EUROPEAN INFLATION: France Flash Inflation Slightly Softer Than Expected
Jan-31 08:33
France Flash HICP for January came in below expectations at 1.82% Y/Y (vs 1.9% consensus, 1.75% prior), and -0.18% M/M (vs -0.1% consensus, 0.21% prior). Similarly the national CPI came below consensus at 1.35% Y/Y (vs 1.5% consensus, 1.32% prior) and -0.13% M/M (vs 0.0% consensus, 0.19% prior). Looking at the details for the French national CPI (non-HICP):
- Services CPI (the weight of which has increased to 52.76% in 2025 of the national CPI index vs 51.60% in 2024) is estimated to have softened to 1.88% Y/Y (vs 2.24% in December) - the lowest since December 2021. The M/M rate fell 0.23% M/M (vs a rise of 0.49% in December). The press release notes the M/M fall was driven by transport despite an increase in insurance prices.
- The softening in services is moderated by a rebound in the broad 'manufactured products' component which is estimated to rise 0.16% Y/Y in January (vs a fall of 0.43% in December). Though on a monthly basis prices fell 1.10% due to "seasonal drop in the prices...generated by the winter sales on clothing and shoes".
- Energy prices are estimated to be firm in January at 2.79% Y/Y (vs 1.24% in December), with the M/M rate rising 1.68% (vs 0.71% in Dec).
- Tobacco prices softened to 6.01% Y/Y (from 8.74% in December), though on a monthly basis tobacco prices rose 3.79% (vs unchanged in December).
- Food prices were relatively stable at 0.09% Y/Y (vs 0.02% prior).
- The weight of services has increased to 52.76% in 2025 of the national CPI index vs 51.60% in 2024. The weights of all other key CPI categories fell. Manufactured products weighting fell to 22.82% from 23.24%, food fell to 14.67% from 15.07%, energy to 8.11% from 8.32% and tobacco to 1.64% from 1.77%. The HICP weightings for 2025 will be published with the final inflation reading.
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US TSYS: Tsy Curves Look To Finish 2024 at June'22 Highs
Dec-31 19:18
- Treasuries look to finish the last trading session of 2024 lower after reversing Tuesday morning support. Markets closed Wednesday for New Years day, resume full trade Thursday.
- The Mar'25 10Y contract trades 108-25.5 (-5.5) late in the day, 10Y yield near session high of 4.5871%. Curves bounced off flatter levels, 2s10s climbing to 34.344 -- the highest level since June 2022.
- Short end support, in turn, helped projected rate cuts into early 2025 gain momentum vs. late Monday levels (*) as follows: Jan'25 steady at -2.8bp, Mar'25 -14.6bp (-13.6bp), May'25 -20.6bp (-19.5bp), Jun'25 -29.8bp (-28.8bp).
- No substantive reaction to this morning's housing and regional Dallas Fed services activity data. Looking ahead to Thursday data (prior, est): Initial Jobless (219k, 221k) and Continuing Claims (1.910M, 1.890M) at 0830ET; S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI (48.3, 48.3) at 0945ET; Construction Spending MoM (0.4%, 0.3%) at 1000ET.
- Treasury supply: $85B 4- & $80B 8W bill auctions at 1130ET, $64B 17W bill auction at 1300ET.
COMMODITIES: WTI Futures, Gold Holding Higher
Dec-31 18:47
WTI futures are trading higher today as the contract extends recent gains. A stronger reversal to the upside would refocus attention on key short-term resistance at $76.41, the Oct 8 high. Initial firm resistance is unchanged at $71.97. A bear threat in Gold remains present. The yellow metal traded sharply lower on Dec 18 and the move undermines a recent bull theme. A resumption of weakness would open key support at $2536.9, the Nov 14 low.
- WTI Crude up $0.9 or +1.27% at $71.88
- Natural Gas down $0.32 or -8.13% at $3.618
- Gold spot up $19.24 or +0.74% at $2625.86
- Copper down $6.95 or -1.7% at $402.3
- Silver down $0.1 or -0.34% at $28.8383
- Platinum up $3.96 or +0.44% at $908.02
US STOCKS: Late Equity Roundup: Tech & Interactive Media Sectors Underperforming
Dec-31 18:36
- Stocks are trading near session lows after reversing early session gains. Though off this year's record highs (SPX Eminis 6178.75, DJIA 45,073.63, Nasdaq 20,204.58) major averages will finish the year with double digit gains: SPX Eminis +19.5%, DJIA +13.1%, while the Nasdaq gained 29.9%!
- Currently, the DJIA trades down 92.19 points (-0.22%) at 42474.46, S&P E-Minis down 28 points (-0.47%) at 5929.75, Nasdaq down 147 points (-0.8%) at 19337.13.
- Information Technology and Communication Services shares underperformed continued to underperform late Tuesday, shares of software and semiconductor makers weighing on the tech sector: Nvidia -1.61%, Advanced Micro Devices -1.36%, Crowdstrike Holdings -1.28%.
- Interactive media and entertainment shares weighed on the Communication Services sector: Alphabet -0.9%, Live Nation -0.76%, Netflix -0.60%, Meta -0.41%.
- On the positive side, Energy and Materials sectors outperformed in the second half, oil & gas stocks buoyed the Energy sector as crude prices continued to rise (WTI +1.0 at 71.99): APA Corp +3.59%, Marathon Petroleum +2.46%, Occidental Petroleum +2.15%.
- Meanwhile, shares of chemical & fertilizer makers supported the Materials sector: Mosaic +2.44%, Celanese +1.42%, Dow +1.37%.
- Looking ahead, the next round of quarterly earnings kicks off mid-January with Blackrock, Bank of NY Melon, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, US Bancorp, M&T Bank and PNC all reporting between January 13-16.
