(Bloomberg) — Treasuries rallied and U.S. stocks declined after a less-than-forecast increase in inflation was seen as giving Federal Reserve officials more flexibility when it comes to pulling back on stimulus. The dollar fluctuated.
Yields on benchmark 10-year notes fell 5 basis points to 1.26%, narrowing the yield gap between short- and longer-maturity U.S. debt. The financial, industrial and energy sectors led the S&P 500 lower even after the Labor Department reported that the consumer price index increased 0.3% from July. Economists called for a 0.4% gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was weighed down by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Caterpillar Inc.
“It appears that the continued rally in Treasuries is due to speculation that some people have that the CPI data pushes off the Fed” tapering, said Blake Gwinn, strategist at RBC Capital Markets. Gwinn said he doesn’t agree with that view, and continues to see the Fed’s announced the start of its reduction in asset purchases in November or December.
The CPI figures offer some validation of views among Fed officials and the Biden administration that high inflation will prove temporary. The report could also help blunt criticism from Republicans that President Joe Biden’s economic stimulus is spurring damaging inflation as he seeks to sell a $3.5 trillion long-term tax-and-spending package that’s also running into opposition from moderate Democrats.
The focus was firmly on price pressures, with a gauge of commodities around a decade-high. The global stock-market rally is facing headwinds amid concerns about the delta virus strain and risks from elevated inflation, which is being stoked by Covid-19 related supply disruptions.
“Today’s selloff in equities is simply a continuation of the weakness we saw last week,” said Adam Phillips, managing director of portfolio strategy at EP Wealth Advisors. “Although the August CPI report all but guarantees no taper announcement at next week’s FOMC meeting, the clear and present danger is around a slowing economy.”
Elsewhere, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed at the highest level since 1990. Hong Kong and China wavered as traders evaluated the troubles of indebted developer China Evergrande Group, Beijing’s regulatory curbs and a virus flareup.
Here are some events to watch this week:
China retail sales, property prices, industrial production, Wednesday
Quadruple witching day for U.S. markets, Friday
For more market analysis, read our MLIV blog.
Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
The S&P 500 fell 0.6% as of 4:02 p.m. New York time
The Nasdaq 100 fell 0.3%
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%
The MSCI World index fell 0.4%
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
The euro was little changed at $1.1804
The British pound fell 0.2% to $1.3806
The Japanese yen rose 0.3% to 109.67 per dollar
Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined five basis points to 1.27%
Germany’s 10-year yield declined one basis point to -0.34%
Britain’s 10-year yield was little changed at 0.74%
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed
Gold futures rose 0.7% to $1,807.20 an ounce
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