Stephen Juneau

Inflation and the inflation markets

Mark Capleton, Stephen Juneau, Alessandro Infelise-Zhou, Meghan Swiber

Strategists attribute the current surge in US inflation to Iran-related energy shocks, supply chain pressures, and AI-driven capital expenditure, while noting weaker fiscal stimulus compared to the pandemic era has kept demand-side inflation subdued. Although the Federal Reserve is likely to hold rates until labor market signals improve, forecasts now suggest a first 50-basis-point cut will not occur until the second half of 2026, whereas the Euro Area and UK anticipate earlier ECB rate hikes in mid-2025 followed by a slower cut cycle starting in 2027. Market positioning has shifted to short duration and long risk assets despite underpriced tail risks from prolonged conflict, as five-year inflation expectations remain anchored and European real rates continue to support a bullish bond stance.