by Greg Valliere, AGF Management Ltd.
ITâS NOT AN ALL-OUT BRAWL, like the Democratsâ fight between progressives and the establishment, but there are signs of some dissent at the Federal Reserve, centering on Chairman Jerome Powellâs alleged reluctance to use his regulatory powers.
BLOOMBERG NEWS REPORTED YESTERDAY that Fed Gov. Lael Brainard took questions after a recent speech and indicated frustration with Powell. Brainard said sheâs more inclined than Powell to use regulatory tools to head off financial excesses like asset bubbles.
BRAINARD AGREES WITH POWELL that the Fed needs to see more improvement in the job market (which could come on Friday) before moving toward a tapering of asset purchases. But she and progressives seem to believe that Powell has not been sufficiently aggressive in regulating big banks.
POWELL IS A REPUBLICAN, BRAINARD IS A DEMOCRAT: With President Biden under fire from the left, Powellâs nomination isnât certain. Brainard is the obvious alternative, and her willingness to go public with criticism of Powell has suddenly made this an interesting race.
* * * * *
ALL EYES ON OHIO: Two important primaries today. While not as exciting as the epic menâs 400 hurdles race this morning in Tokyo, these primaries will offer important clues on the direction of both parties heading into next yearâs mid-term elections.
THE DEMOCRATS SUDDENLY ARE FACING A REVOLT from the left, as we wrote yesterday. In a primary near Cleveland, progressives are backing Nina Turner, who has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and the left. Her opponent is Shontel Brown, who has the endorsement of establishment figures like Hillary Clinton. A win by Turner would complicate life for Joe Biden, who faces an insurgent left wing.
THE REPUBLICAN RACE, in a district near Columbus, will be important for Donald Trump, who endorsed a candidate who lost in a Texas primary last month. Trump is backing an energy lobbyist, Mike Carey, who is running against 10 other GOP candidates, many with endorsements from well-known Ohio conservatives. Trump will resume rallies later this month â beginning with his base in Alabama.
* * * * *
GLASS HALF FULL ON COVID: Cases of the delta variant may not peak for several more weeks, but weâll take the optimistic argument: vaccinations are soaring; 70% of all Americans now have had at least one shot. Herd immunity is coming.
IN THE MEANTIME, speculation will persist about Senators who were with Lindsey Graham, who was a guest on Joe Manchinâs boat this weekend on the Potomac River. Graham said yesterday that he has a breakthrough infection, and other lawmakers on the boat apparently did not wear masks.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies.
The views expressed in this blog are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of the date of publication and should not be considered as personal investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy and/or sell securities. Speculation or stated believes about future events, such as market or economic conditions, company or security performance, or other projections represent the beliefs of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in these commentaries at the time of publication; however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market conditions may change and AGF accepts no responsibility for individual investment decisions arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein. Any financial projections are based on the opinions of the author and should not be considered as a forecast. The forward looking statements and opinions may be affected by changing economic circumstances and are subject to a number of uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward looking statements. The information contained in this commentary is designed to provide you with general information related to the political and economic environment in the United States. It is not intended to be comprehensive investment advice applicable to the circumstances of the individual.
AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). AGFA and AGFUS are registered advisors in the U.S. AGFI is a registered as a portfolio manager across Canadian securities commissions. AGFIA is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. The subsidiaries that form AGF Investments manage a variety of mandates comprised of equity, fixed income and balanced assets.
About AGF Management Limited
Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGFâs suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.
For further information, please visit AGF.com.
©2021 AGF Management Limited. All rights reserved.
This post was first published at the AGF Perspectives Blog.
