Inflation fear is NOT the driver of rising yields
Indeed, 10y real yields (10y nominal yields - 10y inflation expectations) jumped to 2.11%, the highest since 2009. In other words, investors are demanding higher REAL yields in the face of political chaos in Washington and high debt. Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ
Turkey CenBank raised main interest rate to 30% from 25%, but w/inflation at ~60%, real rates are still very heavily negative
The hike continues what many see as a return to more orthodox monetary policy under Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, a former executive of First Republic Bank & Goldman Sachs, who was appointed in June after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a close-fought re-election. Erkan now hiked rates by a cumulative 2150bps. Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ
The Swiss National Bank pauses its monetary tightening, defying expectations of another interest-rate hike to avoid adding constriction on a stalled economy
- The SNB left today its key rate unchanged at 1.75%, debunking market expectations of an additional 25bp hike - The slowdown in inflation, the magnitude of the monetary policy tightening already implemented (CHF short term rates were still negative a year ago) and rising risks surrounding the global outlook underpin this decision. - Indeed, as inflation is within the SNB target (1.6%, in the 0%-to-2% target), economic activity is slowing down (0% GDP growth in Q2 2023) and the Swiss franc remains firm, the case for further tightening had turned much less compelling in the past few weeks. Unlike the ECB, forced to hike last week due to an inflation rate still much above its target, the SNB had very good reasons to pause today and adopt a cautious stance. - The SNB doesn’t rule out additional hikes in the future if warranted, but the combination of slowing growth in Europe (likely to dampen underlying price pressures) and of the strength of the currency are highly likely, in our view, to keep Swiss inflation dynamics in check in the months ahead.
Can be the second half of 2007 be a good parallel for today's market?
As highlighted by MacroAlf, back in 2007, the FED kept rates at 5.25% (orange) despite core inflation was trending around 2% (blue) for quarters already. That ''higher for longer'' stubborness kept policy unnecessarily tight - as we figured out in 2008... Source: Alfonso Peccatiello
Translation: If you exclude everything you need in life, inflation has been vanquished!
Source: Barchart
European Central Bank hikes rates to a record 4% as inflation risks outweigh economic gloom.
- The ECB just raised its key rates again today, by 25bp (main Refi rate at 4.50%, deposit rate at 4.00%) - Concerns around the underlying inflation dynamic appear to have overwhelmed the ongoing negative (and concerning) dynamic in Europe’s economic growth: "inflation continues to decline but is still expected to remain too high for too long. The Governing Council is determined to ensure that inflation returns to its 2% medium-term target in a timely manner. In order to reinforce progress towards its target, the Governing Council today decided to raise the three key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points." Source: Bloomberg
The continued strong demand for consumer services is why the Fed is unable to contain core inflation
According to Apollo, a record 22% of US consumers are planning to vacation in a foreign country. US households want to travel on airplanes, stay at hotels and eat out. The Kobeissi Letter: "That is why inflation in the non-housing service sector continues to be so high. No wonder credit card debt is skyrocketing". Source: The Kobeissi Letter, Apollo
Egypt inflation soars to 37.4% y/y in August as higher food costs add to currency angst
Another month, another record inflation number. Consumer prices in Egypt rose 37.4% in August compared with a year earlier. This is the highest number since 2010 -- higher than even the levels reached after the 2016 currency crisis. Note that food costs were up 71.4%
