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2 Oct 2023

The US is running 10% deficit with record low unemployment

Imagine the deficit in next recession, whenever it may come. Enjoy these positive real rates as long as they last. Source: Michel A.Arouet, Bloomberg

2 Oct 2023

For the next 45 days or so, the US government will NOT be shut down - this is most likely a relief for markets

Still, this stopgap bill is only a temporary solution. They are just kicking the can down he road another time. Indeed, the House and Senate are both struggling to approve yearlong spending bills, and the gulf between the two parties remains vast. And as highlighted by the Kobeissi letter, there is still NO LONG-TERM PLAN. For nearly 20 years, it was effectively free for the US to issue debt as debt service costs were ~1.5%. Now, debt service costs have doubled to 3% and will rise toward 5% as rates skyrocket. To put this in perspective, 5% on $33 trillion is ~$1.7 trillion PER YEAR on interest expense. As deficit spending rises, rates are also rising as the US issues trillions in bonds to cover the deficit. It's a never ending cycle of borrowing to spend which is driving rates higher and leading to interest expense being 20% of US revenue... How are they going to fix this? Source: CBO, The Kobeissi Letter

2 Oct 2023

In case you missed it:

The past few months have brought a very significant tightening of US financial conditions; the Goldman Sachs Financial Conditions Index is now at the most restrictive point since November 2022. (HT GS) Source: HolgerZ, Bloomberg

29 Sep 2023

There we go again...

The game of chicken is on...The US government is now just 48 hours away from a SHUTDOWN. This comes less than 3 months after the largest debt ceiling crisis since 2011. Meanwhile, the government is borrowing over $14 billion PER DAY and spending $3 billion per day on interest expense alone. According to Goldman, a government-wide shutdown would reduce quarterly annualized growth by around 0.2% for each week it lasted after accounting for modest private sector effects. Goldman's baseline is that a shutdown could last for 2-3 weeks (the Trump government shutdown, the longest in history, lasted 35 days, from Dec 22, 2018 to Jan 25, 2019). - Meanwhile, Bloomberg also speculates that in an extreme tail event, the maximum hit to 4Q GDP would be a drag of 2.8% if the shutdown lasts for the entire quarter. Source cartoon: San Diego Tribune

29 Sep 2023

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio is watching closely the “risky” U.S. fiscal situation

“We’re going to have a debt crisis in this country (...) How fast it transpires, I think, is going to be a function of that supply-demand issue, so I’m watching that very closely.” Dalio is concerned there are more headwinds for the economy than just high debt levels, saying growth could fall to zero, give or take 1% or 2%. “I think you’re going to get a meaningful slowing of the economy,” Dalio said. Source: CNBC

28 Sep 2023

“Soft Landing” is still the consensus. But consensus doesn’t have a good track record...

Source: Game of Tardes

27 Sep 2023

Housing | According to Bankrate.com‘s data, US 30-Year fixed-rate mortgage reached 7.78%, the highest rate since August 2000

*This situation is expected to have a significant effect on closed sales from September to November. Source: C.Barraud

26 Sep 2023

US national debt 23 years later...

Source: Mayhem4Markets

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