US TSYS: Sentiment Gradually Improves on Possible Auto Tariffs

Apr-14 19:28
  • Treasuries looked to finish near late Monday highs (TYM5 +30.5 at 110-22, yield -.1176 to 4.3720%), stocks firmer despite ongoing tariff uncertainty. Information Technology sector shares still lead gainers in late trade despite ongoing tariff uncertainty after Trump denied that US officials said smartphones, computers, and other consumer electronics were excluded from tariffs over the weekend.
  • "There was no tariff exception" announcement Trump said, while officials are "looking at chips, whole electronics supply chain; chips to be assessed in national Security tariff probes." Nevertheless, "markets very strong once they got used to tariffs" Trump posted Monday.
  • Sentiment improved after midday on a couple items: Pres Trump said he was "exploring possible exemptions to his tariffs on imported vehicles and parts" while Fed Gov Waller called for "flexible" monetary policy while also maintaining his view that the inflationary effects of tariffs are likely to be temporary.
  • Initial greenback weakness was exacerbated by a more optimistic tone for risk sentiment, assisted by the tariff reprieves for key tech products (released late on Friday). This allowed the USD index to edge back towards Friday’s cycle low of 99.01. 5-year treasury yields are 14bps lower on the session, providing an additional dollar headwind.
  • Looking forward to Tuesday's data calendar: Empire Manufacturing and Import/Export Price Index data at 0830ET followed by US Tsy $48B 52W & $70B 6W bill sales at 1130ET.

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FED: March Economic Projections: Higher Inflation, Weaker Growth, Same Rates

Mar-14 21:28

The MNI Markets Team’s expectations for the updated Economic Projections in the March SEP are below. 

  • The unemployment rate is likely to rise slightly for 2025 alongside a downgrade in GDP growth, while the 2025 core and headline PCE inflation projections are set to rise again. Changes to later years will likely be limited, however.
  • More detail on the shift in Fed funds rate medians is in our meeting preview - we will add more color next week.



 

FED: Market Pricing Nearly 3 2025 Cuts As Conditions Tighten

Mar-14 21:25

Amid rising government policy uncertainty, sentiment among businesses and consumers has fallen sharply since the start of the year, while equities and the dollar have reversed their post-election rise. Overall, financial conditions have tightened, even if stress is not yet mounting, e.g. no major widening of credit spreads (the accompanying chart shows the Fed’s financial conditions impulse index but only through January).

  • Combined with growth fears, this has affected expectations for the Fed’s rate path, with around 18bp more cuts expected in 2025 compared with what was seen after the January FOMC. 65bp of cuts are priced for the year as a whole. 2025 cut pricing reached 71bp before the February inflation data and 76bp before the February payrolls report.
  • A rate cut is seen with near zero probability for March’s meeting, but the first full cut is just about priced for June, with a second nearly priced by September.
  • Chair Powell has no reason to endorse or refute these expectations – he’s likely to be happy with a press conference that ends with little discernable change in pricing.

 

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CANADA'S CARNEY ANNOUNCES ELIMINATION OF THE CONSUMER CARBON TAX

Mar-14 21:17
  • CANADA'S CARNEY ANNOUNCES ELIMINATION OF THE CONSUMER CARBON TAX