熊园：美联储“内斗”上演—兼评美国Q2 GDP和7月议息会议

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. economy showed slight deceleration in Q2, but remains resilient, with GDP growth at an annualized rate of 3.0%, exceeding expectations. The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates, but internal divisions are growing, with a less than 50% probability of a rate cut in September [1][2][25]. Economic Performance - The U.S. Q2 actual GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3.0%, surpassing the expected 2.4% and previous -0.5%. The year-on-year GDP growth was 2.0%, consistent with prior values. PCE inflation for Q2 was 2.1%, below the expected 2.9% and previous 3.7% [1][17]. - Private consumption contributed positively to GDP, increasing from 0.3% to 1.0%, while private investment saw a decline from 3.9% to -3.1%. Net exports shifted from a negative contribution of -4.6% to a positive 5.0% [7][17]. Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve decided to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.5%, aligning with market expectations. Notably, two Fed governors voted against the decision, advocating for a 25 basis point cut, marking a rare occurrence of dissent [1][17]. - Fed Chair Powell indicated that current monetary policy is moderately restrictive, with inflation remaining a concern. He noted that tariffs are beginning to affect prices and that future inflation impacts are expected [17][19]. Market Reactions - Following the Fed's decision, U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar rose, while stock markets and gold prices fell. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones indices decreased by 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively, while the 10-year Treasury yield increased by 4.6 basis points to 4.37% [19][25]. - Market expectations for a rate cut in September dropped significantly, with implied probabilities falling from 70% to 44%, and the anticipated number of cuts for the year reduced from 1.8 to 1.4 [2][25]. Economic Outlook - The U.S. economy is expected to experience a soft landing, supported by factors such as balance sheet repair, loose monetary policy, and favorable fiscal conditions. However, inflation risks remain, and the Fed is likely to prioritize inflation control over rate cuts [2][27].