Wednesday, September 16, 2026

The Morning Call---The case for raising rates is not as strong as the odds suggest

 

The Morning Call

 

9/16/26

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

            Tuesday in the charts.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/crude-rips-crypto-flips-stocks-dip-fed-fears-eclipse-all?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTI1MTQzIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTUwNDE0MSwiZXhwIjoxNzkyMDk2MTQxLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.YnBUsIz2DKcZJXFil94c3PN9EqVVxkyX7AtvN4EF2Ro

 

Note: the S&P closed back below its former all-time high and its 50 DMA (now support; if it remains there through the close today, it will revert to resistance).  Of course, this is Fed day and anything could happen. So we need to withhold any judgement about the implications of the above until the smoke clears on the FOMC’s decision.

 

            Tuesday in the technical stats.

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/momentum

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/market-performance

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/signals/new-recommendations

 

            Energy is running the tape.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/barrel-bond-market-goldman-nomura-agree-energy-running-tape-not-ai?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTI1MTM3Iiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTUwMzEyNCwiZXhwIjoxNzkyMDk1MTI0LCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.pIodxCE9gEbaFoQdUGRRukoaFv88ctBjCKFzUd6oHL8

 

            The latest from Goldman.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/flat-tape-hides-violent-indigestion-goldman-partner-outlines-4-key-factors-driving-markets?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTI1MjMzIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTU2MjgyNywiZXhwIjoxNzkyMTU0ODI3LCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.D4oRwHPGluv1Y9ZhFB-7vguznN_CIdXScQz06jwVMmM

 

                        AI rotation.

https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/ai-rotation-starting-trade-itself?gift=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJuaWQiOiIxMTI1MjIwIiwic2VuZGVyVWlkIjoiUUhnc3BaZVVFS2E3RHhXM216eFlKbjhaWEFoMiIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTU2MzM4MCwiZXhwIjoxNzkyMTU1MzgwLCJhdWQiOiJ6aC1naWZ0In0.DD4siCetzFYYCxLfppZL_Vd0O_iMbKAbhyN_Lmoylf0

 

 

Wednesday morning setup. Futures are higher into Fed Day where consensus is for a 25bp hike, the first since July 2023, with unknown levels of communication, and the question is what the dot plot shows (see preview here). S&P 500 futures are up by 0.3%, finding relief after days of selling as traders wait Kevin Warsh to deliver an expected interest-rate hike that will help ease fears that inflation may spiral. Nasdaq futures are up 0.6%, with Intel shares jumping 3% in pre-market trading on a report it’s in talks with Korea’s SK Hynix on making memory chips in the US; Software is lower; cyclicals are outperforming defensives as the AI theme is pushing both Tech and Industrials higher. As JPM notes, the market looks to climb the latest Wall of Worry across Fed, AI, and Iran-induced energy inflation. Bond yields are down 2-3bp with USD flat. Commodities are higher led by Metals (Precious over Base) and Ags while crude/fuels are seeing some profit-taking (don't expect it to last). US economic data slate includes September New York Fed services business activity, August retail sales and import/export price indexes (8:30 a.m.), July business inventories and September NAHB housing market index (10am) and July TIC flows (4pm). 

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

              The Economy

 

                        US

 

Weekly mortgage applications dropped 4.1% while purchase applications were down 1.0%.

 

Month to date retail chain sore sales rose 8.5% versus +8.3% in the prior week.

                              https://bonddad.blogspot.com/2026/09/is-real-consumer-spending-still-short.html

 

                        International

                       

                          July EU industrial production declined 0.1% versus estimates of -2%.

 

July Japanese machine orders were down 3.7% versus projections of -2.8%; the July trade balance was -Y1105.6 billion versus -Y1052.6 billion.

 

August UK CPI came in at +0.5%, in line; core CPI was +0.3%. also in line.

 

                        Other

 

            Monetary Policy

 

              The case for raising rates is not as strong as the odds suggest.

              https://alhambrapartners.com/weekly-market-pulse-the-house/?src=news

 

              Part two.

              https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-fed-may-be-on-the-verge-of-a-serious-mistake-prominent-economists-warn-3ccb6581?st=9r9kyU

 

                           Damned if it does, damned if it doesn’t.

              https://www.capitalspectator.com/inflation-signals-clash-ahead-of-high-stakes-fed-decision/

                       

                          Why Warsh needs to provide more clarity.

                          https://stayathomemacro.substack.com/p/costly-medicine?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share

                       

                        Inflation

 

              Oil executives say the great fuel crisis is here.

              https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/oil-executives-say-the-great-fuel-crisis-is-here-b6b32030?st=ovkkxj&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

                          US manufacturers hit fresh surge in supply chain cost inflation.

              https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/4103d8bb-b139-4067-a19c-df1c34239b30

 

                        AI

 

              IPO’s of doom.

                          https://www.acadian-asset.com/investment-insights/owenomics/ipos-of-doom?utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=shared_link

 

              AI leaders cunning plan.

              https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/ai-leaders-cunning-plan-exposed

 

     Investing

 

            Managing risk.

            https://www.advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/2026/09/15/winning-long-game-chapter-5

 

            Is a higher earnings bar harder to clear?

                        https://open.substack.com/pub/samro/p/earnings-estimates-revised-up-risk?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

 

            Outlook for dividends in September.

            https://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-outlook-for-s-500-dividends-in.html

 

            AI infrastructure takes a collective tumble.

            https://talkmarkets.com/article/ai-infrastructure-takes-a-collective-tumble-1789491034

 

            Bond yields could come down as rapidly as they have risen.

            https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/bond-yields-could-come-down-as-fast-as-theyve-climbed-d64ea9cd?st=FqpLxc&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

 

 

What I am reading today

 

           

 

 

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