European equity markets opened cautiously higher on Thursday, following a mixed session in Asia amid nerves around the US inflation release later in the day.
This inflation print has been the main topic of conversation all week. The jobs report last Friday changed the dynamic in the markets and ensured that not only was this CPI report going to be important but, in all likelihood, pivotal ahead of next month’s Fed meeting.
We’ve gone from inflation declining but the labor market being stubbornly tight to both appearing to sing from the same hymn sheet. Cracks are appearing in the economy following a very aggressive tightening cycle leading to cooling demand, prices, and wage demands. Unemployment remains low as employers have been reluctant to lay people off, but there’s every chance that will follow.
The Fed doesn’t want to be responsible for a needlessly sharp downturn, and the lag effect of monetary policy means that it is a risk when the central bank is raising rates as aggressively as they have been.
Another good inflation report today, particularly on the core side, will give policymakers more than enough reason to slow the pace of tightening further and even lower the terminal rate projections in March if it continues.
Bitcoin Buoyed by Risk Recovery
Bitcoin is capitalizing on the improvement in risk appetite that we’re seeing in the broader markets, rallying more than 4% today before paring gains just shy of the December peak.
After weeks of treading water between $16,000 and $17,000, cryptos have been given new life by the jobs report and the risk rally that has ensued. Another positive inflation reading today could see it trading at levels not seen since the early days of the FTX collapse.