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US Stock Market Crashes amid Stronger US CPI Figures, Dollar on a Bullish Run

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Miguel A. Rodriguez
Miguel A. Rodriguez
05 November 2022
With expectations that the Fed will continue to raise interest rates, the US dollar gained momentum.

The US Consumer Price Index data released yesterday surprised the market on the upside. The year-on-year CPI in August was 8.3%, which was lower than in July but two points above the figure forecast by economists.   

However, the biggest surprise came from the core CPI, which rose to 6.3% in August, up from 6.2% the previous month, breaking a downward trend that had been in place since last April. 

The recent drop in the price of raw materials, especially petroleum distillates such as gasoline, has caused the CPI figure to fall, but in the core CPI, this component is excluded, along with more volatile food prices, making it a more structural price indicator. 

The rise in the core CPI indicates resistance to falling inflation, which has already been transmitted to the index's other components and provides arguments for the Federal Reserve to continue with high-interest rate hikes in its upcoming meetings. 

Yields on US Treasury bonds shot up with a rise of twenty basis points in the short part of the curve (2-year bonds) and with those of 10 years close to the last maximum of 3.49% reached in the month of June. With this huge rise in market interest rates and well-founded expectations that the Fed will continue its rate hike relentlessly, the US dollar gained a lot of momentum.  

The USD/JPY pair is already within striking distance of the recent high at 145.00, even though the Japanese economic authorities have expressed their disagreement with the yen's excessive and disorderly depreciation. The same thing happened with the EUR/USD pair, which literally crashed from 1.0160 to go below parity again. 

The most dramatic movements, however, occurred in the stock markets, which had benefited in recent days from optimistic expectations about the evolution of inflation. The figure published yesterday dealt a significant blow to the stock market, which is already concerned about disproportionate increases in interest rates, which, if they occur, will have a negative impact on the major stocks, especially technological ones. 

For this reason, the Nasdaq index suffered a loss of more than 4%, the largest drop since the one following Powell's speech, and undid more than half of the advances of the last four days.

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Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters 

This information/research prepared by Miguel A. Rodriguez does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any particular person. The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this research report, in part or in whole, certifies that the views about the companies and their securities expressed in this report accurately reflect his/her personal views and consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk.The research provided does not constitute the views of KW Investments Ltd nor is it an invitation to invest with KW Investments Ltd. The research analyst also certifies that no part of his/her compensation was, is, or will be, directly, or indirectly, related to specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.The research analyst in not employed by KW Investments Ltd. You are encouraged to seek advice from an independent financial adviser regarding the suitability of the investment, under a separate engagement, as you deem fit that conforms to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular financial needs before making a commitment to invest. The laws of the Republic of Seychelles shall govern any claim relating to or arising from the contents of the information/ research provided. 

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Miguel A. Rodriguez
Miguel A. Rodriguez
Financial Writer

Miguel worked for major financial institutions such as Banco Santander, and Banco Central-Hispano. He is a published author of currency trading books.