Only gold profits from Fed decision Energy: Events on the oil market continue to be characterized by high levels of volatility, oil prices once again repeatedly fluctuating by $1-1.5 during the course of trading yesterday. It is virtually impossible to identify any clear trend at the moment, though in our opinion the bullish factors are likely to predominate in the medium term. In recent days, we have made frequent reference to an imminent tightening of non-OPEC supply, which should help restore the balance on the oil market as early as next year. The outlook on the demand side has also brightened considerably of late, however. The already strong demand from China should even derive further positive impetus from the stimulus measures implemented by the government and central bank. We also believe that the latest fall in car registrations in China, which gave rise to negative sentiment recently, was due above all to psychological factors and will soon be reversed. China reported today that real estate prices in major cities in August rose again for the most part (sharply in some cases). In addition, the Chinese stock markets appear to be stabilizing. The impact of the interest rate decision taken by the US Fed on sentiment among oil investors should not be underestimated either, nor should the way international financial markets and foreign exchange markets have reacted to it. The fact that the US Fed has expressed explicit concern about a strong US dollar should limit the greenback’s upside potential. A weaker US dollar is frequently accompanied by a rising oil price.
Precious metals: The gold price climbed to a two-week high of a good $1,130 per troy ounce yesterday evening on the back of a depreciating US dollar. As we had anticipated, the US Federal Reserve chose not to raise interest rates yet yesterday. The latest turmoil in the emerging markets, the increased volatility on the financial markets and the low rate of inflation in the US were doubtless what prompted the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged.
Furthermore, Fed Chair Yellen emphasized the negative impact of the strong US dollar on inflation, and also gave no clear indication that a rate hike might be imminent. Nonetheless, she did make reference to the fact that a majority of FOMC members expect interest rate hikes to begin before the year is out. Our economists believe that these are more likely to start in December than in October because a whole series of additional economic data – labour market reports in particular – will then be available to enable a better appraisal of the situation. Until such time as a first rate hike is made, we expect the gold price to continue trending sideways within a relatively narrow trading band, as it has done in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, physical gold demand in India is clearly weak: according to trading sources, the discount on gold prices there as compared with world market prices in London already amounted to as much as $10 per troy ounce this week, which is surprising given that the festival season is just around the corner.
BlackRock om Federal Reserves räntebesked Rick Rieder Chief Investment Officer of Fundamental Fixed Income at BlackRock, and Co-Manager of Fixed Income Global Opportunities (FIGO), provides the below comments on yesterday’s Fed policy statement:
Highlights:
Following yesterday’s statement, we still think September is the most likely time for a start raising rates, but agree with Chair Yellen that the timing of lift-off is less important than the trajectory of rate change.
Labor markets appear stronger than at any time in the past two decades, wage gains and inflation appear to be following, and the Fed has a window of opportunity to begin its departure from “emergency” policy conditions and slowly take rates to more normal levels.
As we’ve argued, more normal interest rate levels, particularly if combined with well-designed fiscal actions, could actually prove to be beneficial to the economy, while maintaining excessively low policy rates for too long raises risks.
Extended Overview:
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee laid out a statement that continues to provide the central bank with the flexibility to respond to changes in the data over the coming months. We think that some of the statement’s adjustments highlight the Fed’s recognition that recent economic growth readings are stronger than the surprisingly softer data received during the year’s first quarter, but as mentioned, they also keep the Committee’s options open. For example, the statement’s first paragraph describes the economy in meaningfully more positive terms than did the April statement, but of course it also highlights that “business fixed investment and net exports stayed soft.”
However, we don’t believe that the data in the first quarter was as soft as the economics profession or the media has generally evaluated it to be, as indeed there were a series of seasonal factors that skewed the economic data lower, similar to other first quarter disappointments in recent years. These factors included: the harsh winter weather, year-end trends in corporate cap-ex, reduced government spending, labor unrest at West Coast ports and a tangible one-time currency shock. That being said, the Fed’s recognition of this and of the stronger data (even with the seasonal impact), opens the door for policy movement.
