2023 Market Outlook
As we move into 2023, investor hopes have been bolstered for the year with latest inflation numbers coming in below expectations for two consecutive months, signalling that the end to the rate hike cycle may not be far off.
High & Falling Inflation
The headline inflation rate or CPI in the US slowed for a sixth straight month to 6.5% in December of 2022, the lowest since October of 2021, in line with market forecasts. It follows a 7.1% reading in November. On a monthly basis, the CPI flattened, following four consecutive months of increases, and compared with a rise of 0.1% in November.
The Fed Policy
The Fed’s meeting minutes from their Dec 13-14 policy meeting was released earlier this month. The meeting summary stated – “Participants generally observed that a restrictive policy stance would need to be maintained until the incoming data provided confidence that inflation was on a sustained downward path to 2 percent, which was likely to take some time,”....