Governments’ Options in Addressing a Massive Spike in Debt

The Daily Shot: 09-Jul-20
Global Developments
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Japan
China
Emerging Markets
Commodities
Equities
Alternatives
Rates
Food for Thought



 

Global Developments

1. Technical indicators point to further downside risks for the US dollar.
 
Source: Reuters   Read full article  
Source: barchart.com  

——————–

 
2. The reported share of dollar reserves globally rose amid market volatility in Q1.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  
 
3. Despite the recent bounce, inflation swap markets still expect the CPI to remain subdued for years to come.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
4. Asia ex-Japan is expected to take up the largest share of global GDP over the next few years.
 
Source: BlackRock  
 
5. What options do governments typically have in addressing a massive spike in sovereign debt?
 
Source: Gavekal   
 
6. Margin growth will become increasingly difficult for automakers over the next several years, according to Moody’s.
 
Source: Moody’s Investors Service  
 
7. Budget airlines see capacity returning to normal.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
8. There is an inverse relationship between COVID-19 testing rates and deaths.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
9. The share of jobs that can be done at home is correlated with the GDP per capita.
 
Source: @Barclays, @LizAnnSonders  
 
10. This chart shows the trend in corporate tax rates by region.
 
Source: OECD   Read full article  
 
And here is an estimate of tax revenue lost due to companies shifting profits to tax havens.
 
Source: WID   Read full article  


Back to Index

 

The United States

1. Loan applications to purchase a home remain elevated as mortgage rates hit record lows.
 

 
2. Credit card borrowing declined sharply this year. Households cut back spending while the government offered generous support.
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
3. High-frequency indicators continue to signal a pause in the recovery.
 
Consumer sentiment:
 
Source: @HPSInsight, @CivicScience   Read full article  
 
The Oxford Economics Recovery Tracker:
 
Source: Oxford Economics  
 
The New York Fed’s economic activity index (at the national level):
 

——————–

 
4. Next, we have some additional data on PPP loans (by loan size, over time).
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
5. In the first quarter, Northeast states saw a sharper GDP contraction than the rest of the country.
 
Source: @LizAnnSonders, @BEA_News, @bloomberg  


Back to Index

 

Canada

1. The nation’s factory activity stabilized in June.
 
Markit PMI:
 

 
Ivey PMI:
 

Source: Reuters   Read full article  

——————–

 
2. Businesses expect a record drop in future sales and investment.
 
Source: Scotiabank Economics  
 
3. This chart shows the business inflation outlook vs. actual inflation.
 
Source: Scotiabank Economics  


Back to Index

 

The United Kingdom

1. Car registrations rebounded last month but remained 35% below 2019 levels.
 

 
2. The RICS housing index was better than expected, as housing metrics improve (second chart).
 

Source: @WSJ   Read full article  

——————–

 
3. The reopening process has been sluggish.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
4. This chart shows union membership in the UK and the US.
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  


Back to Index

 

The Eurozone

1. Let’s start with this chart of ECB asset purchases.
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  
 
2. TARGET2 imbalances have widened further after the latest tranche of TLTRO funding (see story).
 
Source: @fwred, Pictet Wealth Management  
 
3. The Ifo indicator has been pointing to downside risks for Germany’s construction output.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  


Back to Index

 

Japan

1. The Economy Watchers indicator rebounded sharply last month.
 
Source: The Japan Times   Read full article  

——————–

 
2. The acceleration in Japan’s broad money supply growth has been unprecedented.
 


Back to Index

 

China

1. Rising bond yields, …
 

 
… widening spreads with Treasuries, …
 

 
… and portfolio inflows into the equity market (greenlighted by Beijing) …
 

 
… are supporting the renminbi.
 

——————–

 
2. The headline consumer inflation rate held steady last month, …
 

 
… but the core CPI dipped below 1% for the first time in a decade.
 

——————–

 
3. The PPI ticked up, but producer prices remain well below last year’s levels.
 

 
4. Over the past few months, several cities have eased requirements to attract new residents and boost local economic activity.
 
Source: Pavilion Global Markets  
 
Relaxing migration rules should help the recovery in Chinese housing, according to Pavilion Global Markets.
 
Source: Pavilion Global Markets  
 
Home sales in cities with such policies substantially outperformed peers (chart from Gavekal).
 
Source: Gavekal   


Back to Index

 

Emerging Markets

1. Brazil’s retail sales rebounded in May, exceeding forecasts.
 

 
2. Russia’s inflation remains subdued.
 

 
3. EM stocks have caught up with global markets year-to-date.
 

 
4. This scatterplot from the IMF shows each country’s foreign reserves vs. external financing requirements.
 
Source: @adam_tooze  


Back to Index

 

Commodities

1. Gold topped $1,800/oz for the first time since 2011.
 

 
2. Copper continues to rally.
 

 
3. Lumber futures are breaking out.
 
Source: @FibLines  


Back to Index

 

Equities

1. The biggest companies by market cap are the most expensive and have the highest returns this year.
 
Source: @awealthofcs   Read full article  
 
2. Will the streak of positive US economic surprises translate into Q2 earnings surprises?
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @MorganStanley  
 
3. The S&P 500 futures sentiment indicator points to extreme bullishness.
 
Source: @TommyThornton  
 
4. This chart shows the largest drawdowns in the Dow since the start of the 20th century.
 
Source: @LizAnnSonders, @SPGlobal  
 
5. Who owns the US stock market?
 
Source: @JSeyff, @TheTerminal  
 
6. Market breadth hasn’t been great lately.
 
Source: @LizAnnSonders, @Bloomberg  
 
7. How does the US market perform under different political regimes?
 
President’s party:
 
Source: @WillieDelwiche  
 
Control of Congress:
 
Source: LPL Research  

——————–

 
8. Given the market rally, VIX remains elevated.
 
Source: @MacroCharts  
 
The election premium in VIX futures is well above the levels we saw in 2016 or 2012.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @GoldmanSachs   Read full article  


Back to Index

 

Alternatives

1. Hedge fund liquidations have accelerated this year.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
2. The risk/return profile of equity hedge funds hasn’t been exceptional over the past decade.
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
3. Secondary fund-of-funds products, which purchase LP interests from existing investors, are quite popular this year.
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  


Back to Index

 

Rates

1. The US government just auctioned off the 10-year Treasury notes at a record low yield.
 
Source: @lisaabramowicz1  
 
The market is not concerned about massive deficits.
 
Source: Goldman Sachs  

——————–

 
2. Does the stabilization in US manufacturing signal higher Treasury yields?
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @csresearch  
 
3. The iShares TIPS ETF (TIP), which holds inflation-linked Treasuries, hit a record high as investors rush to hedge against inflation.
 
Source: @kgreifeld  


——————–

Back to Index

 

Food for Thought

1. Why did COVID-19 cause some Americans to relocate?
 
Source: @DiMartinoBooth   Read full article  
 
2. The world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks:
 
Source: The New York Times   Read full article  
 
3. Change in employment by income:
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  
 
4. Cancer survival rates:
 
Source: @ThereseRaphael1, @bopinion   Read full article  
 
5. World leaders’ approval ratings:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
6. The Democratic party campaign volunteering trends:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
7. Top-tier AI researchers:
 
Source: MacroPolo  
 
8. Nuclear warhead reductions:
 
Source: Statista  
 
9. Population recovery in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombings in 1945.
 
Source: @adam_tooze, Donald Davis and David Weinstein   Read full article  

——————–


Back to Index