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• 4Q growth at 2.6% annualized pace, cooling less than expected, as business spending accelerated, but down from 3.4% in 3Q.
• Still, GDP grew 3.1% from a year earlier, the most since 2015 and a chance for the White House to claim a win
• Consumer spending decelerated to 2.8%, missing the 3% forecast yet still solid
• Non-residential investment held up with a 6.2% gain, even as investing in structures fell 4.2%, the most in a year
• Equipment investment picked up to 6.7% from 3.4%, while intellectual property jumped 13.1% following 5.6%
• Reduced services during the government shutdown subtracted about 0.1 percentage point from 4Q growth, the Commerce Department said in a technical note
• Net exports subtracted 0.22 percentage point from growth
• Inflation doesn’t add much urgency for the Fed, with the PCE gauge rising 1.5% and the core measure up 1.7%
• Defense spending grew 6.9%, the most in nine years
• Housing was a drag on growth for a fourth-straight quarter

After a day of Unwinds the risk parity trade back on track as both treasuries,bonds just above yesterday’s highs and stocks,spx +.6% higher today. The heavy dose of Fed speak reiterates: inflation not a problem in fact persistently low inflation is a bigger problem,We still believe in phillips curve and the neutral Rate of Interest likely to stay depressed for some time.A quick note on phillips curve if we take Williams and Daly at their word then Jobs gains can continue without sparking wage gains,further evidence that higher inflation is not a worry. Clarida also said that Fed will be looking at new ways to Stimulate economy when the time comes,such as capping yields on treasuries,I thought a bold an important statement.SPX needs to trade above 2800 to get another shot of upside momentum,10 year yields need to break below 2.61% to get break the sideways range it has been stuck in.

Feds powell testifies next week,Q4 GDP,Housing Starts so plenty of event risk to create some volatility,I hope,

Alerts History

• 22-Feb-2019 11:00:00 AM – FED’S CLARIDA SAYS FED IS LAUNCHING BROAD REVIEW OF POLICY FRAMEWORK
• 22-Feb-2019 11:00:00 AM – FED’S CLARIDA SAYS FED WILL WEIGH CHANGES TO INFLATION-TARGETING FRAMEWORK
• 22-Feb-2019 11:00:00 AM – FED’S CLARIDA SAYS FED WILL CONSIDER NEW TOOLS TO EASE POLICY IF NEEDED
• 22-Feb-2019 11:00:00 AM – CLARIDA SAYS NEW TOOLS TO BE REVIEWED INCLUDE SOME FED REJECTED BEFORE, LIKE CAPPING TREASURY YIELDS
• 22-Feb-2019 11:00:00 AM – CLARIDA SAYS FED IS ALSO REVIEWING WAYS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS

very interesting Chart From SMBC capital

Yesterday’s action in Stocks resulted in the first down day for both the Nasdaq composite and Russell 2k in the last nine trading sessions, second for Spx during that time frame. YTD  dow and SPX ~ +10.7%,Russell +16.8%,NDX +11, S&P 600,Small caps+16%, Both SOX (Semi) and KBW bank index  +16.8%. The percent of companies in SPX trading above 50 D MA is 91%, the Highest in 3+ years it goes for Nasdaq at 72% this is not an overbought indicator but something to take note of. I will be watching to see if this percent starts to deteriorate as this could indicate upside Momentum is slipping or has reached a peak. The Fed is never going to hike again trade may again take a hit today as A plethora of Fed Speakers will be at Conference in New York speaking on Inflation, Balance sheet and the Economy.

 Copper having herself a week +6% in Comex 5.2% LME as stockpiles shrink. Per LME statistics, Copper in warehouses would only satisfy 13 days of Demand, near a record low. The cash-3 mo LME spread has been in backwardation for last 6 days, Spot higher then deferred price, touching the highest level at one point in 4 years. Helping copper advance is continuing speculation that US / China trade deal will result in positive outcome, Copper +1.5% so far today.

  Other markets Show oil +1%, Spoos +11 handles, Bunds +40 ticks, Dollar small bid and treasuries steady to higher. All is well in the World optimism regarding China /US trade deal grows, US Deficit is not a concern and Global growth Trade is not an issue.

 Zero Economic data today thus all eyes and ears will be the Fed conference in New York with the First speaker Bostic, Speaking at 7:20.Vice chairman Clarida speaks at 11:00 this is the highlight on the schedule. For good measure Draghi speaks at 10:15.No I.G. corporate deals announced overnight  so it looks like a quiet day ,Some  of yesterday’s  selling in Bonds was  caused by the Heavy Corporate slate of Deals.

Plenty of action/Volatility in treasury Complex today driven by large amount of IG paper announced today,Fed unwind trade,Roll activity and just maybe the late to the party short Vol traders getting a bit nervous.lets look at generic Vol metrics to see what Vol has been doing lately ,it has been trending lower.

Lets look at today’s Change in Interest rates across the Treasury Curve

A handful of items causing the weakness in longer end today,A 30 year tips auction shouldn’t be ignored at noon.

.. As Dovish Fed trade is unwound as yield curve bear steepens