GLOBAL ECONOMICS AND POLITICS

Leo Haviland provides clients with original, provocative, cutting-edge fundamental supply/demand and technical research on major financial marketplaces and trends. He also offers independent consulting and risk management advice.

Haviland’s expertise is macro. He focuses on the intertwining of equity, debt, currency, and commodity arenas, including the political players, regulatory approaches, social factors, and rhetoric that affect them. In a changing and dynamic global economy, Haviland’s mission remains constant – to give timely, value-added marketplace insights and foresights.

Leo Haviland has three decades of experience in the Wall Street trading environment. He has worked for Goldman Sachs, Sempra Energy Trading, and other institutions. In his research and sales career in stock, interest rate, foreign exchange, and commodity battlefields, he has dealt with numerous and diverse financial institutions and individuals. Haviland is a graduate of the University of Chicago (Phi Beta Kappa) and the Cornell Law School.

 

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US CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: MANY HAPPY RETURNS? (c) Leo Haviland August 23, 2012

As America travels toward Labor Day, it pays to review the nation’s consumer confidence. Assorted measures perform as signposts to assess consumer attitudes and actions. For many, the United States stock marketplace (think of an “overall” benchmark such as the S+P 500) is one. The Conference Board’s United States Consumer Confidence Index is another widely watched indicator. Trends for the United States stock battleground do not precisely mirror those in the Consumer Confidence Index (“CCI”). Weathervanes such as the S+P 500 of course do not derive all their revenues or influences directly from Main Street dwellers or from American sources. The US, as the ongoing worldwide economic crisis that emerged in mid-2007 underscores, intertwines with Europe, China, Japan, and other countries around the globe. However, over the past several decades, there has been a rough link in the major patterns of the S+P 500 and the CCI. And many believe that major trends in US equities tend to parallel those of the American economy as a whole.

Stare at the S+P 500’s extensive ascent from its March 2009 abyss to its current new rally height on 8/21/12 over 1425, particularly the noteworthy stage from the October 2011 depth at 1075. Grandstanders might believe United States consumers generally are rather joyous, or that they soon will become so. The CCI indeed has climbed significantly from its February 2009 valley of 25.3 (the deepest of the 1967-present period). However, the CCI’s subsequent highs around 72.0 (February 2011 and February 2012) lurk far beneath those of 2000 and 2007 (January 2000’s 144.7 and July 2007’s 111.9). July 2012 flutters at a modest 65.9.

Admittedly the US CCI is only one yardstick for consumer confidence and thus to some extent of the strength and duration of economic recovery in America and elsewhere. Maybe sustained higher US equities and at least partial solutions to various troubles facing consumers (including those overseas) will encourage a significant CCI move over 72.0.

However, the feeble rally in the CCI in comparison with the S+P 500 since February 2009, and particularly after autumn 2011, raises significant questions regarding the present and future strength of the American economy (and even of the S+P 500). After all, US consumers are a substantial percentage (around 70 percent) of American GDP. Current US consumer confidence in context warns of economic weakness, or at least sustained sluggishness.

Summer 2012’s recent S+P 500 bull march to new highs over 1425 may continue a while longer. Yet the link between the S+P 500 and “the economy as a whole” is probably notably less than it was a several years ago. But the S+P 500 is not isolated from the economy. So this sustained mediocre (or renewed weakness in) the CCI is ominous for US stocks in general, particularly if other key consumer indicators such as housing, employment, and wages do not soon show substantial strength. Or, suppose there is not major progress on the American fiscal front.

The Gallup News Service recently polled Americans regarding their “confidence” in various “institutions in American society” (June 7-10, 2012). The category created by adding together the answers “great deal” and quite a lot” reveals dispiriting trends and levels that reflect current mediocre consumer confidence levels (as well as the broad erosion in confidence from the January 2000 CCI peak). Relatively weak consumer (Main Street) confidence in several key political and social institutions parallels many worries regarding America’s economic situation.

And anyways, America’s current national deficit and debt situation and its probable near term and long run fiscal prospects justify significant consumer concerns. Moreover, the housing, earnings, unemployment, and household debt factors also help to explain mediocre consumer confidence, both in absolute terms and relative to the S+P 500’s heights.

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US Consumer Confidence- Many Happy Returns (8-23-12)
US Consumer Confidence Chart (8-23-12)

US MONEY MOTIONS- SAVINGS AND SHIFTS © Leo Haviland November 8, 2011

Since June 2011, United States personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income has declined. Many observers believe a declining savings rate generally signals economic growth and thus is a reason for optimism. Though this sometimes may be true, it probably is not the case now. In today’s worldwide economic theater, feeble personal savings- and especially a slumping level- indicate that US economic growth for the near term and perhaps longer probably will be weak. The savings rate in recent years, not just recently, has been low relative to long run history. Given this, in the context of the rather gloomy current and near-term economic horizon, further cuts in the savings rate will warn of or confirm an economic downturn.

