The FOMC begins to focus on taper

The Daily Shot: 29-Jul-21
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The Eurozone
Europe
China
Emerging Markets
Cryptocurrency
Commodities
Energy
Equities
Credit
Rates
Global Developments
Food for Thought



 

The United States

1. The FOMC statement suggests that QE is no longer on “autopilot.” The Fed officials took the “first deep dive” into scaling back purchases. But what does assessing progress in the “coming meetings” mean?
 
Source: @NickTimiraos  
 
Will we get the taper announcement in September? December? The FOMC wants to see “sufficient further progress” toward the central bank’s “broad labor market recovery” goals.
 
Nordea Markets expects the taper decision in September and the first QE reduction in December.
 
Source: Nordea Markets  
 
The market reaction was muted. The dollar weakened.
 

 
Fed funds futures continue to price in the first hike in early 2023.
 

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2. Economists’ expectations for the Q2 GDP growth have been moderating in recent weeks.
 

 
Goldman expects strong growth for the rest of the year but sees a sharp pullback in the second half of next year.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @GoldmanSachs  
 
While fiscal and monetary stimulus has been immense, …
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
… the fiscal impulse will turn into a drag on growth next year, according to Deutsche Bank.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  

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3. Mortgage applications remain in line with 2019 levels.
 

 
The Evercore ISI Homebuilders Sales index has been moderating.
 
Source: Evercore ISI  

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4. US goods trade deficit was larger than expected in June amid robust domestic demand.
 

 
5. Labor’s share of corporate earnings has been trending lower over the past three decades. But when equity-based compensation is included, the decline isn’t nearly as severe (the gap is mostly high-skill workers).
 
Source: NBER   Read full article  


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Canada

Headline inflation moderated in June.
 

 
The CPI index is roughly in line with the pre-COVID trend.
 

 
The “blended” core CPI remains at multi-year highs.
 


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The United Kingdom

1. Home price appreciation appears to have peaked this month.
 

 
But residential property transactions have been surging.
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  

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2. Some surveys signal willingness to spend savings.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  
 
But other surveys show that saving intentions remain high.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  

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3. Did Euros matches contribute to the recent spike in COVID cases?
 
Source: @financialtimes   Read full article  


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The Eurozone

1. Let’s begin with July sentiment indicators.
 
The rebound in Germany’s consumer confidence stalled this month.
 

 
French consumer sentiment declined.
 

 
Italian sentiment indicators continue to surge.
 
Consumer confidence:
 

 
Manufacturing confidence:
 

 
The ISTAT Economic Sentiment Index:
 

 
Easing government restrictions helped boost Italian sentiment.
 
Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics  

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2. German import prices keep climbing.
 

 
Separately, corporate sales jumped in Q2.
 
Source: Commerzbank Research  

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3. Ireland’s retail sales are back above the pre-COVID trend.
 

 
4. The household deleveraging process in periphery economies has largely run its course.
 
Source: MRB Partners  


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Europe

1. Retail sales in Sweden and Norway remain remarkably strong.
 
Norway sales relative to pre-COVID trend:
 

 
Sweden retail sales (not seasonally adjusted):
 

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2. This chart shows government debt-to-GDP ratios across the EU.
 
Source: Eurostat   Read full article  


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China

1. The equity market stabilized as Beijing stepped in to calm investors (see story).
 

 
This chart shows stock returns by sector.
 
Source: Hugo Ste-Marie, Portfolio & Quantitative Strategy Global Equity Research, Scotia Capital  

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2. The renminbi rebounded (offshore yuan shown below).
 

 
3. The high-yield index remains under pressure.
 

 
4. Excavator sales and investment in construction equipment have deteriorated sharply.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
5. The Evercore ISI business survey on China sales points to a deterioration in manufacturing growth.
 
Source: Evercore ISI  
 
6. Highly leveraged sectors respond quickly and strongly to policy easing.
 
Source: Gavekal Research  
 
7. This map shows China’s global operations.
 
Source: CSIS   Read full article  


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Emerging Markets

1. Let’s begin with Russia.
 
The unemployment rate:
 

 
Wage growth (a drop in May):
 

 
Cargo shipments:
 

 
Construction (very strong):
 

 
COVID-related deaths:
 
Source: TS Lombard  

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2. Vietnam’s exports remain robust.
 

 
The nation’s trade deficit was higher than expected.
 

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3. Next, we have some updates on India.
 
The World Economic SMI (shows ongoing recession):
 
Source: World Economics  
 
IPO activity:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
VC Investments:
 
Source: @WSJ   Read full article  
 
Rural and industrial wage growth:
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
Exposure to COVID:
 
Source: Statista  


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Cryptocurrency

1. It’s been a good week for crypto markets.
 

 
Bitcoin is back above $40k.
 

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2. Has the number of new addresses on the Bitcoin network bottomed this month?
 
Source: The Block  
 
3. This chart shows the percentage of Ethereum supply in profit.
 
Source: The Block  


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Commodities

1. The rally in iron ore is fading.
 

 
2. Here are the sources of global platinum supply.
 
Source: Alpine Macro  


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Energy

1. US oil inventories continue to trend lower.
 

 
2. This chart shows US electricity generation by fuel type.
 
Source: EIA   Read full article  
 
3. European natural gas prices continue to hit record highs.
 


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Equities

1. The year-to-date performance gap between US and non-US stocks keeps widening.
 

 
2. Earnings continue to exceed forecasts.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
Negative pre-announcements have been rare.
 
Source: @MichaelKantro  

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3. The average recovery time from sharp one-day declines continues to shorten as the “buy-the-dip” mentality permeates the market.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @BofAML  
 
4. Hedge funds’ favorite stocks have underperformed this year.
 

 
5. VIX has been trending up even as the market makes new highs.
 
Source: @ISABELNET_SA, @BofAML  


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Credit

1. Will China’s high-yield market rout put downward pressure on US credit?
 
Source: @markets   Read full article  
 
2. US loan growth turned positive year-to-date but remains weak relative to previous years.
 
Source: Morgan Stanley Research  
 
3. Loan performance has been remarkably strong relative to the 2008 downturn.
 
Source: BIS   Read full article  


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Rates

US real rates continue to hit new lows as investors pour money into inflation-linked Treasuries (2nd chart).
 

 


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Global Developments

1. Here is the share of economies exceeding pre-recession GDP within two years.
 
Source: Oxford Analytica    Read full article  
 
2. Next, we have the distribution of goods exports in 2009 and 2019.
 
Source: Eurostat   Read full article  
 
3. The ratio of global trade-to-manufacturing output has been flat for over a decade.
 
Source: BCA Research  
 
4. This chart shows the expected working-age population growth between 2020 and 2035.
 
Source: Deutsche Bank Research  
 
5. Finally, we have semiconductor capacity growth projections.
 
Source: SIA   Read full article  


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Food for Thought

1. The median age of first marriage around the world:
 
Source: Statista  
 
2. US birth rates in counties with strong and weak job markets:
 
Source: The New York Times   Read full article  
 
3. Declining mobility in the US:
 
Source: Mizuho Securities USA  
 
4. Growth in student debt burden:
 
Source: Bloomberg   Read full article  
 
5. Mathematics performance:
 
Source: OECD  
 
6. Changes in US college enrollment:
 
Source: @axios   Read full article  
 
7. Populations more divided than before COVID:
 
Source: Pew Research Center   Read full article  
 
8. Trust in the news:
 
Source: Statista  
 
9. Unaccounted for US military weapons:
 
Source: AP   Read full article  
 
10. Generations defined:
 
Source: Pew Research Center   Read full article  

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