From the standpoint of the labor market recovery, the most recent employment report displayed a very robust 280,000 jobs gained, with revisions to March and April combining for an additional 32,000 jobs than previously reported. The longer-term strength in labor markets is highlighted by the fact that the 3-month, 6-month and 12-month moving average payroll gains came in at 207,000, 236,000, and 255,000, respectively, which is considerably stronger than the 200,000 average level of jobs growth that has been typical of past periods of economic expansion. In fact, the 5.6 million jobs created in the past 24 months is greater than the combined total created in the 13 years prior, so we clearly see the evidence for an employment landscape that is, arguably, stronger than at any time over the past 20 years.
Furthermore, one of the key arguments of doves at the Fed has been the general lack of wage improvement over much of this economic cycle, although as we’ve suggested in the past, even here we’re seeing meaningful improvement. In fact, average hourly earnings gained 0.3% last month (running at 2.3% year-over-year) and are starting to display the strengthening seen in indicators such as the Employment Cost Index. The Fed’s recognition of wage increases and the longer-term nature of inflation guidance means that the central bank doesn’t need a 2% reading on a wide series of inflation metrics in the short-term to begin moving rates. And we would applaud that position, as wage pressure and the consequential impact of lower levels of slack in the economy takes time to work its way into broader inflation readings.
While we believe the data is currently strong enough for the Fed to act, the Committee will likely be very deliberate with this first move. Indeed, the central bank significantly lowered its real GDP growth forecast for 2015 (reflecting the first quarter weakness), but it modestly upgraded the growth prospects of 2016 and 2017. Further, when judging the path of the target Federal Funds Rate, the Committee consensus implies lift-off for later this year, but also suggests we will see a shallower trajectory of rate increases in 2016 and 2017 than had been previously estimated.
In our view, the specific date, which we still anticipate to be September, with some outside possibility of July or October, is significantly less important than the pace of policy rate change. Still, we think that the Fed has been very clear – with Fed Chair Yellen using the word “gradual” 14 times in her last speech, highlighting that the pace will be very slow. The lower level of the longer-dated dots also suggests that the anticipated rate destination will be lower than it has been historically. In our view, the normalization of rates, particularly if combined with well-designed fiscal initiatives, could actually be a benefit to economic growth. Further, keeping rates at excessively low levels, while perhaps stimulative for the financial economy, also raises risks that might threaten to undermine the recovery. Consequently, the time for a move away from “emergency rate” levels is at hand.
Valuations of long-end interest rates, given their recent back-up have approached close to a fair value levels, and nothing that the Fed has said should dramatically influence that movement from here. We do believe that with any negative resolution of the Greece situation, however, the flight-to-quality bid may take 15 to 20 basis points off of 10 year yields.
Beneficial rain drives coffee prices lower. Equity rally continues. USD Index hits 12-year high – more to come.
The market interpreted Federal Reserve Chair Yellen’s testimony to the Financial Services Committee as dovish, although her comments left the door open the first rate rise to be in June or September. Cyclical assets rallied on the prospect of monetary policy remaining at a loser setting for longer. This week, all eyes will be fixed on the US non-farm payrolls numbers, which will give an indication of the strength of the US labour market and therefore ability of the economy to weather tighter monetary policy.
Commodities
Beneficial rain drives coffee prices lower. Arabica coffee fell 7.9% last week as continued rain in Brazil reversed the price gains coffee saw during an unusually dry period at the beginning of the year. However, those looking for a significantly better crop yield this year are likely to be disappointed, with most of the damage to the coffee bushes having taken place during last year’s drought. Sugar prices fell 4.5% with the rain in Brazil and India awarding its mills a subsidy programme that will allow them to export up to 1.4 million tonnes into the global markets. Palladium rose 4.5% on news that Impala Platinum, plans to trim its operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Copper rose 3.0% after the International Copper Study Group reported a widening production deficit in the metal in the year to November 2014.
