Etikett: Martin Arnold

Finally, the market has it right for the Bank of England…but not for GBP…

Finally, the market has it right for the Bank of England…but not for GBP… ETF SecuritiesFinally, the market has it right for the Bank of England…but not for GBP…

Market expectations for the Bank of England (BOE) indicate that it is almost a forgone conclusion that a rate hike will be announced by the BOE this week. This wasn’t always the case. Until September, expectations for a rate hike this year had bounced between around 10% to 60%, and mostly toward the bottom end of that range. So why does the market have pricing wrong for GBP? Finally, the market has it right for the Bank of England…but not for GBP…

The turmoil surrounding Brexit negotiations and the uncertainty over the future economic arrangements have been a key reasons why investors have believed it unlikely that the BOE would raise interest rates. Indeed, the rebound in GBP stalled as European Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Davis traded uneasy statements back-and-forth about the status of the discussions. However, ongoing inflation pressure, a more hawkish tone from BOE Governor Carney and resilient economic numbers have been the reasons for our long held view that the BOE would hike rates in 2017. The knee jerk rate cut triggered by the EU referendum result in June 2016 has proven to have been unnecessary and the current aggressively accommodative stance of the central bank is now counter to its objective of price stability.

Downside risk för EUR/GBP

While GBP appears well valued against the US Dollar, real interest rate differentials between the Eurozone and the UK are supportive of further gains in GBP against the Euro. Indeed, we expect further downside for the Euro, which we feel remains overvalued, with the European Central Bank ECB) striking a much more cautious tone than the BOE. Although ECB President Draghi has announced a ‘downsize’ of its asset purchase program, he noted the need for ‘continued support from monetary policy’ as ‘domestic price pressures are still muted’. With no rate hikes on the horizon, investor positioning looks stretched, hovering near record highs, and EUR/GBP will move back into the 0.84-0.88 range it was trading in for the majority of 2017. Market consensus for EUR/GBP is for 0.90 by year-end. So while the market has it right for the BOE, it has it wrong for GBP.

Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities

Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Is Bitcoin a reversion to the gold standard?

Is Bitcoin a reversion to the gold standard?

“We have gold because we cannot trust governments.” President Herbert Hoover famously commented. Many investors are buying bitcoin for precisely this reason and feel that central bank intervention is devaluing fiat currencies. Others invest because the potential widespread acceptance and usability of Bitcoin will see prices rise over time. Is Bitcoin a reversion to the gold standard?

With a finite supply of Bitcoin, rising usage could see prices rise, but it would come at a cost. In the event of widespread acceptance of bitcoin or another cryptocurrency with limited supply, the growth of the global economy will theoretically be limited. Slowing growth (falling to zero at some future point) in the supply of Bitcoin, will inhibit the growth of the economy. Money supply growth is critical for economic growth and is an important part of current monetary policy.

In some ways, the widespread usage of a cryptocurrency resembles the gold standard. Although many ‘versions’ of the gold standard have existed over time, the underlying premise was the convertibility of currency to gold at a particular rate of exchange. The gold standard was adopted to achieve price stability, limiting the ability of governments to print money, thereby devaluing the currency and potentially leading to rampant inflation.

The gold standard failed for several reasons

The gold standard failed for several reasons. One critical problem was that it tied policymakers’ hands to deal with a downturn in economic growth. In the end, growth is limited by the amount of gold in circulation (assuming 100% gold backing). In the same way, although early investors in Bitcoin may be initially optimistic following rising prices, an eventual decline in economic growth would see Bitcoin prices also collapse and this could be exacerbated by the lack of a lender of last resort.

Interestingly, a so-called ‘Bitcoin standard’ as envisaged by Weber (2015)[1] would eliminate volatility because if currencies were backed by Bitcoin, then these currencies would move in line with the Bitcoin price. Bitcoin in other currencies would continue to experience volatility. However, the problems of money supply growth adversely affecting production would remain. Additionally, investors would not see price gains because bitcoin is backing the fiat currency.

[1] Warren E. Weber: A Bitcoin Standard: Lessons from the Gold Standard, October 2015.

Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities

Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Is dovishness dead at the Fed?

Is dovishness dead at the Fed?

Economists are notorious for sitting on the fence and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Yellen is no different: her latest speech spent part of the time focussing on the possibility that the Fed underestimated the weakness of the price and labour market dynamics and the other part highlighting that policy shouldn’t move too slowly to offset potential inflation pressure. However, the more hawkish tone of Chair Yellen’s comments underpinned a rise in bond yields and the US Dollar (USD): two trends which we expect to continue. Is dovishness dead at the Fed?

We believe that on balance, that the Federal Reserve’s policy stance is becoming more skewed towards tighter policy. Chair Yellen highlighted that ‘low inflation is probably temporary’ and that ‘we should…be wary of moving too gradually’ in moving rates higher. She even made the case that higher rates are beneficial as it gives the central bank more firepower to support the economy in the event of a recession. Indeed, the Fed appears to be becoming more proactive with Chair Yellen noting that ‘it would be imprudent to keep monetary policy on hold until inflation is back to 2 percent.’

