Hawkish Powell puts 50 bp Fed rate hikes back on table

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve will likely need to raise interest rates more than expected in response to recent strong data and is prepared to move in larger steps if the “totality” of incoming information suggests tougher measures are needed to control inflation, Fed Chair Jerome Powell told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday.

“The latest economic data have come in stronger than expected, which suggests that the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously anticipated,” Powell said in prepared remarks for a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee.

U.S. stocks sold off, Treasury yields rose and the dollar extended a gain after Powells comments, his first since inflation unexpectedly jumped in January and the U.S. government reported an unusually large increase in payroll jobs for that month.

MARKET REACTION:

STOCKS: S&P 500 lost 35.76 points, or 0.88%, to 4,012.66, from around flat just before Powells remarks were released BONDS: U.S. Treasury 10-year note after the remarks, and was last off 4/32 with a yield of 3.999%, up from just before the remarks and from 3.983% late on ThursdayFOREX: The euro extended a loss and was off about 0.8% and the dollar index rose

COMMENTS:

QUINCY KROSBY, CHIEF GLOBAL STRATEGIST, LPL FINANCIAL, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA:

Coming into the meeting, it was almost a 30% probability priced in by the futures market for a 50 basis points (rate hike).

Powell makes it clear the Fed would react accordingly if the data suggests that inflation continues to move in the wrong direction. And you can see the reaction in the equity market, and at this stage they dont know what the CPI is going to indicate, nor the PPI.

“But Powell was matter of fact in that statement. It was very clear to the market that the Fed is not going to equivocate in terms of data that suggests inflation continues to climb higher or remain sticky.”

CHRIS ZACCARELLI, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, INDEPENDENT ADVISOR ALLIANCE, CHARLOTTE, NC

“Clearly the stock and bond markets are reacting to Powell‘s talking points and specifically the idea that interest rates are likely to be higher than previously anticipated. Powell is explicitly talking about a higher target for interest rates. This is something that the market has been talking about but obviously hasn’t been fully priced in.”

“The idea that rates are going to be higher for longer is going to be a headwind for stocks and bonds … a lot of people have been expecting this would be the case but hearing it directly from Powell is a little different to inferring it from the data.”

“For the market to fall apart in a bigger way we‘d need to see a deterioration in fundamentals. So that would be the economy potentially going into recession or corporate profits dropping off a cliff. So far, we haven’t seen that so I dont expect the market to completely fall apart but, I do think this is going to set a more risk off tone than we saw in January.”

SCOTT LADNER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, HORIZON INVESTMENTS

“This market reaction is a little bit surprising me because that is the most obvious conclusion from everything weve seen over the last month. This knee jerk movement lower in equities probably will reverse back to flat.”

“Six percent (terminal rate) would be a little higher than it is likely. Probably they will settle in the five and a half to five and three quarter range.”

“A 50 bps hike in the next meeting is possible, but it is going to be dependent on the payrolls not slowing down and CPI numbers showing that the disinflation progress weve made is stalling. ”

MICHAEL BROWN, MARKET ANALYST, TRADERX, LONDON

“A surprisingly hawkish statement from Fed Chair Powell this afternoon, putting the option of a 50 bps hike on the table for March, while also showing disappointment about the lack of progress made on inflation thus far.”

“This serves to markets as another reminder that the Fed are resolute in their desire to tighten financial conditions, and keep them tight. Unsurprisingly, the dollar has gained, and both bonds and stocks lurched lower.”

“Despite the hawkish repricing, Powell again noted that the peak rate is likely to be higher than expected, putting bond bears and dollar bulls back in the driving seat, with a hot NFP print on Friday likely to see calls for a 6% terminal rate increase.”

ROBERT PAVLIK, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, DAKOTA WEALTH, FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT

“The focus of the Fed is trying to get inflation down to 2%. Powell‘s reiterating what we already know, but he’s not saying anything that‘s dovish, and the market is feeling a bit nervous about the Fed’s next move- how many rate hikes are coming and how long are they going to keep rates up.”

“I prefer just one more 25 basis point rate hike, but probably we‘re going to get three 25 basis point rate hikes.”“They just sort of reiterate that the economy is slowing, price stability is difficult to achieve. Inflation is sticky and not moving in the correct direction and the Fed is going to continue with their policy of raising rates, so it’s just what the market doesnt want.”

“I dont think it makes anybody feel that a recession is going to be more dramatic or deeper than what they already fear. Those concerns are out there.”

(Compiled by the Global Finance & Markets Breaking News team)