Equities
Equity rally continues. Equity markets reacted positively to central bank rhetoric. Chair Yellen’s comments were interpreted relatively dovishly, while European Central Bank’s President Draghi’s testimony to the European Parliament boosted confidence in the quantitative easing plan that is set to start this month. German unemployment fell more than market expectations, driving the DAX 2.4% higher. Meanwhile volatility in European stocks fell with the Euro STOXX 50 Volatility Index falling 10.9% in the month. Gold miners gained 2.3% last week, helped by a gold price gain of 0.2%. China A-Shares which began trading again after the New Year festivities, gained 1.2%, aided by the better-than-expected manufacturing PMI data out last week and is likely to trade higher this week after an interest rate cut over the weekend.
Currencies
USD Index hits 12-year high – more to come. We expect that rate differentials will continue to widen with the US as it begins its tightening cycle in mid-2015. While Fed Chair Yellen has indicated that the central bank will be patient in beginning to tighten policy, the improving economic conditions in the US warrant modestly higher rates. The market appears to have taken Yellen’s Congressional testimony as relatively dovish and alongside the recent moderation in growth as a sign that the Fed might delay its first rate hikes until August. However, we feel that the Fed will be pragmatic and if the underlying employment picture continues to be robust, a mid-year rate hike would not be a surprise.
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ETF Securities Research team
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China’s interest rate cuts on the weekend set the tone for another week which looks to be dominated by monetary policy activity. A series of central bank meetings globally will keep investors focused on the possibility of any further surprise monetary loosening in response to deflationary pressures. Janet Yellen’s testimony to congress last week highlighted the importance of the state of the economy to the pace of any US interest normalisation. This will encourage investors to pay even closer attention to the US non-farm payrolls reading due at the end of the week.
22nd consecutive week of inflows into long WTI ETPs. Investors continue to demand exposure to US crude with long WTI ETPs drawing US$50.7mn of inflows as the price remains at attractively low levels. This week WTI fell considerably more than its global counterpart causing the spread between crude benchmarks to widen to the highest level in 13 months. The 5.8% weekly decline in WTI was driven by reports that US crude inventory increased by twice as much as forecasted last week, stoking fears that shale oil is causing a supply glut in the US oil market.
Greek bailout extension triggers outflows from ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU). Euro group finance ministers reached an accord to provide Greece with four further months of bailout funds if certain conditions surrounding Greece’s budget, spending and tax collection are met. The outcome sent equity indices to record levels and caused investors to shed safe haven assets. As a result, PHAU witnessed US$33mn of outflows, reversing inflows from the prior week. The gold price fell in response to the deal but pared losses as Janet Yellen’s testimony to congress was interpreted relatively dovishly by the market.
Platinum sees inflows as major producer cuts capital spending. Platinum hit a five year low during the week before rallying 0.9% as Impala, the world’s second largest platinum producer, revealed that it intends to cut capital expenditure over the next two years in response to low platinum prices. Last month saw US$67mn flow into long platinum ETPs as investors positioned themselves for a price recovery from tighter supply conditions.
Depressed wheat prices attract inflows into long wheat ETPs. ETFS Wheat (WEAT) witnessed the largest inflow since July last year. Investors are viewing the current low price level as a potential buying opportunity. Prices have fallen 14.7% YTD as US wheat exports experience tough competition on international markets from European competitors. Furthermore, bearish sentiment has been stimulated by a USDA report which forecasted that US wheat inventory levels will reach a multi-year high in the 2015/16 crop year.
Key events to watch this week. Central bank meetings at the European Central bank, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, and the Bank of Canada will ensure monetary policy remains the key focus for investors next week. In the US, nonfarm payrolls will closely watched as it will be a good indication of whether the US economy’s robust recovery remains on track and give policymakers further reason to tighten monetary conditions.
Video Presentation
Josh Tiwana, Research Analyst at ETF Securities provides an analysis of last week’s performance, flow and trading activity in commodity exchange traded products and a look at the week ahead.
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