Market Trends - UK jobs data prompted traders to increase bets on Bank of England interest-rate cuts [1] - The pound retreated following the release of UK jobs data [1]

Market Overview - The market experienced a significant selloff on Friday due to tariff commentary, impacting the S&P 500 and NASDAQ, but showed signs of recovery over the weekend as optimism returned [2][3] - Key technical levels were breached, with the S&P 500 breaking its 20-day moving average and E-Mini S&P futures hitting the 50-day moving average [2] Government Shutdown Impact - The ongoing government shutdown is in its 13th day, with the market currently discounting its effects, although concerns about labor market impacts and federal worker payments are rising [8][9] - The CPI report is expected to be released on October 24th, which is crucial for social security adjustments, but there is uncertainty regarding the jobs data and its implications for Federal Reserve policy [12][14] Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices dipped below $60 per barrel for the first time since May, influenced by US-China tensions and geopolitical issues, indicating potential economic slowing [13][14] - Despite rising gasoline demand, concerns persist regarding China's reduced oil imports and OPEC's potential quota increases, which could further pressure prices [15][16] - A bounce back in oil prices is anticipated, but the current volume and price action suggest a cautious outlook, with potential supply shocks if favorable monetary policies are enacted [18][19]

Chicago Fed President Goulsby on squawkbox this morning defending the validity of BLS data and the shortcomings of relying just on private sector sources. Joining us here at Post9 this morning to talk more about it, Goldman Sachs chief economist John Hotsi is who normally joins us on jobs Friday. A little bit different today.It's a jobs Friday except they're not jobs. Yes. Do you do you feel like you're flying blind or no.He seems to think that um BLS is still the gold standard. Oh, for sure. It's a signifi ...

Geopolitical Developments & Market Impact - A 20-point proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, agreed upon by U S President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, awaits Hamas approval, potentially impacting regional stability and oil markets [1][5][38] - Qatar's role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas is crucial for the ceasefire, requiring a face-saving gesture, such as Israel expressing regret for a past attack [8][9][10] - The Israeli Shekel has strengthened against the USD by approximately 10% this year, reflecting the impact of geopolitical developments on local markets [46] - RBA (澳大利亚储备银行) holds cash rate at 36%, notes uncertainties in global environment and upside risks to inflation [40][41][42][43] Economic & Financial Market Trends - Looming U S government shutdown raises market risk, potentially delaying crucial jobs data release and impacting monetary policy assessment [2][3][23][25][44] - Gold hits record highs, massively outperforming Bitcoin, driven by uncertainty and a pullback in USD, with potential for further gains amid Fed rate cuts [3][4][23][32][33][44] - The market has aggressively priced in 3-4 rate cuts by June 2026, making upcoming jobs market data pivotal for determining monetary policy [27] - Potential tariffs on imports of timber and lumber, particularly impacting Canada, add to market uncertainty [23][39] - MSCI China is logging five-month gains, the longest streak since 2018, driven by better-than-expected PMI data and geopolitical signals [48] Energy Sector - Brent crude oil is slipping down by 08% ahead of the OPEC Plus meeting, where increased supply is expected [4] - The oil market is bearish due to well-supplied conditions, with focus on Iran snapback and Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to investment in gold over oil [52][53] - Afentra is cautious about oil price volatility, focusing on a strong balance sheet and strategic acquisitions [64][65][66] - Nigeria's government intervenes to resolve a clash between the petroleum and natural gas association and oil labor group, potentially impacting crude production of 650 thousand barrels a day [76][77][78]

Labor Market Data Concerns - Potential delays in the release of jobs data following a shutdown could complicate the Federal Reserve's decision-making process regarding the economy [1] - Over-reliance on a single report like the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) is discouraged; the industry should consider private sector reports like ADP for a broader view of the labor market [2] - The threat of permanent firings, as opposed to temporary furloughs, could further weaken the labor market [2] - The H-1B visa issue adds another layer of complexity and potential disruption to labor market data [3] Monetary Policy Outlook - The initial inclination is to proceed with the planned rate cut for October [3] - The possibility of a December rate cut is uncertain, depending on the resilience of economic growth and stickiness of inflation based on the latest data [4]

Group 1 - Gold prices declined as the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose to its highest level since September 11, impacting bullion priced in dollars [1][2] - Spot gold decreased by 0.7% to $3,736.16 per ounce, while silver fell after reaching over $44 per ounce earlier in the week [2] - Investors are awaiting key US inflation and jobs data, with expectations that the Fed's preferred measure of underlying inflation may have grown at a slower pace last month, which could support arguments for rate cuts [1]

Economic and Market Conditions - The U.S. stock markets have reached all-time highs, leading to increased investor anxiety due to the higher stakes involved [1][3] - The Federal Reserve's potential rate cuts could benefit the economy by steepening the yield curve, which may encourage bank lending [1][3] - Despite the potential benefits of rate cuts, the U.S. economy does not urgently require them, as lending has already accelerated from 2.8% to 4.5% year-over-year [3] Manufacturing Reshoring - The prospect of reshoring manufacturing in the U.S. does not guarantee positive outcomes for U.S. industrial stocks, as market focus remains on earnings rather than production locations [4] - Reshoring involves significant upfront and ongoing costs, including compliance with stringent environmental regulations, which could negatively impact profit margins [4][5] - The reshoring process is lengthy and complex, often taking years due to investment, planning, and regulatory hurdles, making it speculative to base current investments on this trend [5] Employment Data Reliability - The reliability of jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is diminishing due to declining response rates from firms, leading to potential revisions in the data [7][9] - Monthly jobs data is often too volatile for sound investment decisions, as it typically reflects past conditions rather than current market realities [10] Social Security Funding Concerns - The proposed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)" could reduce Social Security funding by an estimated $169 billion over the next decade, potentially shifting the program's insolvency date from Q3 2034 to Q1 2034 [11][14] - Despite concerns about insolvency, it is important to note that annual revenues would still cover approximately 70% to 80% of benefits through 2100 [12] - The OBBBA tax cuts represent only 4% of Social Security's revenues, with the majority coming from payroll taxes, which remain unaffected by the bill [14]

Monetary Policy Outlook - Morgan Stanley indicates the Federal Reserve's decisions will be driven by CPI (Consumer Price Index) and jobs data [1] - The Fed's policy will not be guided by the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium [1]

The Trump administration is considering changes to how the federal government collects and reports jobs data, according to White House officials https://t.co/rzukW0tqPV ...

Labor Market & Economy - The labor market shows signs of weakening, with the prime age employment rate (25-54 years old) down approximately 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous year, which is atypical for a strong economy [2] - College unemployment rates are increasing, suggesting that rationalizations of the jobs data, such as attributing it to immigration, may be flawed [3] - Real personal consumption has decreased in the first six months of the year, a fact that is not widely recognized [6] Consumer Spending & Housing - The housing sector is experiencing a recession, indicated by a sharp decline in single-family permits [6] - Consumers are financially vulnerable, with real spending declining, including a notable weakening in services [6][7] - Consumers may lack the capacity to absorb higher prices, potentially leading the Federal Reserve to consider rate cuts [5] Monetary Policy & Inflation - The Federal Reserve faces a challenging situation as inflation numbers might worsen during the summer [4] - Nominal incomes are slowing, providing a solid basis for policymakers like Governor Waller [4] - Broad capital expenditure (capex) outside of AI technology is expected to be sluggish due to companies' less optimistic outlook [7]