JPMorgan's market intelligence unit suggests that the likelihood of the S&P 500 Index weakening is greater following the release of US nonfarm payroll data on Friday. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated his resolve to curb inflation over the weekend, prompting traders to increase bets that the Fed will raise interest rates at its policy meeting later this month. Swap traders now assign a more than 60% probability to a rate hike, up from 40% a week ago. This backdrop elevates the significance of this week's jobs report, as it will shape market expectations regarding the Fed's policy trajectory.
Led by Andrew Tyler, the JPMorgan team anticipates the potential for a "good news is bad news" market reaction following the employment figures, identifying job growth in the range of 30,000 to 70,000 as the appropriate sweet spot for the market. The Bloomberg survey consensus anticipates 55,000 new jobs.
"A stronger-than-expected payroll report could drive bond yields higher, thereby weighing on stocks. The rationale is that increased hiring leads to more consumer spending, and this overall strength bolsters corporate confidence in further recruitment," the team noted in a report. "However, should the data drastically undershoot expectations—for instance, a renewed decline in job numbers—it could rekindle concerns over stagflation."