SP500 stalls as rate cut debate continues

Pre FOMC nerves on display as overnight events conspired to leave traders deeply divided over whether the Fed will cut by 25bp or by 50bp at their upcoming July 31st FOMC meeting.

Commencing proceedings, an unambiguously strong U.S. retail sales number for June. The retail control measure (ex-autos, gasoline, building materials) printed at +0.7%, well above consensus expectations of a +0.3% gain. The June number was accompanied by upward revisions to previous months numbers, the result of which will be upside revisions to U.S. Q2 GDP forecasts.

In more normal times, evidence of robust consumer spending coming hot on the heels of stronger than expected Non-Farm Payrolls, CPI and PPI data would prevent any thoughts of a rate cut entering traders’ minds.

However, we live in unusual times and ahead of Pre FOMC blackout period which begins this weekend a host of Fed speakers hit the wires overnight to emphasize this. Perhaps the most notable comment was from Dallas Fed President Kaplan who just three weeks ago argued against an immediate rate cut, stating he is now open to a “tactical adjustment” in the form of a “modest, restrained, limited move”.

Keeping the pressure on both the Fed committee and China, U.S. President Trump warned that he could impose more tariffs on China “We have a long way to go as far as tariffs where China is concerned if we want. We have another $325 billion we can put a tariff on.” Little wonder then why there remains 31 bp of cuts priced for July and why S&P500 traders elected to take some profits off the table.

Technically the S&P500 has stalled from ahead of the critical 3030/3050 resistance area, highlighted in recent reports and which comes from the broken uptrend line, from the 2016 1802, low.

While it is possible that the S&P500 is in the early stages of a fourth consecutive rejection and breakdown from the broken uptrend line, more evidence is required. That evidence would be a break and close below the May 1^st, 2961 high. Until then, a retest and push above 3030/3050 cannot be ruled out.

Source Tradingview. The figures stated are as of the 17th of July 2019. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.  This report does not contain and is not to be taken as containing any financial product advice or financial product recommendation

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