Sophisticated Investor

Big Inflation Debate Is Not Settled Yet


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Week Ending August 13th, 2021

Stocks shrugged off the fears related to the spread of delta variant last week, it seemed. SP500 AND Dow posted positive week while Nasdaq was almost unchanged for the week.

Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week that headline CPI rose only by 0.5% in July, a deceleration from June's 0.9% rise while core number rose only by 0.3%. Many of the market participants took this lowest month over month uptick since March as a kind of confirmation of Fed's view of inflation. Transitory camp people may take comfort from the retreat of transitory items such as used car prices and air fares. But I think investors need to understand that anything above 4% on annual and sustained basis is something we all need to worry about.

Moreover Producer Price Index rose by 1% in July and 7.8% on yearly basis as reported last week. I think inflation is here and it is going to be more stickier than expected. And there are fresh signs of supply chain disruptions in view of spread of delta variant.

I advise investors to go into somewhat defensive mode and buy some kind of hedge to overcome any unprecedented outcome. I am not saying a big correction is on the way but the forward path seems more bumpier now.

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Sophisticated InvestorBy Jaspreet Singh Padda