Fed's March Dot Plot and 5.25% terminal rate
Watching the March FOMC closely. The market is currently pricing in a terminal rate somewhere around 4.9% by May/June, but I'm leaning towards the Fed's dot plot, which will likely still show 5.25% or higher for 2023. Given recent CPI and employment data, the 'higher for longer' narrative has legs. I'd put the odds of the median dot for 2023 at 5.25% or above at roughly 65%. If this happens, expect some renewed dollar strength and a potential retest of recent lows in growth equities. Conversely, if they start signaling a pause sooner, $NZDCAD might see some immediate pressure, though fundamentals for NZD remain decent. The divergence between market pricing and Fed signaling is the key setup here.
I'm with you on the higher for longer narrative, especially with the employment numbers we've been seeing. Do you think the market will quickly adjust if the dot plot does come in above current expectations, or will there be some initial resistance?