This "Markets Weekly" video discusses recent market movements, focusing on the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December and emerging concerns about the AI narrative that has been a significant driver of equity market gains.
The speaker notes that the past week saw the end of the US government shutdown, but also the unfortunate loss of crucial economic data like October's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and Consumer Price Index (CPI). Despite a positive start to the week, equity markets experienced volatility, particularly on Thursday, before rebounding from the 50-day moving average on the S&P 500 on Friday.
The market's nervousness stems from two key factors: a perceived decrease in the probability of a December Fed rate cut, and emerging doubts about the sustainability of the AI-driven rally.
Initially, after the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, markets priced in a near-certain December rate cut based on the "dot plot," which indicated that a majority of Fed officials anticipated a rate reduction. However, at the subsequent October meeting, Fed Chair Powell explicitly stated that a December rate cut was "not a foregone conclusion," suggesting a lack of consensus within the committee. Following this, numerous Fed speakers echoed a hawkish sentiment, citing concerns about persistent inflation and a seemingly robust labor market.
The speaker elaborates on the challenges facing the Fed. Inflation remains stubbornly around 2.7%, while the unemployment rate is gradually rising, creating conflicting signals. Uncertainty also surrounds the impact of tariffs on inflation and the restrictiveness of the current monetary policy. Divergent risk tolerances among Fed members further complicate the situation, contributing to the market's reassessment of a December rate cut.
Historically, mania phases in markets have been associated with central banks raising rates. At the moment, it is historically strange because the Fed is discussing rate cuts in this period.
Despite the hawkish rhetoric, the speaker believes a December rate cut remains likely. The lack of significant new economic data since September, coupled with the economic headwinds created by the government shutdown, should have reinforced a dovish stance. Importantly, dovish voices on the Fed board still hold sway, and weaker-than-expected data would strengthen the case for a rate cut. Research suggesting that tariffs are disinflationary and increase unemployment further contradicts arguments for maintaining a hawkish approach.
The second major concern relates to cracks in the AI narrative. The speaker identifies two specific issues: widening credit default swap (CDS) spreads for certain AI-related companies, and scrutiny of depreciation accounting practices. The increase in CDS spreads for companies like Oracle and CoreWeave, which are involved in building AI infrastructure, indicates growing concern among bond investors about their ability to repay debt. Oracle's post-earnings rally, fueled by promises of significant AI-related build-out, is viewed skeptically by bond investors who prioritize repayment and cash flow generation.
Michael Burry, who predicted the 2008 financial crisis, has raised concerns about the depreciation schedules used by tech companies for their GPU (graphics processing unit) assets. Burry suggests that the currently used five-year depreciation lifespan for GPUs is too long, leading to understated expenses and artificially inflated profits. A shorter depreciation lifespan would increase annual depreciation charges, reducing reported earnings.
While these cracks exist, the speaker emphasizes that the vast majority of AI spending is financed by hyperscalers like Meta, Google, and Amazon, which generate substantial cash flows. Although these companies have also cut costs by reducing the size of their labor forces to save money and buy AI data centers.
Looking ahead, the speaker anticipates a significant week with the release of delayed September Nonfarm Payroll (NFP) data and Nvidia's earnings report. A positive outcome from Nvidia, reaffirming the AI narrative, coupled with weaker-than-expected economic data supporting a December rate cut, could trigger a seasonal rally and a further rise in the S&P 500.