Equity markets tread water on Thursday following a cooler-than-expected read on inflation. The October PCE price index came in at 0.2% for the month, cooler than the 0.3% expected and down from the previous month's 0.5%. The news, while good, is dubious in nature because YOY inflation is still running at a greater than 5.0% pace. At this level, the market should expect the pace of interest rate hikes to remain high if not at the 75 basis point clip it has been rising.

Friday's market will be driven by the NFP report. The NFP is expected to show a slowdown in hiring but the key data will be the wage gains. If wages continue to rise at the 5.0% pace they have set investors should expect core PCE prices to continue rising at an above 2.0% pace well into 2023 and cut deeply into S&P 500 earnings.