"I wouldn't take any meeting off the table"Jerome Powell won't be drawn on whether the Fed is likely to cut rates when it meets in July, as he joins other central bankers at Sintra https://t.co/FbZSTDqvWU https://t.co/OXZDTqTu16 ...

Group 1: Economic Environment - The May 2025 Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report indicates core PCE inflation rose approximately 0.22% month over month and 2.68% year over year, reinforcing expectations for the Fed's hawkish stance [1][11] - Treasury yields have increased, with the benchmark 10-year yield climbing from roughly 3.35% to about 3.45%, reflecting market reactions to persistent inflation data [2][11] Group 2: Financial Sector Performance - Financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies, are expected to see increased profitability due to higher lending rates and improved net interest margins in a high-rate environment [4][5] - The S&P 500 Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) has risen 9.1% year to date as of June 30, indicating strong performance in the financial sector [5] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Stocks such as Nelnet, Inc. (NNI), Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY), and United Fire Group, Inc. (UFCS) are highlighted as viable investment options due to their strong earnings momentum and favorable growth rates [3][11] - Nelnet (NNI) has an expected earnings growth rate of 59% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank 1 and a VGM Score of B [8] - Pagaya Technologies (PGY) shows an expected earnings growth rate of 195.2% for the current year, also holding a Zacks Rank 1 and a VGM Score of B [9] - United Fire Group (UFCS) has an expected earnings growth rate of 8% for the next year, with a Zacks Rank 2 and a VGM Score of B [10]

Denmark’s central bank wants local lenders to tap more of its one-week loans and provide added cash to clients to help reduce short-term interest rates https://t.co/7xtIBk26mS ...

Welcome back. President Trump is ramping up his pressure campaign on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, urging him to cut interest rates by a lot. The president's latest demand came in a handwritten letter held up by White House press secretary Caroline Levit at a press briefing yesterday.You see her there. Trump penned a message to Powell in Sharpie on a list of world central bank rates, writing in part, quote, "Jerome, you are as usual too late. You have cost the USA a fortune." The president has repeat ...

National Debt & Bond Market - The US national debt has reached $37 trillion [1] - Bond markets are jittery and interest rates are high [1] Entitlements - Nobody wants to address the issue of entitlements [1]

Market Overview & Investment Strategy - The S&P 500 closed at a record high to finish the first half, with the Arc Innovation ETF up nearly 24% year to date, indicating a potential bull market [1] - The market has been "climbing a wall of worry," suggesting a durable bull market that persists despite controversies like tariffs and Fed-President tensions [2][3] - Interest rates are likely to decrease, and the market is broadening out beyond just a few concentrated stocks, signaling a healthier bull market [3][4] - Productivity is expected to increase, driving inflation down lower than anticipated during the early stages of recovery [8] Economic Factors & Policy Impact - Deregulation is considered a significant factor in unleashing economic activity [5] - The economy has experienced a "rolling recession," with housing and manufacturing sectors yet to fully recover [6] - Recovery is anticipated with decreasing interest rates, deregulation, and potential tax cuts, including immediate expensing of capital goods [7] Tesla & Elon Musk - Elon Musk is refocusing on transforming transportation, space exploration, addressing health issues with Neuralink, and introducing humanoid robots [11][12] - SpaceX has $22 billion in government contracts, solidifying the US lead in space exploration [13] - Autonomous travel regulations are expected to move to the federal level to maintain US leadership in the field [15] Healthcare Innovation - Significant deregulation is occurring within healthcare, with a focus on curing diseases and eliminating chronic conditions [15] - Neuralink's progress is considered miraculous, contributing to advancements in healthcare [15]

US Treasury yields fell to the lowest level in two months before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks Tuesday, amid growing political pressure to cut interest rates https://t.co/Jp1pWSbzv6 ...

Bank stocks are on a tear on both sides of the Atlantic, and lower interest rates are a common theme https://t.co/edJ7OyG2Kp ...

Economic Outlook & Uncertainty - Trade negotiations are a relevant factor influencing the European economy, with predictions varying based on different outcomes [1] - High levels of uncertainty persist due to geopolitical risks and the unknown final outcome of trade negotiations [4][5] - The Euro area's growth rate is expected to be below 1% in 2025 and slightly above that in 2026, with risks tilted to the downside [9] - Investment is flat, and consumption is not recovering, indicating a weak economic situation [9][10] Monetary Policy - The ECB has reduced interest rates eight times, from 4% to 2%, and is in a good place to deal with the future [3] - Further interest rate cuts are unlikely to significantly improve the economy, and the focus should be on certainty in trade and fiscal policies [10][11] - The evolution of inflation is expected to be positive, with the possibility of undershooting the target being limited [6][7] - The ECB does not target any concrete level for the exchange rate but monitors its level and evolution, considering its impact on inflation [16] Inflation & Exchange Rate - The ECB is confident that inflation will reach 2%, with favorable factors including the exchange rate and the evolution of energy prices [17][18][19] - An exchange rate of 1.17 or even 1.20 is considered acceptable, but overshooting beyond that would be more complicated [14] Fiscal Policy & Market Risks - Increased defensive spending is supported, but fiscal sustainability is needed, as markets may not continue to overlook fiscal policy [21][22] - Concerns exist about a market event linked to perceived unsustainable fiscal policy, which could lead to higher yields and impact valuations [23][24]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a bullish outlook on U.S. Treasuries (USTs) and a bearish stance on the U.S. Dollar (USD) [1] Core Insights - Tariffs are significant, with U.S. government revenue from tariffs annualizing over 1% of U.S. GDP, indicating that they do not represent a zero-sum game [1] - U.S. importers paid tariffs equivalent to 65% of corporate income taxes in 2024, and these tariffs represented 15% of non-financial corporate profits after tax in Q1 2025 [10][11] - If corporations absorbed all tariff expenses, profit margins would have fallen to 11.7% from 13.8%, below the 15-year moving average of 12.2% [10][26] Summary by Sections Tariff Impact - U.S. importers' tariff payments in June annualized to $327 billion, or 1.1% of Q1 2025 nominal GDP [12][16] - The analysis suggests that tariffs act as a significant tax burden on corporations, impacting profit margins and overall economic growth [11][29] Corporate Profit Margins - In Q1 2025, non-financial corporations reported $2.127 trillion in profit after tax, with profit margins sitting at 13.8% [22] - The report highlights that if tariffs were fully absorbed, profit margins would drop significantly, indicating potential economic stress [26][34] Economic Outlook - The report suggests that the economic backdrop is skewed to the downside, with airline passenger traffic slowing and potential impacts from tariffs expected to manifest in inflation data [30] - The recommendation is to stay long U.S. Treasuries and short the USD, reflecting a cautious economic outlook [1][30]