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FOMC central tendencies and dot plot for projected rates. Fed projects rates to remain at current levels through 2022.

Central tendencies and dot plot for June 2020

The last time the central tendencies and dot plot was released was way back in December 2019.  At that time, the world was different place.

At the time in December, the Central tendencies saw 2020 numbers at:
  • GDP 2.2%
  • unemployment rate 3.5%
  • PCE inflation 1.9%
The 2021 projections saw:
  • GDP 1.9%
  • unemployment 3.6%
  • PCE inflation 2.0%
The projection for the Fed funds rate at the end of 2020 was 1.6%.  For 2021 the rate rose to at 1.9% with the 2022 rate at 2.1%.
The current median estimate for central tendencies shows 2020 numbers at:
  • GDP -6.5%
  • unemployment 9.3%
  • PCE inflation 0.8%
The projections for the Fed funds rate at the end of 2020 comes in at 0.1%. For 2021 the rate targets 0.1% with the 2022 rate targeted also at 0.1%.
Below is the chart of central tendencies from the Federal Reserve
Central tendencies
Below is the dot plot with all participants keeping the rate at 0.1%.  In 2022, there are two voting members to forecast day higher rate.  The market was looking for the Fed to keep rates low through 2022
Dot plot

NBER says US recession began in February

Business Dating Cycle Committee says contraction ongoing

The US National Bureau of Economic Research says the American economy fell into recession in February to end an expansion that started in June 2009.
It was the longest expansion in US history at 128 months.
In determining the date of the monthly peak, the committee considers a number of indicators of employment and production. The committee normally views the payroll employment measure, which is based on a large survey of employers, as the most reliable comprehensive estimate of employment. This series reached a clear peak in February.
There’s no magic in determining a recession but the NBER generally gets the privilege of making the call in the US.

Japan GDP for Q1, preliminary: GDP -0.9% sa q/q (vs. expected -1.1%)

Japanese economic growth in the January to March quarter of 2020 – this the preliminary release

GDP -0.9% sa q/q
  • expected -1.1%, prior -1.8%

GDP -3.4% annualised sa q/q

  • expected -4.5%, prior -7.1%
GDP -0.8% nominal q/q
  • expected -1.3%, prior -1.5%

GDP deflator (an inflation indication) %

  • expected 0.7%, prior 1.2%

Private consumption -0.7%

  • expected -1.6% q/q, prior -2.8%

Business spending -0.5% (capex)

  • expected -1.5%, prior -4.6%
More:
  • 2 consecutive quarters of contraction for the Japanese economy, the economy moves into recession for the first time since H2 of 2015
  • Q1 exports had their biggest drop q/q since the 2nd quarter of 2011, down 6%
January and February were stable to slowly picking up for Japan but the outbreak in  March hit economic growth. The April to June quarter is likely to be even worse, with a more prolonged impact. Restrictions were imposed by the April 7 national emergency declaration shutting many restaurants, large retail outlets, hotels and more. The restrictions were partially lifted on May 14, but are still in place for Tokyo and Osaka, the two largest cities in Japan.
Yen doing little.

Bank of England looking more urgently at negative rates

The Bank of England is looking more urgently at options such as negative interest rates and buying riskier assets to prop up the country’s economy as it slides into a deep coronavirus slump, the BoE’s chief economist was quoted as saying.

The Telegraph newspaper said the economist, Andy Haldane, refused to rule out the possibility of taking interest rates below zero and buying lower-quality financial assets under the central bank’s bond-buying programme.

“The economy is weaker than a year ago and we are now at the effective lower bound, so in that sense it’s something we’ll need to look at – are looking at – with somewhat greater immediacy,” he said in an interview. “How could we not be?”

Top BoE officials have previously expressed objections to taking rates below zero – as the central banks of the euro zone and Japan have done – because it might hinder the ability of banks in Britain to lend and hurt rather than help the economy.

But with the BoE’s benchmark at an all-time low of 0.1% and Britain facing potentially its sharpest economic downturn in 300 years, talk of cutting rates to below zero has resurfaced.

Governor Andrew Bailey said on Thursday the BoE was not contemplating negative rates, but he declined to rule it out altogether.

