Why Markets Are Up On A Dismal GDP Release

At the end of last week, TD Ameritrade’s AMTD Chief Strategist, JJ Kinahan, stated that market would not react to the third revision of first quarter GDP. He was right.

In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Kinahan stated, “I think the wind was taken out of that sail with Yellen’s comments the other day.” Her comments were regarded as especially dovish and most investors interpreted her remarks as soft on inflation.

Kinahan clarified, “She lowered expectations so much on GDP that I don’t expect a big reaction from that number one way or another because she has already set the expectation for everybody.”

Related Link: GDP Falters On Third Estimate; US Economic Contraction Driven By Corporate Profit Collapse

This is an example of buy the rumor, sell the news. Kinahan’s statement implies that the market had already prepared for a weak figure and, other than the knee jerk reaction, was unphased.

GDP is down 2.9 percent quarter over quarter, despite public equities climbing to all time highs.