Weekly analysis


14 Feb

SNB to cut rates sooner than expected 

Inflation in Switzerland surprised observers with a much more moderate rise (+0.2%) than expected in January (+0.6%). Year-on-year, consumer prices rose by just +1.3%, well below the +1.7% expected by economists. Core inflation, excluding energy and food, showed an even more satisfactory trend, registering a (...) Pivotal point for the Swiss franc and positive outlook [...]
07 Feb

Rising dollar in a presidential election year  

The US currency, as expressed by its trade-weighted index, ended 2023 with a very slightly negative overall performance (-2.11%), following two years of average growth of around +7%. It starts 2024 with a slight rise of +1.92%, which statistically is not a decisive factor in anticipating (...) Yield spreads and statistics in favor of an [...]
01 Feb

The S&P Index approaches the 5,000-point threshold

With the week shaping up to be one of the most intense periods of corporate earnings announcements in the US, along with those of the technology blue chips, the S&P 500 index continues to soar, surpassing the 4,900-point threshold. By the end of January, the bullish recovery begun in November will have recorded its third [...]
25 Jan

Who owns the central banks whose monetary policies guide our economies?  

Foundations of central bank creation. The concept of decision-making independence. Roles, missions and objectives. Appointments linked to political power. Who are the shareholders? Who benefits from financial results? Real independence? Key points Who owns the central banks whose monetary policies guide our economies? Reminder of the foundations of central bank creation and the concept of [...]
24 Jan

Chinese equities on the brink of recovery ?

The Chinese authorities now look set to restore investor confidence in the equity market, putting an end to a 55% rout that will have cost investors more than $6,000 billion since the market top reached in January 2018 (33,484). China's bear market, now in its sixth year, has pushed Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index back [...]
17 Jan

What if Swiss inflation falls to +0.5% in March ?

Inflation in Switzerland has already reached the SNB's target for six months, while most other central bankers still need to steer its decline to approach their 2% target. Since June 2023, the Swiss CPI index has indeed slipped below the critical threshold of 2%, reaching its lowest point since the pandemic at 1.4% by the [...]
11 Jan

Normalization of yield curves in 2024

The preferred soft landing scenario for early 2024 will also support the continued normalization of inflation towards the Fed's target. The current inversion of yield curves in the USA is exclusively due to the high level of key rates and, consequently, of the short end of the yield curves. Against this backdrop, a 100 bp [...]
28 Dec

The Fed should lower its rates in March 2024  

Economic slowdown rather than recession. Inflation will reach the +2% target in Q2 2024. The Fed will have to cut rates. Continued readjustment of yield curves. The dollar under pressure. Positive outlook for equities. Key points Significant slowdown after an exceptional 3rd quarter Declining momentum raises fears of recession Leading indicators do not point to [...]
22 Dec

The surprise fall in inflation in the Euro zone reshuffles the cards

Entry into recession in Q4. Inflation declines faster than expected. New paradigm for ECB policy and euro bond yields. Favourable environment for securitized real estate and equities. Key points Eurozone GDP finally slips into negative territory in Q3 Technical recession expected in Q4 2023 Leading indicators point to a fall in activity Confidence indices stabilize [...]
20 Dec

Return of geopolitical influence on crude oil

The evolution of the global macroeconomic scenario, suggesting a weakening of growth prospects for 2024, has already had a fairly significant negative impact on crude oil prices in recent weeks. However, the relatively orderly decline in crude oil prices from almost $95 a barrel at the end of September to just $68 in mid-December, due [...]