Fitch says : Deep Global Recession in 2020 as Coronavirus Crisis Escalates -Full Text

Fitch Ratings-London-02 April 2020: A deep global recession in 2020 is now Fitch Ratings’ baseline forecast according to its latest update of its Global Economic Outlook (GEO) forecasts.

The speed with which the coronavirus pandemic is evolving has necessitated another round of huge cuts to our GDP forecasts. We now expect world economic activity to decline by 1.9% in 2020 with US, eurozone and UK GDP down by 3.3%, 4.2% and 3.9%, respectively. China’s recovery from the disruption in 1Q20 will be sharply curtailed by the global recession and its annual growth will be below 2%.

“The forecast fall in global GDP for the year as a whole is on a par with the global financial crisis but the immediate hit to activity and jobs in the first half of this year will be worse”, said Brian Coulton, Fitch’s chief economist.

The spread of the pandemic and the actions necessary to control it mean that we now have to incorporate full-scale lockdowns across Europe and the US (and many other countries) in our baseline forecasts. This was not the assumption used in our March 2020 GEO forecast. There are many moving parts, but we now judge that lockdowns could reduce GDP across the EU and US by 7% to 8%, or 28% to 30% annualised, in 2Q20. This is an unprecedented peacetime one-quarter fall in GDP and is similar to what we now estimate occurred in China in 1Q20.

On the assumption that the health crisis is broadly contained by the second half of the year there should be a decent sequential recovery in activity as lockdowns are removed, some spending is re-profiled from 1H20, inventories are rebuilt and policy stimulus takes effect. But this has to be set against the many factors amplifying the depth of the dislocation, including job losses, capex cuts, commodity price shocks and the rout in financial markets.

“Our baseline forecast does not see GDP reverting to its pre-virus levels until late 2021 in the US and Europe,” said Coulton.

 

(more…)

Singapore’s central bank reduces slope of currency band to zero

The Monetary Authority of Singapore adjusts monetary policy for the country through currency control, not via interest rates.

MAS says it will adopt a zero percent per annum rate of appreciation of the policy band starting at the prevailing level of the SGD NEER

  • there will be no change to the width of the policy band.
  • Says this policy decision hence affirms the present level of the S$NEER, as well as the width and zero percent appreciation slope of the policy band going forward
  • core inflation is likely to remain below its historical average in the near and medium term
  • Says MAS’ money market operations will at the same time provide sufficient liquidity to the financial system
  • will continue to be vigilant over developments in the economy and financial markets, and stands ready to curb excessive volatility in the SGD NEER
  • says both MAS core inflation and CPI -all items inflation are expected to average between −1 and 0% in 2020
  • says external sources of inflation are likely to weaken in the near term amid the global downturn
  • resident unemployment rate is expected to rise and wage growth ease
more to come

Coronavirus – Japan’s PM Abe on Saturday promises unprecedented economic stimulus

Abe said measures will include fiscal and monetary stimulus alongside tax breaks for companies

  • details have not been finalized
  • package will be rolled out in an extra budget in 10 days
  • size of the package will be greater than that compiled in response to the global financial crisis (total 57 trillion yen) said Abe
Abe spoke during a nationally televised news conference
  • “I want to be straightforward”
  • “We are in a critical stage. We need to be ready for a long-term battle”
  • “The pandemic is inflicting extremely big damage to Japan’s economy”
  • “We’ll deploy a huge, powerful package that will include a full range of fiscal, monetary and tax measures.”
Abe said measures will include fiscal and monetary stimulus alongside tax breaks for companies

Morgan Stanley expects FOMC to cut 75bps(50 on March 18, 25 in April)

Morgan Stanley has slashed their US 2020 GDP growth forecast to 1.5%

  • from 1.8% previously

Projections for the Fed:

  • 50 bps rate cut in March
  • 25bps in April

MS add that if recession:

  • Fed to cut to zero
  • & restart QE
PS. I am seeing (again) the ‘central bank rate cut is ineffective therefore they won’t and we need fiscal stimulus instead’ comments.
This is, unfortunately, a very common mistake that is made.
I posted this ahead of the RBA meeting last week (before the RBA cut its cash rate) , just change around the names:
  • Some folks will argue rate cuts will be ineffective against the virus, which is the wrong argument, of course rate cuts won’t cure a virus! Sheesh. The central bank move, if it comes,  will be predicated on taking action to avert too much economic harm. Some folks will argue that a rate cut will be ineffective for this, that government stimulus (fiscal) would be better, and they have a fair point … but you have to remember a rate cut is the tool available to the central bank, they can’t provide fiscal stimulus. “The RBA should stand firm and force the government to act” is another argument. Unfortunately this is no time for dick swinging contests (its a male-dominated sphere) and the RBA will not play this game.

