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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LONG RUN HISTORICAL ENTANGLEMENT: US INTEREST RATE AND STOCK TRENDS © Leo Haviland July 6, 2023

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” “Requiem for a Nun” (Act 1, Scene 3), by William Faulkner

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CONCLUSION AND OVERVIEW

Many times over the past century, significantly increasing United States interest rates have preceded a major peak, or at least a noteworthy top, in key stock marketplace benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S+P 500. The yield climb sometimes has occurred over a rather extended time span. The arithmetical (basis point) change has not always been large. Sometimes the yield advance has extended past the time of the stock pinnacle. 

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The US Treasury 10 year note yield established a major bottom at .31 percent on 3/9/20. Its sustained yield increase thereafter, and especially from 8/4/21’s 1.13 percent, helped lead to the major high in the S+P 500 on 1/4/22 at 4819. After an extended span of engaging in yield repression (and money printing), the Federal Reserve finally recognized that inflation was not a temporary or transitory phenomenon and began raising rates. The timing of a critical interim UST 10 year note yield high, 6/14/22’s 3.50 percent, extended well the stock marketplace peak, as did the UST’s second summit at 4.34 percent on 10/21/22. Arguably, an only gradual reduction of yield repression while immersed in an inflationary environment was one factor for the extensive duration of the yield increase after the S+P 500’s January 2022 crest. In any event, the S+P 500 tumbled sharply in its bear trend, reaching a major bottom on 10/13/22 at 3492, close in time the UST’s high (as well as the autumn 2022 peak in the US dollar). For a bear trend from the long run historical perspective, that nine and one-half months and 27.5 percent decline in the S+P 500 was modest in time and distance terms. 

The S+P 500’s rally since October 2022’s valley has carried it to within about 7.5 percent of its glorious January 2022 summit. Given the historic pattern in which UST yield increases “lead” to peaks in key American stock benchmarks such as the S+P 500, do signs of a noteworthy rising yield trend exist on the interest rate front? Yes. 

First, the UST 10 year note made several interim lows around 3.30 percent in first half 2023, with yields escalating moderately from 4/6/23’s 3.25 percent. The subsequent UST 10 year high since then is 7/6/23’s 4.08 percent (as of 1200 noon EST on 7/6/23). In addition, the existence of only a modest yield decline from October 2022’s 4.34pc high indicates that the pattern of rising UST 10 year note (and other UST) yields which emerged in March 2020 and accelerated thereafter probably remains intact. Also, core inflation remains persistently above the targets of the Fed and other central bankers. US unemployment remains low. The Fed and other leading central bank luminaries have hinted strongly at further increases in policy rates, and they appear determined (in the absence of an economic crisis) to maintain their tightening schemes for an extended time period. Such boosts in the Federal Funds level (and thus in short term UST instruments) probably will push the UST 10 year yield higher. Moreover, monumental long run federal debt problems confront America; all else equal, huge credit demand tends to boost interest rates. 

In addition, the UST 10 year note’s major yield bottom in March 2020 began from a peak around fifteen percent almost 40 years before, in 1981. That seemingly ancient UST yield history does not mandate the development of a substantial yield increase over a very long time span for the ensuing vista commencing in 2020. However, by comparison, a yield increase of about four percent in about two and one-half years, from March 2020 to October 2022, is moderate but not extraordinary, especially given the Fed’s yield repression history (and related money printing) and the developing (and current) inflationary situation. From this perspective, an eventual climb in the UST 10 year note yield above October 2022’s 4.34 percent high is probable. 

Therefore, the pattern of rising UST 10 year note yields likely is leading to another peak in the S+P 500. This stock marketplace peak probably will occur relatively soon, probably within the next few weeks or months. However, even if the S+P 500 continues to climb, it probably will not exceed its January 2022 peak by much if at all. 

Why might the S+P 500 remain fairly strong in the near term? First, the UST 10 year yield increase since April 2023 has been only moderate. Moreover, in America, and in general for other advanced nations, government yields relative to consumer price inflation remain low or negative. Also, US corporate earnings optimism for 4Q2023 and thereafter is strong. In addition, we live in a nominal world, and quoted stock prices obviously belong in that realm. Real GDP growth can be disappointing. However, all else equal, rising nominal GDP, increasing money supply, and higher nominal prices for goods and services in general will tend to be reflected in higher nominal corporate earnings and stock prices. Stock share buybacks have been substantial. US consumer confidence is fairly high (June 2023 at 109.7, 1985=100; Conference Board). Sales prices of existing single-family homes, after peaking in June 2022, have rallied since January 2023 (National Association of Realtors). 

The UST 10 year yield currently is challenging 3/2/23’s 4.09 percent interim high. That perhaps will be sufficient to notably weaken the S+P 500. However, the UST 10 year note yield probably will need to approach or exceed 10/21/22’s 4.34 percent top to induce a very substantial fall in the S+P 500.

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Long Run Historical Entanglement- US Interest Rate and Stock Trends (7-6-23)-1

TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES: RISING AMERICAN INTEREST RATES © Leo Haviland March 9, 2021

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” “Requiem for a Nun” (Act 1, Scene 3), by William Faulkner

CONCLUSION

Faith in the appealing proverb “don’t underestimate or fight the Federal Reserve Board” has become increasingly deep and widespread in recent years, and especially within stock investment congregations. This dogma underlines that mighty guardian’s powers and its willingness to employ them, not only to assist and even rescue the economy, but also to eventually halt substantial stock declines in the S+P 500. The Fed’s past successes have built and reinforced reliance by economic players as well as political leaders on it.

