Taking a Breather

• The Fed takes a breather, but 'promises' two further rate rises
• UK MPC could spring a surprise and raise by 50bps this week
• Bank of Japan still waiting for an opportune time to adapt their monetary policy - bad news for the Yen
• US equities a reflection of the tech sector not the economy
• High yield bonds face building challenges

As we had suspected, the Fed took a breather last week choosing to temporarily pause its rate hike cycle. The 'breather' though just didn't seem consistent with the narrative the central bank presented to the markets after its meeting. The Fed still sees the need to raise rates and expects to keep the rates elevated level for some time. The Fed and many other central banks see inflation risk persisting for some time to come. It then begs the question: why doesn't the Fed just get on with moving the interest rates to an appropriately tighter level? Why then take a pause?
 
The median point of the Fed governors’ forecasts of where the benchmark policy rate would be at year-end has inched up to 5.6%, from the median forecast in March of 5.1%. These new set of projections and the fact that inflation, growth, and employment have recently beaten forecasts make one wonder as to why the Fed isn't just getting on with raising rates. 
 
Chart 1: The Fed’s forecast for year-end 2023 Fed funds rate has risen at every meeting for a year

Source: Bloomberg
 
The market currently prices a 70% chance of a 25bps increase in the Fed funds rate at the July meeting and then nothing beyond that, even though the US central bank has signalled a high probability of the need to raise rates twice before the year ends. The market is concerned that the economy will lose momentum in the coming months.
 
Other central banks look likely to continue raising rates. The ECB sprang a hawkish surprise last week with its forecasts suggesting that inflation will remain problematic. The market consensus has moved to expect a further rate increase well beyond last week's 25bps hike, probably to the 4% level by year-end. 
 
Could the UK MPC diverge too and spring a surprise?
The market expects the UK MPC to raise rates by 25bps this week, but we would not be surprised if the MPC voted for a 50bps hike. UK consumer prices and wage inflation are still uncomfortably high, with limited evidence that they will revert to a level that would convince the MPC that the situation is firmly in its grip. 
 
The Bank of Japan is slow to turn – Yen's weakness to continue
Despite a new leadership, the Bank of Japan shows little signs of changing course. New Governor Kazuo Ueda continues to reiterate that inflation will moderate through the balance of the year. Hence, there is little sign of a move to adapt the Yield Curve Control policy. Consequently, the Yen has been left to fend for itself, which has seen it drift out further versus the dollar. 
 
When Right is Wrong
Are you – like me – sitting there scratching your head and asking “what happened?” Our views at the start of the year were that inflation would prove to be more problematic than the consensus expected, and that US policy rates would rise further than the market thought. We have been proved right on both counts, but we were somewhat wrong to assume that that would necessarily mean trouble for the US stock markets. Of course, it depends on which equity market index we are looking at to gauge the health of the economy. While the S&P500 has returned an impressive 14.9% and the teach-heavy Nasdaq a stellar 30.8% year-to-date, the ‘old economy’ Dow Jones 30 has returned just 3.5%. The AI/Chat GPT phenomena has overwhelmed all. As has been often quoted by strategists in recent months, only a handful of stocks have contributed to most of the gains the market has witnessed. We are reminded of an old adage here: “You are buying a stock market and not an economy”.
 
Chart 2: US equity market performance driven by technology sector

Source: Bloomberg
 
Tech rally not supported by the trend in 2023 consensus earnings forecasts – but who cares?
As a further thought on the US tech sector, the rise in the Nasdaq Composite Index is at complete odds with the trend in the corporate profit forecasts for the index constituents. Consensus forecasts for the current year have dropped 15% since February, while the index has surged 25% during this period. We would admit that the valuation of the tech sector is a lot more than just about the next 12 months, but the 40% gap between the trend in corporate profits and the performance of the NASDAQ Composite Price Index is a bit confounding. However, it’s a good measure of the hype or excitement surrounding AI at present.

Chart 3: Nasdaq Composite Index at odds with direction of earnings forecasts
(Scale Index =100 rebased to June 2022)

Source: Bloomberg

The Challenge to High yield Borrowers from Maturing Debt
We sounded a mini alarm bell on high yields last week, arguing that spreads did not appear to discount the likely angst resulting from worries that Fed policy may slow down the economy. What compounded our concerns further was a chart we sourced from a Bloomberg article that highlighted the short duration of the US high yields – the lowest in the history of the index. As a borrower what you don’t want is the challenge of relatively high interest rates and an increasing risk of not being able to roll over your debt. A few decades ago – in 1989, to be precise – the average borrower, although paying high interest rates on their debt, wouldn’t have been so worried about rolling over their debt as the average maturity at that time was 10 years. Today, high yield borrowers are facing both high interest rates (average US corporate borrowing costs were up 22% in Q1, according to a survey by financial data provider Calcbench) and an average maturity of just five years. In essence, the US high yield sector will witness a wall of refinancing much earlier, which, in our view is, another reason for caution.
 
Chart 4: The Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Index – Lowest Time to Maturity in History
Scale: Years to Maturity

Source: Bloomberg

Copyright © Dalma Capital, All rights reserved.

This document is being provided for information purposes only and on the basis that you make your own investment decisions; no action is being solicited by presenting the information contained herein. The information presented herein does not take account of your particular investment objectives or financial situation and does not constitute (and should not be construed as) a personal recommendation to buy, sell or otherwise participate in any particular investment or transaction. Nothing herein constitutes (or should be construed as) a solicitation of an offer to buy or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any security, commodity, or investment or to engage in any other transaction, nor investment, legal, tax or accounting advice.
 
The information contained herein is not directed at (nor intended for distribution to or use by) any person in any jurisdiction where it is or would be contrary to applicable law or jurisdiction to access (or be distributed) and/or use such information, including (without limitation) Retail Clients (as defined in the rulebook issued from time to time by the Dubai Financial Services Authority). This document has not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the Dubai Financial Services Authority) nor has any such authority passed upon or endorsed the accuracy or adequacy of this document or the merits of any investment described herein and accordingly takes no responsibility therefor.
 
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Dalma Capital Management Limited (“Dalma”) or its affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained in this document. Third party sources referenced are believed to be reliable but the accuracy or completeness of such information cannot be guaranteed. Neither Dalma nor any of its affiliates undertakes any obligation to update any statement herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
 
This document contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the relevant business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Dalma’s and/or its affiliates’ control. Actual results and financial conditions may differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking statements. Forecasts are based on complex calculations and formulas that contain substantial subjectivity and no express or implied prediction made should be interpreted as investment advice. There can be no assurance that market conditions will perform according to any forecast or that any investment will achieve its objectives or that investors will receive a return of their capital. The projections or other forward-looking information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future investment results. Past performance is not indicative of future results and nothing herein should be deemed a prediction or projection of future outcomes. Some forward looking statements and assumptions are based on analysis of data prepared by third party reports, which should be analysed on their own merits. Investments in opportunities such as those described herein entail significant risks and are suitable only to certain investors as part of an overall diversified investment strategy and only for investors who are able to withstand a total loss of investment.