Archives of “May 2, 2019” day
rssICYMI – FOMC recap
The Federal Open Market Committee announcement and Powell’s presser were Wednesday US time.
- No signal of a policy shift from the Committee. No one expcted any, so no surprise here. in policy today.
- FOMC cut to interest on excess reserves IOER (by 0.05%) – this a technical adjustment to keep fed funds rate within the target range
- There was an acknowledgement of weaker inflation in the statement … Chair Powell followed up in news conference saying weak inflation pressures may be cause by transitory factors
Summing up … not as dovish as was expected. USD gained, stocks took a wee hit lower.
US-China trade deal ‘possible’ by next Friday – report
CNBC report
US negotiators are in Beijing today while Chinese officials will head to Washington next week. A deal is ‘possible’ according to a source cited by CNBC.
I doubt this moves the needle much but here’s the report.
The full FOMC statement for May 2019
FOMC statement from the May 2019
Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in March indicates that the labor market remains strong and that economic activity rose at a solid rate. Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Growth of household spending and business fixed investment slowed in the first quarter. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy have declined and are running below 2 percent. On balance, market-based measures of inflation compensation have remained low in recent months, and survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.
Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 percent. The Committee continues to view sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective as the most likely outcomes. In light of global economic and financial developments and muted inflation pressures, the Committee will be patient as it determines what future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate may be appropriate to support these outcomes.
In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; James Bullard; Richard H. Clarida; Charles L. Evans; Esther L. George; Randal K. Quarles; and Eric S. Rosengren.
US Indices end at lows after rally fizzles on Powell’s less dovish comments
Stocks take another run down after the press conference ends
The stocks gave up ground as soon as Powell said that inflation influences may be transient. He completed his press conference, and gave up more ground into the close.
The major indices are closing at the lows of the day. For the S&P, it made new all time highs and reversed lower which is not all that great for those analyzing the price action..
The final numbers are showing:
- S&P fell -22.10 points or -0.75% at 2923.73
- Nasdaq fell -45.74 points or -0.57% at 8049.64
- Dow fell -162.77 points or -0.61% at 26430.14
Some winners
- Apple, +4.91%
- Netflix, +2.23%
- Alibaba, +2.04%
- Celegene, +0.38%
- Qualcomm, was 0.28%
Losers on the day:
- Schlumberger, -3.09%
- AMD, -2.97%
- Intuit, -2.87%
- Home Depot, -2.42%
- Mastercard, -2.18%
- Alphabet, -2.14%