The Fed has other central banking allies in its noble efforts. Also, at times efforts by national political leaders in the United States and elsewhere, when dangerous and terrifying situations threaten, enact major assistance packages (such as avalanches of deficit spending).

If underestimation of the Fed is possible, then so is overestimation of it. The Fed of course is not the only performer on the economic and political stage, and marketplace and other cultural conditions can evolve, change significantly, or become extreme. Therefore, the great confidence in the Fed nowadays has an implicit corollary. Fed devotees and marketplace watchers “should not overestimate the Fed and its powers.” For example, the revered Fed probably does not have unlimited power to keep Federal Funds rates and United States Treasury yields repressed.

Not only may inflation propel interest rates higher than currently expected or desired. So can massive deficit spending and huge debt, especially if created by the US federal government.

The major yield increase trend in the United States Treasury marketplace (enlist the UST 10 year note as a benchmark) which commenced with 3/9/20’s .31 percent low probably will continue. A notable target for the UST 10 year is around the 3.26 percent top attained on 10/19/18. Even if over the so-called long run the UST 10 year yield does not eventually ascend to 2007’s seemingly ancient high (5.32pc; 6/13/07), attaining such an elevation is considerably more probable than most marketplace preachers proclaim.

Marketplace history of course is not marketplace destiny. Assorted variables in addition to interest rate levels and trends influence stock prices. However, many times over the past century, significantly increasing United States interest rate yields have preceded a noteworthy pinnacle in and the start of bear trends for key stock marketplace signposts such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S+P 500. The yield rise in the UST 10 year note since its March 2020 bottom probably signals that the S+P 500 has established a significant top or soon will do so.

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Truth and Consequences- Rising American Interest Rates (3-9-21)

HISTORY ON STAGE: MARKETPLACE SCENES © Leo Haviland, August 9, 2017

“People think of history in the long term, but history, in fact, is a very sudden thing.” Philip Roth’s novel, “American Pastoral”

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OVERVIEW AND CONCLUSION

Marketplace history need not repeat itself, either entirely or even partly. Yet many times over the past century, significantly increasing United States interest rates have preceded a noteworthy peak in key stock marketplace benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S+P 500. The yield climb sometimes has occurred over a rather extended time span, and the arithmetical (basis point) change has not always been large. Sometimes the yield advance has extended past the time of the stock pinnacle.

The US Treasury 10 year note’s 7/6/16 major bottom at 1.32 percent probably ushered in an extended period of rising rates, which probably will connect with (lead to) a peak in the DJIA and S+P 500. This subsequent upward yield shift is only partly on stage, and so far its entrance has been modest. Despite the massive amount of money printing in recent years by the central banking fraternity, the ultimate extent of the rate increase may not be massive. The yield repression (and quantitative easing) era that began during the dark ages of the global economic disaster has not exited. The heavy hand of central bank yield repression (manipulation) not only was extraordinary, but still looms large.

Yet the Federal Reserve has started to raise the Federal Funds rate modestly and given orations about normalizing policy further by reducing the size of its bloated balance sheet. In recent months, monetary tightening talk relating to some other central banks such as the European Central Bank has increased. Moreover, marketplace “tantrums” involving tumbling equities can result from various intertwined causes, not just central bank wordplay and behavior. Yet worries about a “taper tantrum” involving falling stocks as a result of “tightening” of (reduced laxity in) central bank policy schemes nevertheless also have escalated.

Thus in the current marketplace horizon, not only the reality of somewhat higher government rates, but also (alternatively) the widespread perception of an emerging substantial threat of such (or further) yield climbs (whether induced by central bank policy shifts or otherwise), eventually can help to push stock marketplace benchmarks downhill.

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Lead/lag (convergence/divergence) relationships between marketplace arenas are not written in stone. What role does the broad real trade-weighted US dollar play? History unveils that sometimes a rising TWD accompanies rising stocks, but sometimes it links with falling stocks. Sometimes TWD depreciation connects with climbing stocks, sometimes with slumping equity signposts.

In the current marketplace theater, audiences nevertheless should monitor the broad real trade-weighted US dollar (“TWD”; Federal Reserve, H.10; March 1973=100; monthly average) closely. The TWD provides further insight regarding probabilities of the S+P 500 (and DJIA; and other advanced nation and emerging equity marketplace) trends. Increasing UST yields do not always (necessarily) mandate appreciation of the TWD. The steady depreciation of the broad real-trade weighted United States dollar since around first quarter 2017 currently entangles with the modest ascent in US 10 year Treasury note rates that began in early July 2016.

Given global central bank yield repression (and other easy money policies), arithmetic moves in the UST 10 year government note (and in short term rates) may appear (at least initially) to be rather minor. Also, rising American interest rates (or fears of this) may not be the only source for a stock marketplace tumble. A weakening TWD can assist US stock marketplace weakness, particularly if other factors exist (such as fiscal/budget or other debt troubles, severe cultural divisions, significant political quarrels, and issues regarding the quality of Presidential leadership). The TWD made a major high in December 2016/January 2017 around 102.8. It currently is around 96.8, a 5.8 percent decline. Though this depreciation is not massive, it is significant. Around 96.0 is crucial support; a sustained breach under this level probably will encourage weakness in the S+P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average.

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History on Stage- Marketplace Scenes (8-9-17)