April began with the shock of tariff announcements that were much more punitive than anticipated by businesses, markets, investors, and economists. Equity markets promptly pulled back, even entering bear territory, although not closing there.
April had it all, and most of it was not so great. Inflation is proving sticky again and the economy grew less than expected in the first quarter.
May was a month of differing perspectives. Markets turned positive on a belief that a solution on tariffs would be eventually forthcoming, and the continued whipsawing headlines began to have a muted impact. The Fed stuck to its position that more data was needed before a further move on rates. Economic data remained positive, painting the picture of an economy that is still healthy and potentially resilient. Economists and other observers, however, began to tilt somewhat towards a scenario in which challenges begin to arise.
As jargon goes, “yield curve” is one of the worst offenders. However, when you look closely at how interest rates work, it’s easy to understand why the yield curve is important, and why many traders and investors use it to help forecast what’s ahead for markets and the economy.
The month started out on a positive note as CPI came in lower than expected, creating a brief respite from worries about the impact of tariffs. It was short-lived, as the result of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at mid-month was policy stasis with no changes to rates. Even more unsettling to the markets was the Fed’s signal of fewer rate cuts in 2025.
Performance in both stocks and bonds has responded to the prospect of rate cuts, even if the timing continues to be delayed.
The transition to a new administration is underway with announcements of cabinet position nominees. The pro-business lean of the incoming government is not a surprise, and the emphasis is likely to be on deregulation and tax cuts. Several of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 were set to expire in 2025, and those may get a reprieve.