S&P 500 - sidewaysUS stock indices finished lower on Tuesday with the broad-based, domestically-focused Russell 2000 leading the decline. The Russell represents US mid-to-smaller-cap stocks, and closed down 1.2%. It has now lost over 5% since making a fresh all-time high three weeks ago, after rallying 11% in the aftermath of Trump’s election victory in early November. The Dow has dropped around 3.5% from its own record high in early December. Yesterday’s loss meant that the old school, price-weighted index has registered nine successive losing sessions, its worst run in over six years. In contrast, the S&P 500 continues to consolidate just below all-time highs, while the NASDAQ 100 posted its own record high on Monday. Tech stocks continue to garner investor interest, despite their considerable outperformance in 2024. This morning, Tesla dropped 3%, pulling back a touch from its own all-time high hit on Monday. This followed news that the EV giant’s Shanghai plant manager is leaving the company. In contrast, NVIDIA jumped 3%, bouncing off the nine week low hit yesterday. Longer term US Treasury yields continue to creep up. The yield on the 10-year is back to a fresh four week high, above 4.40% and closing in on the potentially problematic level above 4.50%. This level could prove to be a headwind for equities. Bond yields will be in sharp focus this evening as the Federal Reserve announces its final rate decision of the year. The consensus expectation is that the Fed’s FOMC will cut by 25 basis points, taking the Fed Funds rate to 4.50% for a total 100 basis points-worth of rate cuts this year, beginning in September. But likely of greater importance will be the FOMC’s quarterly Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) where members give their forecasts for GDP growth, unemployment, inflation and the Fed Funds rate for next year and beyond. This will provide a set of guidelines for investors who currently predict just 50 basis points of additional cuts in 2025. Contrast this with September’s SEP when the FOMC forecast 100 basis points-worth of cuts next year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also host a press conference which will be of great interest to market participants. The prevailing view is that the Fed will accompany the rate cut with hawkish comments, indicating that it’s time to take a pause in loosening monetary policy. This seems wise, given the incoming Trump administration, the recent uptick in inflation, decent US economic growth and the strength of the US stock market.
