Let’s be dispassionate about the US election result. What kind of upside will a Bonfire of Regulations and Surging Confidence bring to markets? What are the risks of Trump’s new start for US markets? The next four years look… interesting.

Bond markets reflect facts. Equities are about stories. There is a shift in markets underway – where are rates, inflation and politics taking us? Traders want to see certainty – and that will be reflected in bond rates.

This is shaping up as another tense week on the ongoing uncertainty of the US Election. Harris or Trump? Equally important - will either win the whole suite of White House, Senate and Congress, avoiding political gridlock, but potentially unleashing a deluge of uncertainty on the US Bond market?

One year after the Hamas atrocities, the tragedy of Gaza and South Lebanon continue. The region remains on fire, and could ignite further conflict and instability including inflation, recession and impact the US election. To understand what happens next – how did we get here?

I admit to being surprised by the Fed’s 50 bp ease last night. It makes sense though: it will ease economic tensions significantly and support the “good” economy in its current stable growth grove. Naturally Trump supporters will be furious: Jay Powell has confirmed the USA is in a good place.

This week will see the Fed start to ease, but the question is pace? Do they go big and create potential concerns on a hard landing – potentially scaring the horses - or do they hold a steady course, a modest ease to guide markets that rates are normalising. Whatever the Fed does needs coordination with policy on the future path of the economy.

Rates, Inflation, Deficits, the Dollar and the future of everything might just depend on how Tuesday’s televised US Election Debate goes? There will be a winner and a loser. Next week’s Fed Meeting will be more nuanced – but could it ultimately be as important over the long-term?

The market is under a glamour cast by Nvidia. It’s the most watched headline stock. In a perfect world, its position would mean there would be little to worry about, but US data and all the other market frictions are combining to challenge the market’s narrative – which is a long way of saying… THIS MARKET IS TOPPY.

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump may catalyse global players to walk away from the apparent instability and uncertainty this US election looks to be leading to. Volatility, distrust and division may well multiply.

It was once holy scripture that government bonds were the risk-free-rate from which all risks were priced. In the last decade markets have changed. The bond market is increasingly hollow and thin. The reality is few folk outside bonds pay attention – central banks set bond rates. Good or bad thing?