The charts that matter: the Fed chucks investors a bone
With America's central bank sounding more likely to cut short-term interest rates, John Stepek looks at how it affects the charts that matter most to the global economy.
Welcome back. If you haven't signed up to stay informed on the MoneyWeek Wealth Summit yet, then don't forget to do it now. This week alone, we've confirmed a few big speakers you'll recognise their names for the big day on 22 November. So make sure you get to hear about the tickets first when they go on sale sign up for our free updates, right here.
Also, be sure to read this week's Currency Corner (in association with currency broker OFX) this week it's all about the yen and don't miss our webinar this coming Tuesday at 1pm. Register now FREE to watch it live here or to watch the recording later.
The yield curve (remind yourself of what it is here) spiked higher this week. The chart below shows the difference (the "spread") between what it costs the US government to borrow money over ten years and what it costs over two.
Once this number turns negative, the yield curve has inverted, which almost always signals a recession (although perhaps not for up to two years).
(The gap between the yield on the ten-year US Treasury and that on the two-year, going back three months)
Gold (measured in dollar terms) had a good week. Investors are getting nervous, and they also like the idea that the Fed might cut rates. A dovish Fed combined with positive inflation is good news for gold it means monetary policy is loosening.
(Gold: three months)
The US dollar index a measure of the strength of the dollar against a basket of the currencies of its major trading partners meanwhile fell back this week as markets start to expect the Fed to cut any day now (they may be disappointed).
(DXY: three months)
The number of yuan (or renminbi) to the US dollar (USDCNY) has stayed relatively stable this week and below the critical 7.0 level that would suggest China might be on the verge of a severe devaluation.
(Chinese yuan to the US dollar: three months)
Ten-year yields on major developed-market bonds continued to slip this week, although there was a tiny bit of relief for the US and Japan as the Fed hinted that "the Powell put" might be around the corner. But the yield on the German bund kept sliding to fresh record lows as German industrial output slid the German economy is now looking very weak indeed.
(Ten-year US Treasury yield: three months)
(Ten-year Japanese government bond yield: three months)
(Ten-year bund yield: three months)
Copper is still wobbly but perked up a little along with markets, helped by the Fed relief bounce.
(Copper: three months)
The Aussie dollar our favourite indicator of the state of the Chinese economy continued to rally as the US dollar weakened.
(Aussie dollar vs US dollar exchange rate: three months)
Cryptocurrency bitcoin seems to be consolidating (and again, it's not especially correlated to the actions of the dollar). However, it's come a long way in a short period and now we're seeing aggressive price targets again which suggests that sentiment might be running ahead of it again.
(Bitcoin: ten days)
Unemployment is admittedly a lagging indicator (it doesn't start rising until the economy is already getting worse). And yet, while we're all looking for signs of bad news, it's still hard to find any on this front.
Seven weeks ago, US jobless claims hit a fresh low on the four-week moving average measure, dropping to 201,500. They jumped over Easter, but have eased since. This week, the moving average fell to 215,000, while weekly claims came in at 218,000 (flat on last week, which was revised higher from 215,000).
US stocks typically don't peak until after this four-week moving average has hit a low for the cycle, and a recession tends to follow about a year later (although of course this is from a tiny sample size). So maybe we've already peaked. But maybe we'll see another trough still too early to call.
(US jobless claims, four-week moving average: since January 2016)
The oil price (as measured by Brent crude, the international/European benchmark) continued to slide although it benefited towards the end of the week from the more "risk-on" mood.
(Brent crude oil: three months)
Internet giant Amazon again moved in line with the wider market, bouncing as the Fed spoke soothingly to investors.
(Amazon: three months)
Electric car group Tesla also put in a bounce from its recent travails.
(Tesla: three months)
That's all for this week have a great weekend, and if you haven't read my book, The Sceptical Investor yet, I'm sure it would make the perfect gift for Father's Day. I mean, not necessarily for your dad (although it definitely beats socks), but why not treat yourself? It's been a tough week you deserve it. You can pick up a copy here.
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
John Stepek is a senior reporter at Bloomberg News and a former editor of MoneyWeek magazine. He graduated from Strathclyde University with a degree in psychology in 1996 and has always been fascinated by the gap between the way the market works in theory and the way it works in practice, and by how our deep-rooted instincts work against our best interests as investors.
He started out in journalism by writing articles about the specific business challenges facing family firms. In 2003, he took a job on the finance desk of Teletext, where he spent two years covering the markets and breaking financial news.
His work has been published in Families in Business, Shares magazine, Spear's Magazine, The Sunday Times, and The Spectator among others. He has also appeared as an expert commentator on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, BBC Radio Scotland, Newsnight, Daily Politics and Bloomberg. His first book, on contrarian investing, The Sceptical Investor, was released in March 2019. You can follow John on Twitter at @john_stepek.
Government launches full review of parental leave and pay – what could it mean for you?
Nationwide: House prices see biggest monthly fall in over two years
