The Market is Almost Wrong about What the Fed Will Do Actually, the Fed decides when to raise rates. But the market decides when to cut rates: “Markets have accurately priced in cuts before easing cycles begin.” Keep in mind that rate cut expectations are highly predictive six months in advance. You may also like “Fed Policy…
Fed Monetary Policy Rate Change over 6 Months Prices in (Futures) vs. Actual Actually, the Fed decides when to raise rates, but the market decides when to cut rates. This chart shows that rate expectations are highly predictive six months in advance. You may also like “Markets Have Accurately Priced in Cuts before Easing Cycles…
Expected Fed Funds Rate as of June 1, 2019 Traders are pricing in two full cuts in the fed funds target before the end of 2019. Fed funds futures for January 2020 imply an expected rate of only 1.85%. Let’s hope the Fed gets the message from the market. You may also like “Markets Have…
Markets Have Accurately Priced in Cuts before Easing Cycles Begin Orange lines mark days when markets priced in a rate cut. In recent history, it occurs between 33 and 281 business days before fed cut. The average is 120 business days. So, the Fed’s rate cut could take place in September 2019. You may also…
U.S. Payrolls and Recessions U.S. payroll growth rarely dips this low without a recession. It slowed sharply in late 2025, but analysts expect a rebound this year as productivity gains, Fed rate cuts, and fiscal stimulus lift GDP growth. Image: Bloomberg
U.S. Treasury Index – Annual Return U.S. Treasuries are on track for their strongest annual performance since 2020, lifted by Fed rate cuts and a cooling labor market that is fueling bets on more monetary easing. Image: Bloomberg
U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) and U.S. Monetary Easing Fed rate cuts don’t always spell a softer dollar. When viewed as a push to steady the economy, they can fuel near-term demand for the greenback. Image: TS Lombard
Flows into Metals Funds Commodity funds—especially those tracking gold and silver—have seen a surge of inflows in recent weeks, fueled by geopolitical jitters, bets on Fed rate cuts, and steady central bank buying. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Financial Gold Models Deutsche Bank has raised its gold price forecast to an average of $4,000 per ounce for 2026, driven by strong central bank buying, a weakening U.S. dollar, expected Fed rate cuts, and ongoing global uncertainties. Image: Deutsche Bank
U.S. Labor Market – Job Openings per Unemployed Worker The ratio of U.S. job openings to unemployed workers below 1 indicates labor market weakness, with policy uncertainty and slowing demand increasing the likelihood of a September Fed rate cut. Image: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
VIX – Volatility Index Market confidence and complacency, spurred by expectations of Fed rate cuts and strong economic data, have pushed the VIX to its lowest level in 2025; yet, volatility may resurface before year-end. Image: The Daily Chartbook