A Neutral Fed Announcement Spooks Markets

The Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) issued a statement today that sent the US markets into a nose-dive.  With earnings across most sectors disappointing the markets throughout January, and with economic data being a further disappointment, speculation on the street was pushing estimates of interest rate hikes out into the September time-frame.  The Fed dispelled those notions this afternoon, and the Dow tumbled 190 points in response.

In today's release, FOMC stated, "Based on its current assessment, the Committee judges that it can be patient in beginning to normalize the stance of monetary policy."  This is being interpreted as indicating a rate increase announcement no earlier than June, however it's not the dovish indicator the markets were hoping for.

It doesn't help that the FOMC's assessment of current economic conditions appears to be a bit rosier than those being seen by investors and traders.  Consider the following statements:

FOMC stated, "Labor market conditions have improved further, with strong job gains and a lower unemployment rate."  While it's true that unemployment has declined to about the 5.6% level, the Participation Index - a much more accurate measure of the workforce - has declined to its lowest level (62.7%) since 1978 and it continues to decline.  This would indicate that the number of eligible workers that are unemployed is increasing, not decreasing.  As to job gains, if you take Texas, Washington DC, Arkansas, and Utah out of the mix, the nation is actually shedding jobs at a rapid rate.  Almost all of the net national gains are coming just from the state of Texas.

Job Gains vs Unemployment

Here's the raw data just for Texas: Joint Economic Committee - Texas Economic Data

Next, the FOMC stated, "Household spending is rising moderately."  That's an interesting view, considering the Retail Sales number recently released was the largest decline experienced in 11 months.  If household spending is rising, one must question where they are spending it since it clearly wasn't in retail stores last month. 

They stated, "Recent declines in energy prices have boosted household purchasing power."  There's certainly more money in the consumer's pockets resulting from a decline in gas prices, however, as has been discussed several times over the past couple of weeks, there is no evidence that the consumer is spending that money.  In fact, there's evidence mounting that the decline in energy prices is about to have an extreme negative impact in the oil producing states that have driven the overall job growth since the recession.  With oil rigs closing, and oil companies starting massive layoffs, the conditions in states like Texas, Oklahoma, California, and North Dakota, among others, will quickly deteriorate.

Finally, FOMC stated, "Inflation has declined further below the Committee’s longer-run objective, largely reflecting declines in energy prices.  Market-based measures of inflation compensation have declined substantially in recent months; survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable."  The problem with this statement is that both CPI and Core CPI are down.  This means that, even excluding food and energy, inflation is down. It makes sense, since wages are not increasing.  (Average in the latest release was a mere 1.7%.)  In other words, inflation is dropping, not because of energy prices, but because of a gradual softening of the economy as a whole.

What may have spooked the market the most is this phrase in their press release: "In determining how long to maintain this target range, the Committee will assess progress--both realized and expected--toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation." It's that "and expected" part that is disturbing.  Since their assessment of inflation to date is not accurate, the thought that they will react based on what they expect to happen implies a rate hike that will be premature in an economy that cannot tolerate it.

The only truly encouraging statement in the release is in the very last sentence: "The Committee currently anticipates that, even after employment and inflation are near mandate-consistent levels, economic conditions may, for some time, warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below levels the Committee views as normal in the longer run."  This is, from what we can determine, the only acknowledgement that there are global economic forces that are providing extreme headwinds to US economic growth.  The strength of the dollar, a crumbling European economy, the renewed threat of a Greek Crisis, and the evaporation of Russia's economy are enough to give even the most bullish investor pause.  Add to that a reduction in the rate of growth in China and India, and there's the prospect of a US economy barely able to sustain forward momentum.

We're nearing the end of this quarter's earnings season.  There are definitely very strong sectors that will provide excellent trading opportunities in this uncertain market.  Aerospace, Auto Parts, and Utilities are all looking pretty good right now.  Keep an eye on the remaining announcements, and trade into strength (or short into weakness, if that's to your liking.)  For now, though, expect volatility to remain high given the uncertainty around when the Fed will decide to move on rates.