Skip to content

Fed in Focus – Hawkish Pause or Dovish Hike?

The S&P 500 index has once again entered a bull market. On Thursday, the index closed 20% higher from its recent lows. An overly aggressive Fed is the only thing that might cause everything to fall apart.

June 11, 2023

Welcome to the Blockhead Business newsletter, your go-to source for industry developments, news and insights into digital assets.

Asia-led and global in scope, we bring you a weekly roundup of the industry's most important business and economic developments, expert analysis and commentary from top professionals in the field.

Whether you're a fund manager, professional investor, or simply interested in the world of digital assets, our newsletter is your essential guide to navigating the future of finance.


CAPITAL FLOWS IN GLOBAL MARKETS

On Friday, Wall Street scaled to new 2023 highs on rising bets that the Federal Reserve would skip a rate hike which outweighed concerns about a drain on liquidity from the plethora of Treasury issuance in US markets.

That helped to propel world stocks to a 13-month peak. According to Refinitiv data, the S&P 500 has gained 20% from its low on October 12.

The most widely recognised definitions of bull and bear markets are a 20% increase from the latest low and a 20% fall from the latest high.

The market expects the Fed to pause its most aggressive raising cycle since the 1980s and leave rates stable in the 5% to 5.25% range on June 14.

This post is for subscribers only

Subscribe

Already have an account? Sign In

Latest

Will 2026 Unwind Crypto Treasury Firms?

Will 2026 Unwind Crypto Treasury Firms?

The trade that once let equity investors proxy Bitcoin exposure is breaking down. With treasury firms underperforming their underlying assets, the model is shifting from accumulation to debt management—and many DATCOs may not make it through the next phase.

Crypto Cues to Watch Heading Into 2026 & Beyond

Crypto Cues to Watch Heading Into 2026 & Beyond

Crypto markets are set to be shaped less by single data prints and more by deeper forces – central bank credibility, AI-driven risk cycles, tariff-led inflation pressures, and dollar liquidity – creating a year defined by volatility, not clean trends.