|

A brief update on the state of play

S2N observations

The S&P 500 is at all-time highs with valuations based on the Shiller PE (i.e., 10-year trailing earnings) only higher during the dot.com boom.

Inflation numbers came out for August last week, and they are still hovering around 3% per annum. The Fed is still likely to cut rates as rising unemployment is starting to pick up.

I have been speaking to a lot of people in the business community, and there is not a person I have met who doesn’t think that AI is going to replace many, many jobs, a lot of them permanently. I foresee the non-farm payrolls' year-on-year growth soon dipping into negative territory.

It would seem that initial jobless claims will soon be heading upwards, which is why the bond market is suggesting a rate cut.

The 2-year is still suggesting we will get a rate cut, but it is looking like a small cut. Like when I shave my bald head from a 1 to a zero.

Gold has proven itself as sound money, outpacing inflation and maintaining purchasing power. It certainly has not been an easy thesis to believe in. There would have been many years and decades over the last 45 years where you would have felt stupid maintaining a view that gold is a store of value.

S2N screener alert

The Dow Jones Global Index made a new ATH.

Silver made a new ATH in almost every major currency but the US Dollar. Here is a new ATH with Silver and the British Pound.

S2N performance review

S2N chart gallery

Author

Michael Berman, PhD

Michael Berman, PhD

Signal2Noise (S2N) News

Michael has decades of experience as a professional trader, hedge fund manager and incubator of emerging traders.

More from Michael Berman, PhD
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs, trades below $4,500

Gold retreats after setting a new record-high above $4,520 earlier in the day and trades in a tight range below $4,500 as trading volumes thin out ahead of the Christmas break. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Bitcoin slips below $87,000 as ETF outflows intensify, whale participation declines

Bitcoin price continues to trade around $86,770 on Wednesday, after failing to break above the $90,000 resistance. US-listed spot ETFs record an outflow of $188.64 million on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Avalanche struggles near $12 as Grayscale files updated form for ETF

Avalanche trades close to $12 by press time on Wednesday, extending the nearly 2% drop from the previous day. Grayscale filed an updated form to convert its Avalanche-focused Trust into an ETF with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.