Extreme hawkishness, risky assets broadly head lower, Housing cools, UAE plans on more output, gold slides, cryptos crushed

This week is not just about the Fed, but about a wrath of central banks that are mostly considering super-sized rate hikes. It is difficult to be buying up stocks with this lousy macro backdrop, persistent inflation pressures, global growth weakness, and slashed earnings outlooks. Pessimism for equities remains elevated as the US economy appears to have a one-way ticket towards a recession as the Fed is poised to remain aggressive. ​ The risks for a retest of the summer lows could easily happen if the Fed remains fully committed to its inflation fight. ​

Data

US homebuilder sentiment continues its record downward trajectory. ​ The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell three points to 46, a ninth straight monthly decline. Almost a quarter of builders noted that they are lowering prices as rates have jumped. ​ Despite rising costs for land, labor, and materials builders are lowering prices. ​ The housing market is cooling but it still has a long way to go.

Cryptos pummelled as yields soar

Cryptos are getting crushed as yields skyrocket and as pessimism grows for a sharper global slowdown. ​ The entire cryptoverse is vulnerable to surging borrowing costs and that risk remains front and center. ​ This week could be the catalyst that sends the market to pricing in peak Fed tightening. This could be the ripping the band-aid off moment for bitcoin as selling pressure could get ugly here but that might be what is needed to form a bottom. ​ ​

Ethereum’s post Merge hangover also continues after SEC’s Gensler suggests Ethereum could now mean the crypto becomes regulated as a security. ​ Ethereum was close to forming a bottom but Gensler’s warning unleashed another wave of selling. ​

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.