Core Viewpoint - The current global market is experiencing a significant structural misalignment, indicating investors' indifference towards tariff policy threats, as evidenced by the stable performance of inflation swaps and strong asset performance in countries most affected by tariffs [1][6]. Group 1: Market Reactions to Tariff Threats - Despite ongoing tariff threats, the U.S. inflation swap prices have remained largely unchanged since April 2, with the 1-year inflation swap slightly adjusting from 3.40% to 3.36% and the 5-year swap increasing from 2.54% to 2.56% [4][3]. - The phenomenon known as "TACO trading" reflects market behavior where declines follow tariff threats, but subsequent reversals occur when the government retracts its stance, highlighting a pattern of market resilience [2][6]. Group 2: Performance of Affected Assets - Surprisingly, assets in developed economies most vulnerable to tariff impacts have shown strong performance, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index in Canada reaching a historical high and increasing by 5.4% year-to-date [8][10]. - The Canadian bond index has also risen by 0.3% year-to-date, and the Canadian dollar has appreciated over 4% against the U.S. dollar, indicating a stronger-than-expected performance despite economic growth forecasts being downgraded [10]. - Germany's DAX index reached a historical high, only down 0.4% from that level, outperforming other major indices like Stoxx 600 and CAC40, which is notable given Germany's reliance on trade [11][10].

Core Insights - Despite concerns about tariffs announced by Trump potentially increasing U.S. inflation, market indicators suggest that investor worries about future price surges are not strong [1][2] - The announcement of large tariffs on April 2 did not significantly impact the one-year U.S. inflation swap rate, which remained stable at 3.4% compared to 3.36% the previous week [1][2] - The upcoming U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index data is crucial for assessing inflation trends, as it is a key indicator monitored by the Federal Reserve [2] Inflation Indicators - Recent inflation indicators show an upward trend, with the S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) indicating the fastest increase in input costs and output prices since 2022 [6] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year ending in April shows an inflation rate of 2.3%, with the core inflation rate (excluding food and energy) higher at 2.8% [6] Market Reactions - Following the tariff announcement, initial market volatility was observed, but as trade negotiations progressed, market fluctuations began to stabilize [2] - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), which measures market fear, spiked in early April but has since returned to around 20, close to its long-term average [2] - The ICE BofA Merrill Lynch MOVE Index, which tracks bond market volatility, has also seen a significant decline since early April [2] Economic Outlook - Goldman Sachs forecasts that tariffs will lead to a one-time increase in prices, with core PCE inflation expected to rebound to 3.6% later this year before declining next year [8] - Consumer inflation expectations have risen, with a recent survey indicating a jump from 6.5% in April to 7.3% in May [9] - Despite inflation concerns, the U.S. economy is expected to remain weak, with growth below potential and a moderate rise in unemployment [9] Investor Sentiment - Investor sentiment improved significantly following Trump's announcement to delay high tariffs on the EU, leading to substantial gains in U.S. stock markets [9] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.8%, the S&P 500 increased by 2%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged by 2.5% on the day following the tariff delay announcement [9] - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond fell by 7.6 basis points to 4.432%, marking the largest single-day decline since April 24 [9]