Trader’s Narrative

Speaking of monetary policy, I thought it would be interesting to look at the global central banks. Here is a chart for six of them for the past 10 years: European Central Bank (ECB), Bank of Canada, US Fed, Reserve Bank of Australia, Riksbank (Sweden), and the Bank of England (EDIT: after a request I added Japan).

Not surprisingly, they more or less move in synch with each other. Sometimes even cutting rates in quick succession to catch up with the leader. The outlier in this group is Australia. Not only did they take their rate higher than others, they also haven’t lowered it to match the others. But in the previous easing cycle (2001) they only came down to 4.25% also.

The Fed was the first central bank to lower key interest rates. The next was the Bank of Canada. The slowest among the 6 in the chart is the European Central Bank and Australia. These laggards have tried to make up for their mistake by making some incredibly deep cuts recently. I’m especially surprised by the 0.75 cut from the ECB.

The Bank of Canada will most probably deliver a 50 basis point rate cut when they meet next week, on December 9th.

Considering the swiftness of rate cuts, their global coordination, as well as their level in comparison to previous easing cycles, we are probably close to the end of the easing cycle. But, and I hate to say this, if this time is different, then who knows if history is any kind of a guide.

At this point, it is tempting to throw out all historical templates because they have done a monumentally poor job so far. While keeping in mind the danger of thinking that “this time it is different”, we are seeing signs that the world is undergoing a dramatic downturn in economic activity.

Just today, data was released showing the largest one month increase in unemployment in the US since the 1970’s - taking the unemployment rate to 6.7%. Add to that a swan dive in consumer confidence, an implosion in Detroit, melting real estate, etc.

It is safe to say that the central banks will continue to prioritize economic growth over inflation for the moment. Especially since we may very well experience a bout of deflation.

According to Jim Stack of Investech Research, there are a few conditions which must be met before a new bull market can be born. They are a mix of monetary, technical and sentiment measures. I’ve looked at four of them already:

• Consumer Sentiment
• Formal Recession
• 20%+ Decline
• Coppock Guide

Here is the fifth: monetary policy. Of course, almost every single central bank around the world has reduced interest rates. Here is a quick summary of a few key ones:

US Fed
The intended Fed funds rate stands at 1% but the problem is that the Federal Reserve took its sweet time in lowering interest rates. Rates topped out in June 2006 at 5.25% and were taken down by the Fed subsequently. But as the bond market repeatedly was warning, the Fed was behind the curve by a very wide margin.

The US is also undertaking a gargantuan multi-trillion dollar fiscal stimulus package with a much more comprehensive one waiting in the wings until January 20th 2009 when Obama takes over.

Canada
Almost one full year ago, the Canadian central bank began its easing cycle and I wrote that since central banks move in packs, this was the beginning of a world-wide trend.

The Canadian central bank has since lowered interest rates continuously. The overnight rate has almost halved from 4.5% to 2.5%. The next meeting in early December is seen by almost all as another opportunity to cut further.

China
The Chinese central bank announced a massive 108 basis point cut in their key interest rate today (to 5.58%). While this is their fourth time cutting rates since September, this recent move shows just how worried the Chinese government is. Usually interest rates are stepped up or down by just a 27 basis points but this move is four times larger in magnitude.

China has also announced a $590 billion fiscal stimulus package as well as lowering the reserve requirements for several banks to pump more money into their economy. Right now, putting money into a bank account is a losing proposition since the latest data has inflation at 4% and banks pay 2.5%. Basically, China is pushing its people to consume, rather than save.

England
The Bank of England is no stranger to large rate cuts. At the beginning of November, it cut 150 basis points off its key lending rate (from 4.5% to 3%). That followed a 50 basis point cut in early October 2008. Most are expecting another cut next week when the monetary policy committee meets. Some are even calling for a further 0.50% cut.

England is also pushing forward a VAT reduction (to 15.0%, from 17.5%), and a $30 billion stimulus package.

European Central Bank
The ECB has been the most sluggish in responding to the current decline in economic activity. They are under pressure in their next meeting of December 4th to take drastic action and lower by 50 basis points. But considering the extremely hawkish tone of the ECB that is very unlikely.

The ECB has already cut 100 basis points since October to bring their rate to 3.25%. But as the Eurozone faces its first recession in 15 years, it may not be enough.

Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia topped up its rate in March 2008 at 7.25% and ever since has been lowering it. On October, it also cut 100 basis points and more recently, by 75 basis points to bring the target cash rate to 5.25%. This is the steepest cut in rates since the 1991 recession in Australia. And it may just help them to dodge most if not all of the fallout.

The Australian government is also implementing a stimulus package of $6.7 billion - helping first time home buyers and pensioners.

Japan
In its most recent decision, the Bank of Japan held interest rates steady at 0.3% (not a typo). They are reluctant to return to the zero interest rate policy they adopted between 2001 to 2006 because it was not that helpful. But the Japanese central bank is pursuing alternative ways of pumping money into their economy. For example by accepting a wider assortment of assets as collateral.

Warm up the helicopters!
At this point, all central banks are focused on the present battle against the very real danger of a deflationary spiral. Of course, if they overdo it, as they almost always do, then they have to quickly mop up the extra money sloshing around the world financial markets without causing another dramatic downturn.

Don’t you just love central planning comrade?

As I mentioned a few days ago, my gut instinct tells me that the major central banks are about to turn and enter into an easing cycle. The Australian monetary authority and their European counterparts stayed pat but the British had a surprise in store for the markets today.

Bank of England’s “Surprise” Cut
Today, the BoE reduced the bank rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% - at which, it is still the highest rate in Europe. According to Bloomberg, the vast majority of economists were not predicting the reduction.

This is the Bank’s first cut in more than 2 years and brings the rate down from a 6 year high. Most are now expecting that this will be accompanied by further cuts in the near future.

Similar to the Bank of Canada, the decision was spurred on by concern of an expanding credit crisis brought about by the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US. An excerpt from their statement:

Although output in the United Kingdom has expanded at a brisk pace for the past two years, there are now signs that growth has begun to slow… conditions in financial markets have deteriorated and a tightening in the supply of credit to households and businesses is in train, posing downside risks to the outlook for both output and inflation further ahead.

According to HBOS plc, the UK’s largest mortgage and savings provider, house prices fell for a 3rd month in November by 1.1%. That’s the worst streak for property values since 1995.

European Central Bank Stands Aside
Citing an unexpected rise in inflation, the ECB decided to hold rates steady at 4%. If inflation hadn’t come in at 3% - a full percentage point above their target - I’m think they would also have reduced rates.

Unlike the Bank of England’s decision most economists and analysts expected the rate decision, so no surprise.