Bonds and stocks were pummelled Thursday by the surprise jump in U.S. inflation last month that stirred hawkish comments from St. Louis Fed Chair James Bullard, who said he supports raising rates by a full percentage point by the start of July, and may consider a move in between scheduled policy reviews. Other Fed officials, though, are in no rush to raise rates prior to their meeting next month, nor does a 50 basis-point March move appear likely yet.
“Investors are trying to dissect the path and speed of higher interest rates and less monetary support,” Lindsey Bell, chief markets and money strategist at Ally, wrote in a note. While markets can respond well to slow and steady tightening, “given the lack of clarity on the Fed’s thinking near-term, investor angst may persist,” she said.Article content