U.S Market (5th Dec. 2025)

U.S Market (5th Dec. 2025)

For global investors following U.S. markets

1. Global Macro – Expansion Signals Hold, but Momentum Remains Limited

■ Global PMI (Nov): Manufacturing 50.3, Services 51.1

The global economy continues to operate in a slow-expansion regime.
The upside is limited, but the downside risk of recession has materially faded.

■ Inflation: Headline softens, but core remains sticky

The key friction is in services inflation, particularly shelter and wages.
This keeps major central banks on a gradual, not aggressive, easing path.

■ Global Liquidity: Turning the corner

Global M2 has been positive for 3 consecutive months, suggesting the world is transitioning out of its 2023–24 liquidity trough.
Historically, this improves risk-asset performance with a 3–6 month lag.

■ Oil: $78–82 range

Oil’s stability supports global disinflation while signaling still-moderate industrial activity.

2. United States Macro — “Cooling but Not Cracking”

(1) Today’s main event: the November Jobs Report

Market expectations:

  • Nonfarm Payrolls: +140k to +155k
  • Unemployment Rate: ~4.4%
  • Wage Growth: 3.4–3.6% YoY

Interpretation

Fed officials have been consistently signaling “proceed carefully.”

  • A soft print → strengthens case for a January rate cut
  • A hot print → pushes easing toward March or later

Today’s report will likely define the tone of the December FOMC and shape short-term yield direction.

(2) Inflation & Policy Trajectory

  • Core CPI nowcast: ~3.1%
  • Core PCE: ~3.0%
  • Fed Funds Rate: 3.75–4.00%

The Fed acknowledges disinflation progress but warns the “last mile” to 2% requires patience.
Market expectations have shifted from 4–5 cuts (early 2025 expectations) to 2–3 cuts in 2026.

This is a classic slow-normalization phase, not a rapid easing cycle.

(3) Bonds, Credit, and Equity Tone

■ Bond Market

  • 10Y Treasury: 4.2–4.4%
  • 2Y Treasury: ~4.1%
  • 2s–10s Spread: +20–30 bps (mild steepening)

🔍 Analyst Interpretation

The curve’s re-steepening is important.
It signals:

  1. Recession fears are fading
  2. Inflation is cooling
  3. Growth is slowing, not collapsing

■ Credit

  • IG Spread: ~110 bps
  • HY Spread: ~380–400 bps
    → No systemic credit stress; soft-landing sentiment intact.

■ Equities

Supported by:

  • Stabilizing earnings revisions
  • Lower long-term yields
  • Improving liquidity profile
    → Favors quality, large-cap, cash-flow-strong equities.

3. Policy Risk — December Tariffs and Fiscal Direction

  • The administration is preparing a tiered tariff framework, likely impacting EV supply chains, batteries, solar hardware, and semiconductors.
  • Fiscal policy remains expansionary, raising medium-term questions about Treasury supply and long-term yields.
  • Potential tightening in immigration policy may keep wage inflation elevated in 2026.

Policy remains the key source of short-term volatility.

4. FX, Crypto, and Cross-Asset Signals

  • DXY: trading around 103–104
  • USD/KRW: holding in the 1,467–1,470 zone
  • Bitcoin dominance: ~58%, signaling selective risk appetite rather than broad risk-on behavior.

5. Conclusion — “Cooling, Not Cracking”

The U.S. is navigating a delicate but stable soft-landing corridor.
Inflation is easing, credit remains healthy, liquidity is improving, and growth is moderating rather than breaking.

Investment stance:High-quality U.S. large capsDefense & infrastructureEnergy transportation & pipelinesCash-flow-stable growthSelective duration in bonds (short/intermediate)

Disclaimer

This content is not investment advice. Investors are responsible for their own decisions.

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Jamie Larson
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