Markets posted their fifth straight session of gains Thursday, bouncing back from a deep sell-off that sent the Dow into a correction. Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, breaks down why there has been such choppy trading in the markets.
Timmer says the two years leading up to the correction were unusually quiet due to the markets firing on all cylinders. Last August was a pivotal moment for markets because the chances of corporate tax cuts spiked. Timmer says another factor was the bond market because it was way too complacent about the possibility of rate hikes.
The VIX index, which serves as a "fear gauge" in markets, spiked in recent weeks. Timmer places the blame on hedge funds and traders who were short volatility. He added that the fundamentals of the economy are still relatively constructive and volatility will settle back down.
With the Fed likely set to leave rates unchanged, lower and middle income Americans will continue dealing with higher credit card interest and expenses.
Markets soared in May after Nvidia’s Q1 success, but concerns over slowing consumer spending, especially among middle—and lower-income groups, loom large.
