Jobs Data Dampers Q1 Rate Cut Odds
While the leading indicators of employment continue to point to a slowdown, coincident indicators like U.S. nonfarm payrolls and ADP employment data continue to surprise to the upside. For stock market bulls, that may be bad news as it takes hopes of a first-quarter rate cut off the table. 😞
As we’ve discussed, much of the market’s recent rally has come on the back of hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut rates as much as six times in 2024. Disinflation continues across most major metrics, but a tight labor market has kept consumers spending and the economy humming along. As a result, Jerome Powell and the Fed have been hesitant to loosen financial conditions too quickly.