Note prepared by Guy Haselmann, Director, Capital Markets Strategy, Scotiabank GBM
I am back from visiting clients. Today, I have decided to send out only the last part of today’s note. You will find it below. The first part is, let’s say, unnecessary and too edgy.
· For investors, Fed policy that is on the verge of pivoting is like a brain-teaser puzzle, because investors no longer know if good economic news is good news or not for prices of risk assets. During QE, good economic news still meant a printing Fed so it was good for financial assets, but now it may mean a more hawkish Fed or a sooner hike in rates.
· Either way, the strike price of the Fed’s implicit put is being pushed from at-the-money to one far out-of-money. This dramatically and unfavorably changes the risk reward distribution of risk assets. If, as I suspect, the Fed is determined to begin moving (away) from zero rates (due to risks to financial stability), then the Fed’s first hike can come in March, and it doesn’t matter if inflation remains here, or whether growth is 2%, 3% or 4%. The dollar is showing signs of such.
· I remain a bond bull. I am pulling forward my prediction that the 30-year Treasury yield will drop below 3% before year end to prior to Thanksgiving. I may even be right for the wrong reasons, but so far so good.
· “May the odds be ever in your favor!” – Effie Trinket
Guy Haselmann | Director, Capital Markets Strategy
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Copyright © Guy Haselmann, Director, Capital Markets Strategy, Scotiabank GBM