The S&P 500 Rises To New Highs With Highest Reported Inflation In Years
Inflation ruled the headlines in the trading week ending on Friday, 11 June 2021. But perhaps the most surprising outcome of the higher than expected inflation data that came out on Thursday, 10 June 2021 was its the effect of the report on U.S. stock prices. They rose to close at new record highs after the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index report for May 2021 became public.
From our perspective, the S&P 500 (Index: SPX) appears to be behaving consistently with investors focusing on the current quarter of 2021-Q2. That assessment assumes the amplification factor of the dividend futures-based model is -5, which may no longer be true. We are closely watching for indications that value has changed in response to the inflation report, where we don't yet have enough information to confirm a change. We may be revisiting this initial assessment as early as next week because we're also on the cusp of when the focus of investors will be forced to shift to another point of time in the future if it hasn't already.
The May 2021 inflation report is significant enough that we've gathered a range of analysis from investing professionals related to the main question it raises: Is it a short-term "transitory" affair or will it have long-lasting legs? Here's a short roundup of analysis on the "transitory" side of the argument:
- Goldman CFO says inflation likely transitory but a sharp rise would have ‘negative consequences’
- Markets Have Bought The Fed’s ‘Transitory’ Narrative Hook, Line And Sinker
- #MacroView: Rates, The Dollar & The 2021 Outlook
Here are several arguments favoring the interpretation higher inflation will be with us for an undetermined time to come:
- Deutsche Bank warns of global ‘time bomb’ coming due to rising inflation
- BofA Just Threw Up All Over The Fed's "Transitory" Argument: Here's Why
- Today's Consumer Inflation Cycle Comes With Yesteryear Denial, Problems & Consequences
And one last take, from RaboBank, which considers both possibilities:
And you thought it was going to be a dull summer! Let's close by rounding up the market-moving headlines of which we took note during the week that was...
Monday, 7 June 2021
- Signs and portents for the U.S. economy:
- Fed minions drive interest rates to 0%:
- Bigger inflation developing all over:
- Wall Street mixed as buyers step to sidelines
Tuesday, 8 June 2021
- Signs and portents for the U.S. economy:
- Bigger trouble developing in Eurozone:
- S&P 500 closes little changed as "meme stocks" extend rally
Wednesday, 9 June 2021
- Signs and portents for the U.S. economy:
- Fed minions drive interest rates to 0%:
- Bigger inflation developing all over:
- Wall Street reverses, closing lower ahead of inflation report
Thursday, 10 June 2021
- Signs and portents for the U.S. economy:
- Bigger inflation developing all over:
- Wall Street reverses, closing lower ahead of inflation report
Friday, 11 June 2021
- Signs and portents for the U.S. economy:
- Fed minions expected to announce slowing bond buys befoere end of 2021-Q3, starting with cuts to mortgage bond buys first:
- Recovery signs in Eurozone:
- Bigger inflation developing all over:
- BOJ minions coming to grips with never-ending stimulus:
- Wall Street ekes out gains to close languid week
Normally, we'd point to Barry Ritholtz' weekly succinct summation of his list of positives and negatives for the economy and markets at this point. Alas, he presented none of either this week!
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