Fed: Downside risks eased in late 2019 but virus is a new threat

Comments in the semi-annual monetary policy

  • US economy grew moderately last year
  • Labor market strengthened further and inflation continued to run below target
  • Probability of recession in the next year has ‘fallen noticeably’ in recent months
  • Downside risks seem to have receded in late 2019 due to decrease in trade tensions
  • Global slowdown in manufacturing and trade appears to be nearing an end while consumer spending and services activities continue to hold up
  • Possible virus spillovers present a new risk
  • Asset valuations and business debt are elevated; leverage in the financial sector appears low by historical norms
  • Fragilities in the corporate and financial sector in China are a risk
  • Market conditions were quite calm around year end after added liquidity
There’s nothing groundbreaking here.

Fed Powell press conference highlights

Feds Powell conducts press conference after January 2020 interest rate decision

Fed's Powell
  • Fed wants to avoid misinterpretation with inflation wording
  • Not comfortable with inflation persistently under 2%
  • Want to signal not comfortable with prices below goal
  • We expect Bill purchases to make reserves ample in 2nd quarter
  • Fed will know when adjustments have run course when reserves are durably at a sustainable level
  • At some point the Fed will raise minimum bid rate on repos
  • reserve levels will have to be at a level high enough to remain ample. 1.5 trillion will be the bottom end of the range
  • he expects reserve fluctuation particularly around tax season
  • Fed will provide more details and will keep the process a smooth one
  • Fed’s attention is just to raise the level of reserves. That is our sole intention
  • Asked if Bill buying is QE , he says many things affect financial markets.
  • Most forecasts underestimated labor participation gains
  • Labor market continues to perform well
  • Labor wages have moved from about 2% to 3% currently
  • It is a bit surprising that wages haven’t risen more given such low unemployment

Market reaction:

  • Gold has moved to new session highs at $1575.84
  • US rates have moved lower with the 10 year falling to 1.5942%
  • NASDAQ index up 47 points at 9316.69. S&P index up 11.3 points (was up 13 points)
  • EURUSUD moved to New York session highs at 1.1015.  A trendline on the hourly chart is just ahead at 1.1017 and the falling 100 hour moving average is 1.10232
EURUSD looks to test topside trend line and falling 100 hour moving average

  • USDCHF is moving toward session lows.  Markets trading at 0.9728 from 0.9743. USDJPY moves lower as well (109.10 currently from 109.20).
More from Powell presser:
  • virus is a serious issue, significant human suffering
  • coronavirus likely to disrupt activity in China, maybe world
  • very uncertain about how far virus will spread
  • Fed’s carefully monitoring situation around coronavirus
  • sees grounds for cautious optimism on global economy
  • supportive financial conditions, trade tensions easing and lower odds of hard Brexit all contributed to more positive outlook
  • We will continue to adjust IOER as appropriate to help move the effective rate for the middle of the range
  • there is no current urgency to make decision on standing repo facility
  • over the long term it is possible there is a financial stability risk from climate change
  • in the very early stages of the impact from climate change
On China and USMCA
  • Phase 1 deal with China and USMCA is without question positive and should support the economy over time
  • Trade policies uncertainty remains elevated
  • Still have 2 or 3 active trade discussions going on at the moment
  • There is a wait and see attitude for businesses on trade
  • We need to be patient on trade deals economic impact
  • Does not yet see a decisive recovery for manufacturing
There is some modest moves to the downside in stocks and the USD has tilted to the downside (3:04 PM ET):
  • S&P index up 6.5 points
  • NASDAQ index up 32 points
  • The USD has ticked lower through the presser on a modest basis.
More from the Powell press conference:
  • We don’t think there is imminent risk on Chinese debt
  • Fed sees asset value valuations somewhat elevated, but not extreme
  • household that is in a good place
  • business debt is rising but not threatening stability
  • vulnerabilities to financial stability is moderate overall
Press conference ends at 3:23 PM ET.
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