FED meeting minutes key takeaways:
1) rates likely at or near their peak 2) 2pct inflation target is maintained 3) monetary policy is likely to stay restrictive for some time 4) clear progress has been made on inflation (dixit the Fed) 5) see rate cuts by the end of 2024 FOMC views continue to diverge from market expectations (2x more rate cuts are currently priced vs. Fed guidance) Source: CNBC, The Kobeissi Letter
LIQUIDITY MATTERS... From QE (Quantitative Easing) to QT (Quantitative Tightening) to QB (Quantitative Balancing) to QE Light
Some interesting views by Andreas Steno Larsen (Steno Research / Macrobond): 2024 Q1 -> While we are celebrating our inflation-progress, Powell and Yellen intend on handing out "Stealth QE / QE light" gifts to the banking system in Q1-2024. Steno Research view is that USD liquidity is likely going to increase massively in Q1 due to a series of technicalities surrounding the BTFP, ON RRP and TGA facilities. These three liquidity adding mechanisms will more than outweigh the QT program (running at a little less than $95bn a month on average), leaving a very benign liquidity picture ahead for Q1-2024. By their estimates, liquidity will increase with $8-900bn until end-March, which almost resembles a QE-light / stealth QE scenario. This will in case be one of the fastest liquidity additions on record, only outpaced during the early innings of the pandemic! If this happens, such a liquidity injection might be a massive tailwind for risk assets...
The probability of a Fed rate cut in March 2024 has jumped up to 83%. A month ago the odds were only 29%.
Source: Charlie Bilello
Longer-term US inflation expectations have fallen dramatically over the past two months, to close to the Fed's 2% target
Source: Bloomberg
Simon White posted an excellent chart showing the potential short-term gain / long-term pain of the dual Yellen / Powell pivot
Phase 1: The Yellen Pivot. Early 2023, she decided skewing the Treasury's issuance towards bills. This bought time for risk assets, allowing Fed reserves to rise despite QT Phase 2: The Powell Pivot last week -> His dovish turn should buy more time for risk assets next year. He is literally trying to limit the growing amount of liquidity sucked from the government's ballooning interest-rate bill While this leads to short-term gain, there is a huge risk of long-term pain as these dovish operations have significantly increased long-term inflation risks and the prospect of even higher yields in the near-future. Source: Bloomberg, Macrobond
Japan | BOJ Avoids Rate Hike Signal as It Stands Pat, Driving Yen Lower – Bloomberg
As expected, no change from the BoJ this morning on rates or the YCC. The vote was 9-0, in favor of no change. There wasn’t even a hint of change to the policy statement. No change in language around wages and inflation. The Japanese Yen weakened considerably on the initial press release. Nikkei 225 is up +1.5% Source: Ayesha Tariq, Bloomberg
What a headline...
Hafize Gaye Erkan, the new head of Turkey’s central bank, said rampant inflation has priced her out of Istanbul’s property market, leaving the former finance executive with no choice but to move back in with her parents. “We haven’t found a home in Istanbul. It’s terribly expensive. We’ve moved in with my parents,” 44-year-old Hafize Gaye Erkan, who took up her post in June after two decades in the United States, told reporters. Source: Wall Street Silver
BREAKING >>>New York Fed President John Williams CNBC interview: The Fed "isn't really" talking about rate cuts right now
Mr. Williams said: - The Fed "isn't really" talking about rate cuts right now. - Committee members submit projections regarding path of interest rates. Inflation and economy is still uncertain, but base cases are looking pretty good. - Policy focused on getting inflation down to 2%. - Market reaction to all news events have been larger than normal. - Fed should be ready to hike again if needed. - Fed is at or near right place for monetary policy. - The policy restraints should be dialed back slowly over the next three years.
