Joe Abate

We now believe that the first Fed rate hike will not come until December, and we continue to worry the read more

We now believe that the first Fed rate hike will not come until December, and we continue to worry the Fed may be forced to ease again before it begins hiking rates.

The odds are that things are going to be a little stronger than people anticipate in another month or so. read more

The odds are that things are going to be a little stronger than people anticipate in another month or so. With the exception of the labor market data, which will continue to stink.

The stronger data virtually assure significant changes in the Fed's directive this week. The new directive will probably include a read more

The stronger data virtually assure significant changes in the Fed's directive this week. The new directive will probably include a grudging acknowledgement of the stronger labor market and inflation statistics.

The market didn't like his lines about inflation. Overall, the speech was extremely well balanced . . . The market read more

The market didn't like his lines about inflation. Overall, the speech was extremely well balanced . . . The market is just focusing on one or two lines out of the entire speech.

The employment picture remains fairly grim, and that's having a dampening effect on measures of consumer confidence. And we have read more

The employment picture remains fairly grim, and that's having a dampening effect on measures of consumer confidence. And we have higher energy prices, which is another drag on consumer confidence and a 'tax' on consumer spending.