FOMC Minutes Take the Baton After CPI Fails to Break the Coil

Alpha Insights — U.S. Daily Macro Watch

🛡️ CPI failed to unlock flow — 10Y auction and FOMC now hold the trigger

📆 Wednesday, July 09, 2025 | ⏰ 10:30 London/BST / 05:30 New York/EDT
📦 Status: CPI failed to unlock flow — 10Y auction and FOMC now hold the trigger


🎯 Executive Summary

Markets remain in limbo. CPI delivered heat (used cars, Redbook), but expectations cooled, and the result was no directional resolution. SPX held the coil above 6,200. Tech remains capped. Volatility dropped again — but skew tension suggests the real move is yet to come.

Today, the market faces a key test: the 10-year Treasury auction and the FOMC minutes at 2PM EDT. If both disappoint, the coil breaks — likely with force.


📉 Key Data Recap – Tuesday to Wednesday

MetricActualForecastInsight
Used Car Prices YoY (JUN)+6.3%+4.0%🔺 CPI component re-accelerating
Consumer Credit (MAY)$5.1B$12.1B🔻 Weak print — macro demand flag
Redbook YoY (JUL/05)+5.9%⚠️ Strong consumer tape
3-Year Note Auction3.891%3.972%🟢 Front-end demand remains healthy
API Crude Stocks (JUL/04)+7.1M–2.8M🛢️ Massive build, faded by the market
MBA 30-Year Mortgage Rate6.79%⚠️ Housing pressure sustained
Wholesale Inventories (MAY)–0.3%–0.3%📉 Q2 GDP alignment with lower inventories

🔎 Macro Read

CPI failed to deliver a decisive break. Volatility fell again, but front-month VIX futures spiked +8%, revealing hidden bid under the surface. Gold slipped under 3,300. Oil ignored bearish inventory data and continues to rebound — a sign that macro positioning may already be leaning defensive.

Today is critical: the 10Y auction at 1PM ET and FOMC minutes at 2PM will determine if the coil breaks to the upside or spirals into volatility repricing.


📊 Key Events – Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Time (ET)EventForecast / ActualInsight
10:00 AMWholesale Inventories–0.3%⚠️ Q2 GDP drag confirmed
01:00 PM10-Year Note Auction4.421%🧭 Long-end tone-setter
02:00 PMFOMC Minutes🔥 Primary catalyst for next move

🔒 Locked Snapshot – 10:30 BST / 05:30 EDT

AssetPriceTactical Note
SPX6,243.6Coil intact above 6,200 — breakout setup active
NDX22,769.8Still capped under 22,800 — no momo breakthrough
BTC108,742.3Range-bound — failed to react to CPI heat
GOLD3,288.5Slipping below 3,300 — hedge bid absent
DXY97.510Post-CPI bounce holding — FOMC to determine path
CRUDE69.259Soft inventory data ignored — energy bid builds
US10Y4.403%Flat ahead of 10Y auction — duration risk primed
VIX16.31Surface vol compressed — curve tension remains

🔒 Full Market Snapshot – 10:30 BST / 05:30 EDT

These levels define today’s strategic framework across Titan analysis.

TickerAsset DescriptionPriceΔ %Δ AbsTactical Note
VX1!VIX Futures (Front Month)19.500+8.23%+1.485Vol snap risk — short gamma starts to reprice
VX2!VIX Futures (Back Month)20.470+3.29%+0.650Curve still elevated — decompressing persists
WTICOUSDWest Texas Oil69.259+0.77%+0.528Builds ignored — macro bid returning
SPX500USDS&P 500 Index CFD6,243.6+0.16%+10.0Coil intact above 6,200 — breakout requires FOMC
NAS100USDNasdaq 100 Index CFD22,769.8+0.15%+33.2Still capped — tech needs macro unlock
ES1!S&P 500 E-mini Futures6,280.75+0.14%+8.75Quiet — awaits auction clarity
NQ1!Nasdaq 100 E-mini Futures22,926.0+0.13%+29.25No momo — NDX remains flow sensitive
RTYUS Russell 20002,231.9+0.07%+1.5Small caps holding — needs breadth
NDXNasdaq 100 Index22,702.25+0.07%+16.68Still below 22,800 — no breakout yet
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust (NDX ETF)552.34+0.06%+0.31ETF bid present — but flow thin
US10YUS 10-Year Treasury Yield4.403%0.00%0.000Flat into 10Y auction — tail risk present
DXYUS Dollar Index97.510–0.01%–0.007Post-CPI bounce holding — FOMC decides path
SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF620.34–0.05%–0.34Equity bid fading — hesitation into minutes
SPXS&P 500 Index (Cash)6,225.52–0.07%–4.46Rejected from highs — compression remains
DJIADow Jones Composite13,853.62–0.14%–18.76Dow lags — rotation risk evident
BTCUSDBitcoin / USD108,742.3–0.21%–231.89Weak bid above 108K — structure not resolved
XAUUSDGold Spot / USD3,288.5–0.40%–13.21Hedge bid missing — macro fade active
VIXS&P 500 Volatility Index16.31–2.92%–0.49Surface vol drops — curve steepens
VVIXCBOE Volatility of Volatility91.31–5.18%–4.99Skew decompression suggests hedge unwind

🧭 Titan Trade Playbook

Trader TypeOpportunity Insight
ScalpersFade SPX >6,275 if auction strong / FOMC hawkish
IntradayWatch NDX rejection zones + VX1! >19.5 trigger
SwingLong SPX / RTY if relief bounce follows dovish minutes
PositionStay light — today resolves or confirms the trap

📈 Tactical Trade Ideas

• 🟢 Long Bias: SPX — breakout potential if FOMC + auction soft
• 🔴 Short Bias: GOLD — below 3,300 = no hedge flows
• ⚖️ Neutral: BTC — structure unchanged, no vol trigger


📉 Summary Table: Asset Class Lens

ClassThemeTitan View
EquitiesCoiled above support⚖️ Neutral
FXUSD bounce holds🟢 Bullish tilt
MetalsHedge demand absent🔻 Short bias
BondsAuction risk today⚠️ Await tone shift

🧠 Final Tactical View

Volatility has been suppressed, but the VIX curve signals the game is still live. CPI failed to unlock direction — now FOMC and auctions take the wheel.

Compression rarely resolves quietly.


Best Wishes and Success to All
🛡️ Take Profits, Not Chances.
💰 Manage Risk to Accumulate.
🎯 React with Clarity, Not Hope.
Titan Protect | Market Structure. Flow Intelligence. No Noise.

⚙️ Views are Personal & Educational, reflective of our Analysis and Research.
📉 Economic Calendar data reflects positioning as of July 09 (reported July 09)
📦 Daily Reference Tag: 01.ECON.090725

⚠️ Educational content only. Not investment advice.

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