’s FedWatch Tool showing a declining probability compared to previous weeks.
-Benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hovers near 4%, keeping investors on edge ahead of key inflation data releases.
-Market braces for volatility, with both earnings season kicking off and economic releases on the docket.

Looking Ahead:
-CPI and PPI data this week will be crucial in shaping Fed expectations and future market trends.
-Earnings season, starting with banks like JPMorgan, could bring further stock fluctuations based on individual company performance.
-Fed Vice Chair Barr’s remarks later today could offer additional insights into the central bank’s policy stance.

In terms of individual stocks, Boeing (BA) saw its shares fall for the second consecutive day, dropping 1.3% amid ongoing investigations by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board into a recent incident. In contrast, Juniper Networks experienced a significant surge, jumping 22.2% following reports that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:) is in discussions to acquire the networking product maker in a deal valued at $13 billion. However, HPE’s shares dropped by 7.3% in response to the news.

The market’s movements also reflect reactions to comments from Federal Reserve officials. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic emphasized the necessity of maintaining tight monetary policy, while Fed Governor Michelle Bowman showed a willingness to support rate cuts as inflation eases. As investors await further remarks from Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr for additional insights into the policy outlook, the market’s direction remains closely tied to these evolving economic narratives.

This article was originally published on Quiver Quantitative