Declines in the US personal savings rate may herald or coincide with economic growth. The period from 1993 to 2007, and especially the enthusiastic time of 2004-2007, evidences this. The down shift in America’s personal savings rate from its 2008-2010 summits of 6.2pc/5.6pc indeed coincides with the current recovery. However, permanent prosperity probably has not returned. The further declines since June 2011, when interpreted alongside other indicators, probably indicate that a more ominous US economic future of sluggish growth and arguably a recession lies ahead.

First, history shows that a very low or declining savings rate does not necessarily translate into (equal, represent) happy healthy times of growth and prosperity. Let’s look back into the allegedly ancient landscape preceding World War 2. The Great Depression ran from August 1929 to March 1933 (43 months). Note that the savings rate collapsed during the downturn. The savings rate was 4.3pc in 1929 (the year of the stock marketplace peak), 4.0pc in 1930, and 3.7pc in 1931. It went negative in 1932 (-1.1pc) and 1933 (-1.7pc), with 1934 barely positive (.9pc).

A renewed downturn followed from May 1937 to June 1938. Personal savings fell from the 6.2pc of 1936 and 5.9pc in 1937 to 1.9pc in 1938, with 1938 the lowest yearly level until the 1.5pc of 2005.

Thus declines in the personal savings rate can occur during economic downturns, not just in upswings. The Depression shows that very low (even negative) savings rates can reflect fear and pessimism as well as joy and optimism. To interpret the current low savings rate and to make predictions regarding its future and implications, one must look at surrounding circumstances.

Despite estimated US 3Q11 real GDP growth of 2.5pc (annualized) and the sharp stock marketplace rally from its October 2011 depth, numerous signs indicate that consumer resources are stretched rather thin and probably will remains so for some time. America’s low savings rate suggests that many consumers now are fighting especially fervently to maintain a constant (“appropriate”) standard of living (“lifestyle”).

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Money Motions- Savings and Shifts (11-8-11)

US CORPORATE PROFITS- PATTERNS AND PERSPECTIVES © Leo Haviland, November 1, 2011

Recent historically high nominal United States corporate profit levels are a key factor inspiring many to buy and hold US stocks. Bullish forecasts regarding future net earnings, especially when such predictions extend out to misty medium term or murky long run time horizons, sustain and bolster this enthusiastic ownership. In turn, stock rallies sometimes boost optimism regarding potential corporate profitability and overall economic growth, for many have faith that equity marketplaces are forward-looking indicators for “The Economy”.

Has the US entered a blessed New Era of very high corporate profitability that will stretch happily out into the indefinite future? Probably not. Has America revived the wonderful time of the Goldilocks economy? Probably not. Higher nominal corporate profits and ascending nominal stock prices, when accompanied by rising nominal GDP, can assist national confidence and encourage spending in the short term. However, since the nominal levels are not the real (genuine) ones, they do not translate into an equivalent amount of real and permanent prosperity.

Yet even if very elevated corporate profitability does not continue, what may have caused a sustained notable upward shift relative to long run history in the ratio of nominal US corporate profits to nominal GDP? To some extent, it reflects corporate cost-cutting measures and other battles to improve efficiency. The easy money policies of the Federal Reserve Board (sustained low interest rates; money printing) and its allies and massive deficit spending (stimulus) perhaps play roles. But picture the context of sluggish to declining real US household income, still-damaged consumer balance sheets, high unemployment, weak housing prices, and very low consumer confidence. With that domestic (home) background, high US nominal corporate profits- and especially a more elevated nominal profit versus GDP ratio- also arguably reflects economic globalization trends and profits captured from overseas. If so, then relatively high American corporate profits do not entirely reflect (do not fully represent) actual overall US prosperity (“Our Economy”), merely that of many of its corporations.

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US Corporate Profits- Patterns and Perspectives (11-1-11)

STILL SWAMPED- US REAL ESTATE © Leo Haviland, October 11, 2011

The United States real estate marketplace, despite some improvement relative to winter 2008-09’s abyss, remains in mournful shape. During the ongoing terrible global economic crisis, nervous politicians, fearful central bankers, and enthusiastic real estate business promoters have devoted much effort and creativity in their quest to rescue the real estate arena. How should we characterize their overall performance to date? Despite their numerous at-bats and vigorous swings at the real estate debacle, the financial and political guardians have often struck out and their overall batting average remains low.

Perhaps the real estate scene will become brighter. After all, central bankers and politicians always have upcoming opportunities to step up to the plate. They will keep swinging and whacking at real estate problems. Nevertheless, the still-feeble US real estate world underlines the fragile foundation and structure of the economic revival fabricated by the Federal Reserve (and its overseas central bank teammates) and political crews. Despite some progress, the shattering damage of the international economic disaster that commenced in 2007 has not been substantially fixed. The economic crisis persists and will continue for several more innings. Though the worldwide economic advance that emerged in spring 2009 reflects repairs and is not entirely a house of cards, it’s not entirely built on solid ground. Money printing and deficit spending are not genuine (enduring) cures for economic problems.

The recent slowdown in the overall economic landscape will hinder the US real estate recovery. Therefore American real estate prices will remain relatively weak.

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Still Swamped – US Real Estate (10-11-11)