Our approach to Fed-watching is clear:
Among the cacophony of voices, the Troika of Fed leadership, Yellen,
Fischer and Dudley provide the clearest signal. They are most often on message, and their
comments have been the best indications of policy.
Among the cacophony of voices, the Troika of Fed leadership, Yellen,
Fischer and Dudley provide the clearest signal. They are most often on message, and their
comments have been the best indications of policy.
Remember at the end of last summer; Dudley
said a rate hike was less compelling. This foretold
the lack of hike last September.
Earlier this year, as several regional presidents were talking up a rate
hike, Yellen pushed against it.
said a rate hike was less compelling. This foretold
the lack of hike last September.
Earlier this year, as several regional presidents were talking up a rate
hike, Yellen pushed against it.
Governor Brainard is the newest member of
the Board of Governors. Well, technically, Fischer was confirmed at the same time,
but his experience is vastly superior. Brainard has completed a little
more than two years of her 12-year term. This
is not to impeach her comments. They are thoughtful and well
considered. They were thoughtful and considered
six months ago too. She has not changed her assessment, though
circumstances have changed.
the Board of Governors. Well, technically, Fischer was confirmed at the same time,
but his experience is vastly superior. Brainard has completed a little
more than two years of her 12-year term. This
is not to impeach her comments. They are thoughtful and well
considered. They were thoughtful and considered
six months ago too. She has not changed her assessment, though
circumstances have changed.
First, global risks appear to have eased. The UK referendum has come and gone. The global
capital markets have become decoupled to a large extent from what happens to
the Chinese yuan and stocks. It is the politics of several
emerging market countries, like Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa, not
the economics that has been the source of consternation by investors.
capital markets have become decoupled to a large extent from what happens to
the Chinese yuan and stocks. It is the politics of several
emerging market countries, like Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa, not
the economics that has been the source of consternation by investors.
Second, the nine-month soft-patch in which
the US economy grew less than 2% appears to be ending now. We are familiar with three regional
Federal Reserve’s GDP trackers. The St. Louis Fed’s and the Atlanta
Fed’s models point to an annualized pace more than 3% here in Q3. The
NY Fed says the economy is tracking 2.8%.
the US economy grew less than 2% appears to be ending now. We are familiar with three regional
Federal Reserve’s GDP trackers. The St. Louis Fed’s and the Atlanta
Fed’s models point to an annualized pace more than 3% here in Q3. The
NY Fed says the economy is tracking 2.8%.
Third, the fact that the Fed does not have conventional monetary tools at its disposal is an argument that has been
developed to encourage policymakers to gradually
raise interest rates. However, Brainard turns this argument on it head. She
suggests that the limited arsenal should make the Fed even more cautious about
taking risks, such as raising rates.
developed to encourage policymakers to gradually
raise interest rates. However, Brainard turns this argument on it head. She
suggests that the limited arsenal should make the Fed even more cautious about
taking risks, such as raising rates.
Brainard argued that guarding against
downside risks is preferable to preemptively raising rates to guard against
upside risks. This
seems to misunderstand the
purpose of raising rates. It is not to ward off too tight of a labor
market or too strong of growth or too high of inflation. A series of several
rate hikes over the next couple of years would give the Fed the interest rate tool
again.
downside risks is preferable to preemptively raising rates to guard against
upside risks. This
seems to misunderstand the
purpose of raising rates. It is not to ward off too tight of a labor
market or too strong of growth or too high of inflation. A series of several
rate hikes over the next couple of years would give the Fed the interest rate tool
again.
We can agree with Brainard that there is
no hurry and the Fed should be cautious as macroeconomic relationships may have
changed, such as employment and inflation. However, given the forward momentum of the
economy, the improvement in the labor market, the modest upward pressure on
prices, the Fed has arguably been cautious and patient. Would a second
rate hike in two years change that assessment?
no hurry and the Fed should be cautious as macroeconomic relationships may have
changed, such as employment and inflation. However, given the forward momentum of the
economy, the improvement in the labor market, the modest upward pressure on
prices, the Fed has arguably been cautious and patient. Would a second
rate hike in two years change that assessment?
We wonder too if the significance of 25 bp
increase in the Fed funds target range is not being
exaggerated. The
real funds rate remains below zero, which is a measure the monetary stance,
even on a 25 bp increase. It is hard to see the impact of the December
2015 rate increase. Three-month LIBOR has risen nearly as much due to the
reforms in the US money market as it did in response to the Fed’s hike.
At the end of the day, we agree with Brainard. Monetary policy should be
cautious and prudent. A 25 bp hike does not make the Fed incautious or
imprudent.
increase in the Fed funds target range is not being
exaggerated. The
real funds rate remains below zero, which is a measure the monetary stance,
even on a 25 bp increase. It is hard to see the impact of the December
2015 rate increase. Three-month LIBOR has risen nearly as much due to the
reforms in the US money market as it did in response to the Fed’s hike.
At the end of the day, we agree with Brainard. Monetary policy should be
cautious and prudent. A 25 bp hike does not make the Fed incautious or
imprudent.
