[Music] On June 18th, the Federal Reserve wrapped up its most recent FOMC meeting where they left the Fed funds rate unchanged for the fourth straight time and gave the largely expected comments about continuing to monitor inflation and labor market data amid ongoing economic uncertainty. The chairman mentioned particular uncertainty around the inflationary effects of tariff policy. It takes some time for tariffs to work their way through the chain of distribution to the end consumer.we're beginning to see ...

Holy shit the dollar is speed running to 0.If we actually get 7 rate cuts, this thing will be like 85 if we're lucky. https://t.co/Hh3KypOkfJ ...

like Matt on because you're trying to figure out what exactly are we not thinking of in terms of the market action why are we higher why is V down all these things that you wouldn't have thought we play that game if I told you what had happened would you be able to tell me what the reaction the market% none of this today I would give maybe maybe yields maybe yields lower it was the only one I potentially could have gotten right based on but in terms of crude oil being down 6% absolutely not the S&P rallying ...

All right, we turn our attention to the ETFs. Uh we're tracking ETF flows that are that are now over $531 billion year to date, putting us on track for another trillion dollar year. We're also looking at the moves above and below the 30-day moving averages for the popular index funds, the spy and the triple Q's on this holiday shorten week.This week, we saw a literal flight to quality. The the Invesco S&P 500 quality ETF ticker SPHQ saw the top inflows this week, but has underperformed the market this week ...

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve has maintained the Fed funds rate at 4.25% to 4.5% despite pressure for deeper rate cuts from the Trump administration [1] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell has indicated ongoing economic considerations influencing the decision [1]

Interest Rate and Monetary Policy - The market anticipates the Federal Reserve (Fed) to closely monitor the path of interest rates, with discussions potentially shifting towards rate cuts [1] - Rising oil prices and existing tariffs may deter the Fed from implementing rate cuts in the immediate term [4][5] - Dovish signals from the Fed, particularly indications of rate cuts towards the end of the year, could positively influence market sentiment [4] - The industry suggests that delaying rate cuts could lead to an economic slowdown, emphasizing the need for timely intervention [6] Geopolitical Risks and Economic Impact - Geopolitical events, specifically conflicts in Israel and Iran, pose significant risks to the economy [4] - Increased oil prices, influenced by geopolitical tensions, present challenges for the Fed's monetary policy [3][5] Defense Sector Analysis - RTX (Raytheon Technologies) is highlighted as a potentially favorable stock pick due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts, trading at a 17 PE multiple and offering a 2% dividend [7] - RTX's focus on aerospace, defense, and missiles positions it as a key player in the current environment, with the ability to sell to countries outside the US [8] - Global defense spending reached $27 trillion last year, marking a 10% increase, the largest since the Cold War [9] - The defense sector, including names like Northrup Grumman and Halliburton, is generally experiencing growth, but investors should carefully assess multiples to avoid overpaying [10][11]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a strong recovery in May, regaining most losses from early April due to tariff announcements by President Trump, but volatility persists as the impact of tariffs on the economy remains unclear [1][4][9] - The Federal Reserve has not indicated plans to resume rate cuts despite recent cooling inflation, contributing to market uncertainty [2][5] Economic Indicators - U.S. job growth slowed significantly in May, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by only 139,000 and private payrolls rising by just 37,000, raising concerns about the economy's health [6] Dividend-Paying Stocks - In light of ongoing market uncertainty, investing in dividend-paying stocks is recommended as they tend to be more stable and reliable during economic fluctuations [7] - Four notable dividend-paying stocks include: - **Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY)**: Operates 2,893 convenience stores across 17 states, with a dividend of $0.57 per share and a yield of 0.46% [8][10] - **Utz Brands, Inc. (UTZ)**: Manufactures a variety of salty snacks, declaring a dividend of $0.06 per share with a yield of 1.75% [11][12] - **Sun Communities, Inc. (SUI)**: Focuses on manufactured housing communities, announcing a dividend of $1.04 per share and a yield of 3.01% [13][14] - **EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG)**: Engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, with a dividend of $1.02 per share and a yield of 3.41% [15][16]

Employment Landscape - The non-farm payrolls report, while stronger than expected, indicates a slowing employment landscape [1] - Headline data decreased compared to the previous month, which was also revised downwards [1] - Employers may be reducing hiring due to tighter financial conditions, while incentivizing current employees with higher wages [1] Wage Growth & Labor Force - Strong wage growth coupled with a lower labor force participation rate was observed [1] Monetary Policy Implications - Continued wage pressures may keep inflation elevated, potentially delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts [2] - The low unemployment rate provides no immediate impetus for a rate cut [2]

Retail Sector Overview - U.S. retail sales grew 0.1% in April after a revised 1.7% increase in March, with a year-over-year rise of 5.2% [3] - Online store sales increased by 2% in April, while food services and drinking places saw a 1.2% rise [3] - The retail sector has shown resilience despite challenges from tariffs and consumer sentiment [4] Impact of Tariffs and Trade Deals - A temporary pause on tariffs was announced after the U.S. and China reached a trade truce, which is expected to benefit the retail sector [1][6] - The retail sector's growth was hindered by fears of tariffs, but upcoming trade deals may provide a boost [5] Inflation and Economic Outlook - U.S. consumer inflation showed signs of cooling, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.2% in April and 2.3% year-over-year, the smallest gain since February 2021 [7] - Lower inflation rates may lead to potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which would positively impact the retail sector and the broader economy [8] Investment Opportunities in Retail Stocks - Recommended retail stocks include Maplebear Inc. (CART), PC Connection, Inc. (CNXN), Carvana Co. (CVNA), and Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN), all showing positive earnings estimate revisions [2] - Maplebear Inc. has an expected earnings growth rate of 7.6% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [10] - PC Connection has an expected earnings growth rate of 6.8% for the current year, also holding a Zacks Rank of 2 [11] - Carvana Co. is projected to have over 100% earnings growth next year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [13] - Nordstrom has an expected earnings growth rate of 1.8% for the current year, maintaining a Zacks Rank of 2 [15]

4 May 2025 | 6:57PM EDT US Daily: May FOMC Preview: A Higher Bar for Rate Cuts (Mericle) Jan Hatzius +1(212)902-0394 | jan.hatzius@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Alec Phillips +1(202)637-3746 | alec.phillips@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC David Mericle +1(212)357-2619 | david.mericle@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Ronnie Walker +1(917)343-4543 | ronnie.walker@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Manuel Abecasis +1(212)902-8357 | manuel.abecasis@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Elsie Peng +1(212)357-3137 | elsie.pen ...