March 23, 2022

Markets:

Stock futures fell Wednesday morning after rising a day earlier, as investors contemplated the potential for the Federal Reserve to take an even more aggressive approach to reining in inflation.

U.S. stocks rose for a fifth time in six sessions as of Tuesday as investors weighed Fed Chair Jerome Powell's hawkish remarks from earlier this week. Powell, speaking at a National Association for Business Economics Conference on Monday, said the central bank would take "the necessary steps to ensure a return to price stability," and would be willing to raise the benchmark interest rate by more than 25 basis points at a forthcoming meeting if deemed necessary to curb fast-rising prices.

The Fed last week raised interest rates for the first time since 2018, bringing the benchmark rate up by 25 basis points off near-zero levels. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), as of last Wednesday, also telegraphed that its median member expected there would be another six quarter-point rate hikes this year.

Heading into this, stocks traded with heightened volatility throughout 2022 as investors priced in the potential that higher interest rates and otherwise tighter financial conditions would weigh on equity valuations. Uncertainty around the progression of Russia's invasion in Ukraine has also remained a point of concern. Still, some strategists noted that investors have less to worry about at least in the near-term when it comes to the impact of the start of Fed hiking cycles.

Elsewhere, investors also continued to monitor developments in Russia's war in Ukraine and the global response. President Joe Biden is set to travel to Brussels Wednesday before convening in a summit of all NATO allies, in a meeting that will set the stage for the announcement of more sanctions against Russia and greater humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Portfolio:

We enter the new trading session holding positions in NU, AG, EVH, JEF and continue to hold itrm.  We will be watching price activity closely and the queue continues to ignite with new opportunities.  Please be ready today and let's have a great session.