Stock markets around the world did something quite unusual for 2021 yesterday — they fell more than 2% in value. For US stocks (S&P 500 index) that's something they haven't done for almost 5 months.
Inflation in the air
If we ran this chart last week (stocks fell 1.7% last Monday) we'd have probably blamed the unfolding crisis at Evergrande, the heavily indebted Chinese real estate developer. This week the ghost at the feast getting most of the blame is inflation — as investors position for the possibility that interest rates might not be just above zero forever (*gasp*).
Easy easing
Central banks around the world increasingly look like they're going to take action on inflation, with subtle hints and language that can be infuriatingly vague for onlookers. If, or rather when, central banks decide to change the music, it's likely to come via higher interest rates or a tapering down of the enormous stimulus packages that many have implemented in recent years. In the US that's the $120bn-a-month bond purchases that are currently in place.
Zooming out: One bad day doesn't mean too much. US stocks are still up almost 20% this year.
