Despite the risks, Australian equity futures point to a 0.3 per cent gain on Monday as investors eye energy and commodities businesses likely to ride price inflation that reachedMarket consensus forecasts are for the US Federal Reserve to deliver a 25 basis point cash rate rise on Wednesday in an initial effort to contain inflation, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lengthened the odds on a 50 basis point lift.
“The market currently has it closer to seven hikes this year. Amazing to think nine months ago the market wasn’t expecting any rate hikes in 2022 from the Fed.”In Australia interest rate traders have priced in multiple rate rises in 2022 from JulyAndrew Mitchell says the Fed is expected to update its dot plot forecast to six rate hikes in 2022.
Blue-chip Asian equities also tumbled on Friday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index hit its lowest level since 2016 and the Hang Seng Tech Index plunged 4.3 per cent on the last trading day of the week.In the US shares in buy now, pay later player Affirm plummeted 15.6 per cent to a record low on Friday after it was forced to pull a debt offering due to market volatility.
“RBA governor Lowe acknowledged the upside risk to inflation as a consequence of the Ukraine conflict,” said GFSM economist Stephen Miller in a note to investors on Friday. Australian Bureau of Statistics data for the December quarter is forecast to show a 4 per cent rise in house prices on Tuesday, although the latest CoreLogic data suggestedIn Europe on Thursday, the Bank of England is expected to move to tame the UK’s highest inflation since 1992 with its third rate rise since December to lift benchmark borrowing costs to 0.75 per cent.