A combination of growing expectations of a positive meeting between the U.S. and China during the weekend’s G20 conference in Argentina and dovish comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell regarding monetary policy helped move U.S. equity markets higher and the U.S. dollar and 10-year Treasury rates lower.
Continuing concerns of slower global growth compounded by growing concerns of a U.S. slowdown helped push the S&P 500 lower last week moving its year-to-date performance into negative territory for the first time this year.
Up nearly 0.7% through Tuesday on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank would continue raising interest rates as a result of a stronger-than-expected PPI report the previous week, the U.S. dollar finished the week down almost 0.5% after Federal Reserve Bank Vice Chairman Richard Clarida commented that interest rates are reaching neutral levels and that the U.S.Federal Reserve Bank needed to be aware of any slowing of economic growth.
Initially weakening on the back U.S mid-term election results, the U.S. dollar moved higher on Thursday and Friday with a stronger-than-expected PPI report on Friday and an FOMC statement – coming at the end of a 2-day meeting on Thursday– indicating the Federal Reserve Bank would continue with its tightening policy.