US JOBS SURGE. FED HIKE ODDS REBOUND.
October payrolls jumped 165,000, nearly triple the 59,000 forecast, while unemployment fell to 4.1%.
Prediction markets now price a 79% chance of a December Fed hike, up from 67%, with hold odds retreating to 22%.
Strong hiring puts renewed pressure on the Fed to tighten.
Everyone's blaming the midterms for this massive crash - including Trump!
But investors shouldn't overlook these 3 things:
1. The selloff started BEFORE the election
Nasdaq was already retreating from its Oct peak as investors questioned AI valuations & spending.
Democrats' calls for tighter regulation added another risk. But proposed restrictions aren't law & no major AI spending plans have been cancelled.
2. A crowded trade met forced selling
Nomura forecasted leveraged ETFs needed to sell ~$47B into Thursday's close, potentially the 2nd largest rebalance since 2006.
Goldman also reported losses among hedge funds holding crowded AI positions.
That's important as some of the selling was mechanical, not necessarily a sudden change in earnings expectations.
3. Capex commitments were being questioned
JPMorgan estimates AI capex to reach ~$900B this year & $5.5T cumulatively by 2030.
These numbers were known weeks before the election and investors have been questioning the spend for months.
Yet the returns depend on future demand, monetization & regulations that is uncertain.
My read:
Forced selling may explain how quickly stocks fell, but I think the bigger issue is still the valuation.
Too much future AI growth is already priced into these stocks, while the actual returns remain highly uncertain.
Look no further than reports of Anthropic's downsizing in IPO valuation.
@Zoro_MMXM@Zoro_MMXM This is the clean frame. The print is noise until liquidity gets taken. Don't pre-load a direction just because the timeline is loud. Wait for the sweep, then decide if your setup is still there. Not a reason to trade the number itself.
@goldukaegb@goldukaegb These are the rules that keep a week intact. NFP first expands spreads and noise, not opportunity. If your setup isn't there before the print, "watch" is the trade. Size only what a wild candle can't rewrite. Not a reason to force gold because the calendar is busy.