South Korea Inflation Edges Up in November as Food and Service Costs Climb 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Just 2 months ago, Atlanta FED’s GDP forecast model was predicting 2.5% annualized growth for first quarter in United States. By March second week model growth dropped to 2.3%, but after that it started declining sharply and by April 5th, measure was pointing to just 0.4% growth and last Friday that growth declined to just 0.1%.
Atlanta FED’s model is then just pointing that U.S. Economy is on the brink of a recession. If it comes true, then that complicates thing.
U.S. Federal Reserve is looking to hike rates as early as June and a recession in first quarter may put an end to that ambition. As of now, FED is planning to hike twice this year, while market is predicting just one hike of 25 basis points. If a recession hits in first quarter then market may once again be right in their prediction and FED will have to approach more cautiously.
However only piece of good news is that U.S. economy has traditionally and historically has underperformed in first quarter, which is followed by strong recovery in second and third quarter. So focus will be on next release of ‘GDP Now’, which will be on April 13th.
