Will the Fed not cut rates in 2024?

China sets GDP target
China set an economic growth target of “around 5%” for 2024. The goals for GDP and other economic indicators were published at the National People’s Congress annual meeting. The country will also boost its defense spending by 7.2% to 1.67 trillion yuan in 2024, according to a Ministry of Finance budget report. 

Does Nikkei’s rally have legs?
Japan’s Nikkei stock index has seen a record-breaking rally. This has raised doubts on whether the momentum is sustainable given the country’s economic struggles. The Nikkei 225 surpassed the 40,000 mark on Monday, with some economists predicting it still has room to climb, while others expect a correction.

Gold sets new record
Gold rose above $2,100 to the highest level ever as traders bet the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in the second half of the year. When rates fall, gold prices typically rise as investors seek a safe haven alternative to bonds which become less attractive as their yields decline.

[PRO] Skip EV stocks  
While electric vehicle stocks like Tesla are investors’ favorite, Freddie Lait, chief investment officer at Latitude Investment Management, told CNBC’s Pro Talks, he isn’t too bullish on the sector. The fund manager instead has his sights on what he calls “bigger integrated covers,” and picked Ferrari as “a phenomenal business.”

No interest rate cuts in 2024?

That would seem pretty far-fetched for many market watchers. But not for Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management.  

“The reality is that the US economy is simply not slowing down, and the Fed pivot has provided a strong tailwind to growth since December,” he argued in a note last week.

“As a result, the Fed will not cut rates this year, and rates are going to stay higher for longer,” Slok added.

Investors initially went into 2024 expecting six cuts but now anticipate only three given the Fed’s recent cautious tone on lowering rates too soon.

Slok listed ten reasons why he sees the Fed holding off. Besides the strong economy, “underlying measures of trend inflation are moving higher,” he noted.

“The bottom line is that the Fed will spend most of 2024 fighting inflation,” wrote Slok. “As a result, yield levels in fixed income will stay high.”

Whether he is right or wrong, there is no doubt how the Fed proceeds with interest rates will remain the top focus for investors ahead of the March policy meeting. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also set to testify on monetary policy before the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday. He is widely expected to stick to the same talking points on rate cuts.