Consumer Price Index Data Looms
Over Markets
It‘s inflation day! If you’re someone who has been
following the markets this year, the monthly
US Consumer Price Index data has become
the “main event” of the month, and today is no
different. The Consumer Price Index, or CPI, is
the primary tool for inflation in a country.
The
index is expected to have fallen to %8.1 on the
year from %8.5 in the month prior, which would
suggest inflation has “peaked”. The Federal
Reserve has already raised interest rates by 50
basis points in a meeting last week, and there
is speculation of a massive 75 basis point hike
if todays inflation data shows another -40
year high. Arguably the biggest loser from the
persistent, surging inflation is the NASDAQ100,
so lets look at the potential impact on this
popular index.
If CPI is less than expected
If inflation readings come in cooler and show
that potentially the worst is behind us, then this
could be the catalyst stocks need to trade higher.
If CPI is higher than expected
If inflation readings come in hotter and show
yet another -40year high, then this could spell
more trouble for stocks.
This is the bear case for the NASDAQ100. Price
action in this scenario could be a retest of the
-200day moving average, before smashing
through March 2021s lows and making a
broader move towards to daily imbalance area.