Nevertheless, Brainard is the second Fed
Governor (Tarullo being the other) that seemed to demur from the Troika (Yellen,
Fischer, and Dudley). The
market downgraded the chances of a Fed hike in September. Bloomberg’s
calculation (WIRP) has fell from 30% before the weekend to 22%. The CME
(where the contract is traded) sees the
probability falling to 15% from 24%. For the record, the probability
shift was a function of the implied yield falling three-quarters of a basis
point to 41 bp.
Governor (Tarullo being the other) that seemed to demur from the Troika (Yellen,
Fischer, and Dudley). The
market downgraded the chances of a Fed hike in September. Bloomberg’s
calculation (WIRP) has fell from 30% before the weekend to 22%. The CME
(where the contract is traded) sees the
probability falling to 15% from 24%. For the record, the probability
shift was a function of the implied yield falling three-quarters of a basis
point to 41 bp.
The US two-year note yield fell a little
more than a single basis point on Monday. The decline in response to Brainard was less
than four bp from the 80 bp level that was seen
as the pre-weekend move was continued.
The Financial
Times called this a “plunge,” but this is hyperbolic.
Recall that as recently as the middle of last week, the yield was near 71 bp.
more than a single basis point on Monday. The decline in response to Brainard was less
than four bp from the 80 bp level that was seen
as the pre-weekend move was continued.
The Financial
Times called this a “plunge,” but this is hyperbolic.
Recall that as recently as the middle of last week, the yield was near 71 bp.
While the dollar and US interest rates were little changed at the end of the session,
the S&P 500 sustained a strong bounce. The S&P 500 opened below the
pre-weekend lows. This created a
gap that was soon filled. The gap
created by last Friday’s sharply lower opening is key. It is found
between 2169.06 and 2177.49. To repair the technical damage, the S&P
500 would ideally close above the top of that range. Most bullish would
be gap higher on Tuesday, which simply
does not look to be in the cards.
the S&P 500 sustained a strong bounce. The S&P 500 opened below the
pre-weekend lows. This created a
gap that was soon filled. The gap
created by last Friday’s sharply lower opening is key. It is found
between 2169.06 and 2177.49. To repair the technical damage, the S&P
500 would ideally close above the top of that range. Most bullish would
be gap higher on Tuesday, which simply
does not look to be in the cards.
Asian stocks performed poorly in light of
the US equity rally and Chinese economic data. The MSCI Asia-Pacific is flat, while MSCI EM is up 0.25%
early in the European morning. China reported a series of data that lend
credence ideas that the world’s second-largest
economy is stabilizing. In turn, that keeps speculation of easier
monetary policy in check.
the US equity rally and Chinese economic data. The MSCI Asia-Pacific is flat, while MSCI EM is up 0.25%
early in the European morning. China reported a series of data that lend
credence ideas that the world’s second-largest
economy is stabilizing. In turn, that keeps speculation of easier
monetary policy in check.
Industrial output rose 6.3%, a little
better than expected and a bit faster than the 6.0% pace in July. Retail sales rose 10.6% after a
10.2% in July. Fixed investment rose 8.1%
in the first eight months. This is
steady from the rate reported in July, but it is a little above expectations.
better than expected and a bit faster than the 6.0% pace in July. Retail sales rose 10.6% after a
10.2% in July. Fixed investment rose 8.1%
in the first eight months. This is
steady from the rate reported in July, but it is a little above expectations.
Some economists use power output to
generate insight into growth, with the GDP figures seen as suspect. Power output rose 7.8% in August from a year ago.
Just like capital investment in China has reached a point of diminishing
returns, so too has energy output. There may
be a gap between energy output and consumption. It may also be
that low energy costs have deterred efficiencies. Also, the increase
power output may reflect more industrial activity.
generate insight into growth, with the GDP figures seen as suspect. Power output rose 7.8% in August from a year ago.
Just like capital investment in China has reached a point of diminishing
returns, so too has energy output. There may
be a gap between energy output and consumption. It may also be
that low energy costs have deterred efficiencies. Also, the increase
power output may reflect more industrial activity.
One detail that caught our attention was
China’s steel output. Recall that excess capacity in that
industry is sufficiently salient to make it into the G20 statement.
Chinese officials have indicated intentions on shuttering some capacity.
They have around half of the world’s steel capacity. However,
today’s data showed steel output was 3% higher in the year through August.
The dollar was firm before Brainard’s-induced gyrations, and it regained its footing. It was technically notable that the euro remained confined to the previous session’s range. It requires a move above the $1.1270-$1.1300 band to lift the tone. On the downside, initial support is pegged at $1.1200. The dollar was pushed a bit lower in Asia against the yen, falling to nearly JPY101.40. It stopped shy of the objective we saw near JPY101.20. The JPY102.15 area marks the first hurdle. Sterling remains in narrow ranges around $1.3300. The dollar-bloc is under some pressure. The Australian dollar rally yesterday has been pared and it is back probing support in the $0.7500 area. A break of $0.7480 may shake out some of the late-longs. We continue to look for the greenback to test CAD1.3150 on its way to CAD1.32.