Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Summary: Yesterday's FOMC meeting decreased even further the appeal of US Treasuries. The Federal Reserve's chances of running towards a policy mistake are rising exponentially, leaving US Treasury holders increasingly vulnerable. Investors are left with only one option: picking credit and duration risk wisely within the junk bond space. High-yield corporate bonds are the only instruments to provide high enough of a yield to build a buffer against rising inflation while reducing interest rate sensibility as Treasury yields soar.
Yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting can hardly be labelled as a non-event for the financial market. Jerome Powell's stubborn conviction that inflation will be transitory should make the market panic because no elements suggest that. On the contrary, the bloated Fed’s balance sheet and an unprecedented amount of budget stimulus point to sustained inflationary forces ahead.
Not to sound ancient, but let’s briefly talk about Milton Friedman and his teaching about monetary policy and inflation. According to the notorious economist, inflation is always a monetary phenomenon, and there is a lag in the effect of monetary policies. Therefore, inflation will be provoked by the exponential growth in the broad money supply we have witnessed since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a lag in the reaction of monetary policies can lead the central bank to commit a policy mistake that the market will pay dearly.
In recent history, central banks committed a policy mistake that ultimately led to the Great Recession. Excessive accommodative monetary policies both in the US and Europe created macroeconomic imbalances, culminating with the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. At that point, authorities didn't take into account the macroeconomic risks that their accommodative policies entailed. We can say the same about this time around, too. Equity valuations are at an incredibly high level, and the stock market hits new highs every other week. However, high valuations do not reflect deterioration within the credit space caused by skyrocketing leverage.
The current economic environment is challenging not only because assets are riskier than before and more expensive. For the first time in history, the market lacks a safe-heaven. Interest rates remain at ultra-low levels providing no buffer in case of rising inflation (real interest rates are negative) and little upside in case of a market crash (US Treasury yields will not dive below zero).
Therefore, it’s easy to explain the chart below. Since the beginning of the year, the only assets that provided positive returns are high yield corporate bonds and TIPS. Why? The only option for bond investors is to find shelter among the riskiest assets. Junk bonds are the only ones to provide a yield high enough to build a buffer against inflationary pressures. At the same time, TIPS serve to hedge against inflation.
Stay away from US Treasuries
Jerome Powell left US Treasuries extremely vulnerable by leaving monetary policy unchanged and improving the economic outlook slightly. Indeed, as the economy improves and inflationary pressure becomes more pronounced, US Treasury yields will resume their rise. We believe that 10-year US Treasuries can hit 2% by summer. At this level US Treasuries will find strong resistance. The big question is, what will happen at 2%? Will the stock market tumble, or will it weather the rise in rates? If the selloff in equities is substantial, US yields may retreat below their pivotal level. Still, there is a bigger chance that amid a correction, the macro-economic backdrop continues to improve, pushing yields even higher.
Within this context, it doesn’t make sense to hold US Treasuries. Even if 10-year Treasury yields dive below 1%, the upside remains limited because the Fed said several times it wouldn't tolerate negative interest rate policy (NIRP). However, the downside is unlimited because yields can rise well above 2%, depending on inflation expectations.
Keep close to the economic recovery. Pick risk and duration carefully.
We believe it is best to look within the US high yield corporate space over emerging markets because the first will be closer to the economic recovery. Moreover, junk corporate bonds are offering a substantially higher yield compared to EM sovereigns. Indeed, high yield corporate bonds provide a yield of 4% for less than four years duration. To get the same yield within the EM sovereign bond space, it's necessary to extend the duration to 8-years, exposing one's portfolio to interest rates sensitivity even further.
Neither assets come without risks. Indeed leverage in both the corporate sector and the EM sovereign space is increasingly high. This is why it is necessary to cherry-pick and be comfortable to hold their debt till maturity. The goal is to lock in a yield high enough without running into defaults. However, you should expect a repricing of these assets as Treasury yields aim higher.
2024: The wasted year
Markets are driven by election optimism, overshadowing growing debt and liquidity concerns. The 2024 elections loom large, but economic fundamentals and debt issues warrant cautious investment.
As US economic slowdown hints at a shift away from exceptionalism, USD faces downside with looming Fed cuts. AUD and NZD set to outperform as their rate cuts lag. JPY gains on carry unwind bets and BOJ pivot.
Amid AI and obesity drug excitement, equities see varied prospects: neutral on overvalued US stocks, negative on Japan due to JPY risks, positive on Europe. European defence stocks gain appeal.
With the economic slowdown, quality assets will gain favour, especially sovereign bonds up to 5 years. Central banks' potential rate cuts in Q2 suggest extending duration, despite policy and inflation concerns.
Commodities poised for rebound. The "Year of the Metal" boosts gold and silver, copper awaits rate cuts. Grains may recover, natural gas stabilises. Gold targets $2,300-$2,500/oz, copper's breakout could signal growth.
Markets are driven by election optimism, overshadowing growing debt and liquidity concerns. The 2024 elections loom large, but economic fundamentals and debt issues warrant cautious investment.
As US economic slowdown hints at a shift away from exceptionalism, USD faces downside with looming Fed cuts. AUD and NZD set to outperform as their rate cuts lag. JPY gains on carry unwind bets and BOJ pivot.
Amid AI and obesity drug excitement, equities see varied prospects: neutral on overvalued US stocks, negative on Japan due to JPY risks, positive on Europe. European defence stocks gain appeal.
With the economic slowdown, quality assets will gain favour, especially sovereign bonds up to 5 years. Central banks' potential rate cuts in Q2 suggest extending duration, despite policy and inflation concerns.
Commodities poised for rebound. The "Year of the Metal" boosts gold and silver, copper awaits rate cuts. Grains may recover, natural gas stabilises. Gold targets $2,300-$2,500/oz, copper's breakout could signal growth.
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
