Insights
Global Fiscal Stimulus Scorecard: The Cavalry is Coming, but Slowly & Arguing About Which Horse to Ride.
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Market Pulse
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March 15, 2020
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Global Fiscal Stimulus Scorecard: The Cavalry is Coming, but Slowly & Arguing About Which Horse to Ride.
Global Fiscal Stimulus Scorecard: The Cavalry is Coming, but Slowly & Arguing About Which Horse to Ride. |
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Monetary policy has been exhausted. Now, we turn toward fiscal stimulus and market support policies. This is taking place globally in an uncoordinated manner. Similar to the financial crisis in 2008, this is a messy process because it involves politics. But in our view, this is something elected officials need to do; the central banks cannot do it alone. Fiscal rescue policies typically follow this pattern:
- It moves slowly at first, but not fast enough for what the markets demand.
- Initial plans are often not enough, also disappointing the markets.
- The markets sell-off further, signaling back to politicians to do more.
- Politicians eventually do more.
- This creates a risk-asymmetry, where the upside potential is greater than the potential downside after the crisis event passes, that is, the market assigns value to price levels versus selling indiscriminately
What has been done so far: Fiscal Stimulus Scorecard
United States
- The Federal Reserve (Fed) cut policy rates 100bps to 0.0% - 0.25%. The Discount Window borrowing rate was lowered by 150bps putting the upper target at 0.25
- Banks are “encouraged” to use the Discount Window as a source of funding to meet client needs. The effectively removes the stigma of using this source of funding.
- FX swap lines are “encouraged" to be used by global central banks at a reduced rate of OIS+25bps. This is an effort to reduce demand for US dollars by foreign entities.
- The Fed added approximately $1.5Tr in liquidity to the repo market to aid in proper functioning of US Treasury Market
- $700Bn in Quantitative Easing (QE). Asset purchases comprising $500Bn U.S. Treasuries and $200Bn Mortgage Backed Securities
- Regulatory relief for US Banks to extend credit to the real economy.
- The Fed has reduced the reserve requirement ratio for banks to 0% effective March 26, the beginning of the next reserve maintenance period.
- Bank capital and liquidity buffers: The Fed states that U.S. banks are well capitalized, the largest holding $1.3Tr in common equity and $2.9Tr high quality liquid assets. These capital and liquidity buffers are designed to support the economy in adverse situations. The Fed will support firms that choose to use their capital and liquidity buffers to lend and undertake other supportive actions, according to the Fed’s statement released March 15, 2000.
- Fiscal stimulus: Healthcare-related measures passed in Congress on March 14, highlights of which are: free testing for the coronavirus, emergency paid sick days, emergency paid leave for those unable to work due to the virus, expanded unemployment insurance and expanding food assistance programs.
- However this stimulus falls short because it does not address industry-specific support for sectors of the economy hardest hit by the corona virus. Why? We believe the reason is political. Many lawmakers want to avoid TARP-like (Troubled Asset Relief Program) that supported the private sector for political reasons.
- Nevertheless, a small and mid-sized business credit support facility is essential. This has been a feature of other global fiscal stimulus and it should be no different for the U.S. Putting politics aside, small business accounts for approximately 65% of U.S. employment, which directly translates to income and consumption and consumption is approximately 70% of GDP. Thus in order to support GDP, politicians need to back small and mid-sized business support facilities.
- We expect another fiscal support program geared to business in the near term, but the markets will be under stress until this happens.
Fiscal Policy Options
| Trump | Pelosi & Schumer | Other Ideas |
Proposed:
Under consideration
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Furman
Other
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Source: Cornerstone Macro as of 3/12/2020 |
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United Kingdom
- Bank of England cut 50 bps to 0.25%
- £100Bn TFSME (Term Funding for Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs))
- Fiscal Policy Committee (FPC) cut counter cyclical buffer requirement from 1% to 0%
- £30Bn Fiscal Stimulus package, 1.3% of GDP, equivalent of 125bps of easing
Australia
- A$ 17.6Bn fiscal package to support growth, greater than expected
- 75% of which ($12.8Bn) directed toward businesses
Europe (ECB) (Note: ECB cannot control fiscal stimulus, so Europe is likely to stay most stressed)
- New and Improved TLTRO (Targeted Long Term Refinancing Operation, a lending facility for SMEs)
- Priced at favorable rates (repo rate less 25bps) and for banks that keep SME lending portfolios stable (Deposit rate less 25bps)
- €120Bn additional net asset purchases to year end
Risk Considerations
There is no assurance that a Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. Portfolios are subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Portfolio will decline and may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Please be aware that this Portfolio may be subject to certain additional risks. Fixed income securities are subject to the ability of an issuer to make timely principal and interest payments (credit risk), changes in interest rates (interest-rate risk), the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (market risk). In a rising interest-rate environment, bond prices may fall and may result in periods of volatility and increased portfolio redemptions. In a declining interest-rate environment, the portfolio may generate less income. Longer-term securities may be more sensitive to interest rate changes. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are sensitive to early prepayment risk and a higher risk of default, and may be hard to value and difficult to sell (liquidity risk). They are also subject to credit, market and interest rate risks. Certain U.S. government securities purchased by the Strategy, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. High-yield securities (“junk bonds”) are lower-rated securities that may have a higher degree of credit and liquidity risk. Public bank loans are subject to liquidity risk and the credit risks of lower-rated securities. Foreign securities are subject to currency, political, economic and market risks. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. Sovereign debt securities are subject to default risk. Derivative instruments may disproportionately increase losses and have a significant impact on performance. They also may be subject to counterparty, liquidity, valuation, correlation and market risks. Restricted and illiquid securities may be more difficult to sell and value than publicly traded securities (liquidity risk).
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Managing Director
Global Fixed Income Team
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