US real interest rates are continuing to trend higher, as nominal rates are outpacing the rise in consumer prices, as the market increasingly prices a greater potential a rate hike in 2017. We expect that this trend will remain supportive of a grind higher in the USD in Q4.

64% chance of a rate hike

Currently the market is pricing in a 64% chance of a rate hike in December, up from 37% at the beginning of September. Indeed, there appears to be more upside for the USD, as investors remain somewhat pessimistic about the currency, despite the potential for higher rates (both real and nominal). Futures market positioning shows that net speculative positioning is at the lowest level in over three years, and well below longer-term averages. Moreover, options pricing indicates that only commodity currencies (Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Dollars’) are expected to be weaker than the USD over the coming month.

Dovishness is certainly not dead at the Fed, but the hawks are circling their prey. Accordingly, we expect that the changing policy stance at the Fed will see the USD bottom and grind higher against G10 currencies in coming months.

Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities

Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Deflating the ECB’s bond balloon

Deflating the ECB’s bond balloon

European bond yields are hovering near the lowest levels in history, but we believe it is not a bubble in the traditional sense. Yields are artificially low, driven by extraordinary levels of stimulus from the ECB. In this framework, we would characterise the situation as a bond balloon, not a bond bubble.

The critical difference between a balloon and a bubble is what happens at the end: central bankers are keen to deflate the balloon, rather than burst the bubble. The gradual deflation of the bond balloon is a key aspect of what policymakers want to achieve with the unwinding of asset purchase programs. As a result, communication is crucial to forming investor expectations about the path for tighter monetary policy.

We expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to be guarded and very careful regarding its comments about unwinding stimulus at the upcoming policy meeting. We feel that the market has already largely priced in the tapering of the central bank’s bond purchasing programme. As a result, while there could be a brief spike higher for the Euro, it will be temporary. We feel FX markets are continuing to underestimate the cautiousness of the ECB in changing its policy settings. Investors should be wary, as ECB policymakers are already concerned about the rise in the Euro.

At the last meeting policymakers expressed concern ‘about the risk of the exchange rate overshooting in the future’. The Euro has moved higher since and with futures market positioning at the highest level on record, there are downside risks for the Euro against the Pound. The long EUR short GBP trade is overcrowded and currency pair could move back toward more historically average levels around 1.11 if the ECB’s rhetoric at this week’s meeting suggests a pragmatic and gradual approach to paring its asset purchases. If ECB President Draghi continues the narrative from last meeting and doesn’t discuss the issue at all, the negative Euro reaction could be very sudden and sharp. Further downside, toward 1.17 in the coming year is likely as clarity around Brexit negotiations is gleaned.

Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities

Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

If Bank of England doesn’t hike rates in 2017, then when?

If Bank of England doesn’t hike rates in 2017, then when?

One year on from the last rate cut, the Bank of England has kept rates on hold, with the MPC voting 6-2 in favour of the decision (roughly the same as last month). Although policy remains unchanged, GBP should remain supported by what is expected to be a tighter policy path in 20-17/2018. Indeed, Governor Carney indicated that policy may need to be tightened at a faster rate than the market is currently pricing. If Bank of England doesn’t hike rates in 2017, then when?

While a decidedly cautious tone was struck by Governor Carney at the Bank of England press conference, tighter policy is coming: if UK economic growth continues at the rate the BOE has forecast, the market is underpricing the amount of policy tightening that is necessary.

The UK economy remains relatively resilient after the EU Referendum, with the unemployment rate at pre-crisis levels and evidence that both the manufacturing and services sector are growing in a robust manner. The reason for the additional Bank of England stimulus (a rate cut and additional asset purchases) a year ago was necessarily forward looking: ‘the weaker medium-term outlook for activity…[will lead to] an eventual rise in unemployment. The central bank seems to have become less proactive since then, highlighting that the UK is currently ‘in the teeth’ of the squeeze for households and both consumption growth and business investment will improve further in coming months.

The inflation remains elevated in the UK

Meanwhile, inflation remains elevated in the UK and well above the BOE’s target. The longer this continues, the greater the chance of expectations becoming unanchored, especially if energy prices rise again. While inflation hasn’t surprised to the upside in recent months, market implied inflationary expectations remain elevated (well above a year ago), and above other major economies.

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Current BOE Policy remains extremely accommodative

Current BOE Policy remains extremely accommodative. There may be uncertainties around the Brexit negotiations, but emergency interest rate settings do not seem appropriate. Indeed, Governor Carney notes that there are limits to what monetary policy can do relating to the Brexit situation. We expect that negotiations surrounding Brexit will remain in flux and that given there is unlikely to be significant progress made, the worst case scenario has already been digested by the market and GBP. In turn, the BOE is likely to unwind their Brexit induced rate cut from last year in H2 2017.

The key sentence in the BOE’s Monetary Policy Summary report is ‘The combination of high rates of profitability, especially in the export sector, the low cost of capital and limited spare capacity supports investment by UK firms over the forecast period, offsetting the effect of continued uncertainties around Brexit’. Surely if the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit is offset, then the 2016 rate cut and additional stimulus should be unwound…if not in 2017, then when?

 

Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities

Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.