ECB's QE will buoy EM bond markets

Subject Opposite forces are shaping investor sentiment towards EM assets. Significance Investor sentiment towards emerging market (EM) assets is being shaped by the conflicting forces of a strong dollar and the launch of a sovereign quantitative easing (QE) programme by the ECB. While the latter is likely to encourage investment into higher-yielding assets, such as EM debt, the former will keep the currencies of developing economies under strain, particularly those most sensitive to a rise in US interest rates due to heavier reliance on capital inflows to finance large current account deficits, such as Turkey and South Africa. Impacts EM bonds will benefit from ECB-related inflows, while the strength of the dollar will keep local currencies under strain. Higher-yielding EMs will benefit the most from the ECB's bond-buying scheme since they provide the greatest scope for 'carry trades'. The collapse in oil prices is forcing EM central banks to turn increasingly dovish, putting further strain on local currencies.

Subject The risks to Emerging Europe’s bond markets from the removal of monetary stimulus. Significance The IMF has warned that the withdrawal of monetary stimulus by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is likely to reduce capital inflows into emerging market (EM) economies. Emerging Europe is particularly vulnerable, thanks to the additional risks posed by the reduction of asset purchases by the ECB. Corporate bonds are most at risk because of the rapid compression in spreads on sub-investment grade debt, at their lowest levels since the financial crisis. Impacts Hawkish signals from central banks and US tax cuts are taking the benchmark ten-year US Treasury yield to its highest level since mid-March. However, dollar weakness will ease some of the strain on EM currencies and local bonds. With low core euro-area inflation reducing pressure to end QE, the ECB is unlikely to raise interest rates before 2019.


Significance Hungary thereby regains investment-grade status, albeit at the lowest level, from being downgraded to 'junk' because of doubts about the government's policies and the high public debt burden. Hungary's improving creditworthiness, underpinned by its current account surplus and deleveraging in the banking sector, contrasts with the increasing strain on Poland's credit rating. Political risk has become a major driver of investor sentiment towards emerging markets. Impacts Emerging market assets have become more vulnerable as investors reprice US monetary policy. Futures markets are now assigning a 51% probability to another rise in US interest rates at or before the Federal Reserve's July meeting. Central Europe's government bond markets are being supported by the persistently dovish monetary policy stance of its central banks. This contrasts with Latin America, where inflationary pressures are forcing many central banks to raise rates. Brazil, Turkey, Poland and the Philippines are among several countries where political uncertainty is a key determinant of asset prices.


Subject Risks surrounding increased foreign participation in EM bond markets. Significance The rise in the dollar in anticipation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will start hiking interest rates next month is putting emerging market (EM) currencies under renewed strain. This stress is testing the resilience of EM bond markets, many of which, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, have high levels of foreign investor participation, or, like China and India, are seeking to attract more. Impacts Monetary policy divergence between the Fed and other leading central banks will put further upward pressure on the dollar. A strengthening dollar will extend oil's 6.6% price drop since November 3, undermining sentiment towards EMs. The composition of foreign holdings (institutional money versus flightier capital) will be key to gauging the vulnerability of EM debt. The largest source of vulnerability in EMs will remain the threat of a harder-than-expected landing for China's economy.


Subject The outlook for Central-East European debt. Significance A flurry of hawkish commentary from the world’s leading central banks, in particular the ECB, which is preparing the ground for a withdrawal of monetary stimulus, has put significant strain on the domestic bond markets of Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). Under particular pressure are Romanian domestic bonds, because of the threat of fiscal slippages under the new Social Democrat (PSD)-led government, which are likely to force the National Bank of Romania (NBR) to hike interest rates more aggressively than its regional peers. Impacts Despite the central-bank-driven sell-off in global markets, negative-yielding bonds still account for one-fifth of global sovereign debt. Persistent concerns about a supply glut are keeping Brent crude below 50 dollars per barrel, with oil prices down by 14% since end-May. Emerging Market stocks are declining under pressure of hawkish rhetoric from central banks, but not Hungarian and Czech equities.


Significance In the worst start to a year for US equities since 2008, the benchmark S&P 500 index fell 0.7% during the week ending January 10. December's employment report showed US non-farm payrolls rising by a robust 252,000, but average hourly earnings declined, accentuating deflationary fears. The dollar continued to strengthen against the euro on concerns about a possible euro crisis over Greece and the introduction of sovereign QE by the ECB. With the US Federal Reserve preparing to raise rates, investor sentiment remains fragile. Impacts The tug-of-war between central bank largesse and country-specific, geopolitical and economic risks will become more intense. Markets will focus on renewed fears of 'Grexit' and on concerns about German opposition to an ECB sovereign QE programme. The relentless oil prices slide, exacerbated by the dollar's strength, will put further strain on EM assets. The ruble is likely to weaken further, increasing the scope for contagion to other developing economies.


Significance Expectations that the Fed will refrain from hiking its benchmark rates from its target range of 0.25-0.5% and that the Japanese central bank will provide further stimulus are suppressing volatility in financial markets and fuelling demand for risk assets. However, evidence that "overburdened" monetary policy is losing its efficacy triggered a sell-off in bonds and equities on September 9, increasing the scope for sharper price falls as investors worry that central banks have run out of ammunition. Impacts Services expanded in August at their slowest pace since 2010, making it less likely that the Fed will raise interest rates this month. EM bond and equity mutual funds have enjoyed a surge in inflows since the Brexit vote as yield-hungry investors pour money into risk assets Oil, a key determinant of investor sentiment, will stay below 50 dollars/barrel unless major producers agree measures to stabilise prices.


Subject Monetary policy in Japan. Significance The monetary policy board of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) at its last meeting abandoned its prediction of when the nation will reach its 2% inflation target, the first time it has omitted a target date since Governor Haruhiko Kuroda introduced his policy of radical monetary easing five years ago. Impacts Japan’s interest rates will remain at historically low levels for at least two more years. The yen will remain relatively weak as other countries’ central banks end their quantitative easing programmes. A weak currency plus widespread global economic growth will create strong demand for Japanese exports.


Subject QE’s influence on Central Europe’s bond markets. Significance Hawkish signals from the ECB are adding to recent strains on global bond markets, causing German ten-year Bund yields to shoot up to their highest levels since July. The sell-off is contributing to sharp outflows from Central Europe’s local debt markets, already under pressure as monetary tightening starts in the region; the Czech Republic, which has raised rates twice since August, is suffering the largest withdrawals. However, the absence of large inflows since the ECB started quantitative easing (QE) in 2015 could help mitigate the fallout from its end. Impacts As OPEC members reaffirm their commitment to production cuts, oil prices are shooting up to their highest level in nearly three years. Sales of speculative-grade US corporate debt have had their strongest New Year since 2014, a sign of enduring demand for high-yield bonds. The three-year low in the dollar index will help keep financial conditions loose and buoy up emerging market currencies.


Significance The Central Bank is expected to keep its main interest rates on hold, despite the lira continuing to fall sharply against the dollar and headline and core inflation rates that are more than 2 percentage points above the TCMB's 5% target. The toxic combination of an escalation in the crackdown following the botched military coup in July and, crucially, a sharp deterioration in investor sentiment towards emerging markets (EMs) since Donald Trump's election as US president have put Turkish assets under renewed strain. Impacts EMs are currently on the sharp end of a fierce sell-off in global government bond markets. Investors are repositioning their portfolios in anticipation of more aggressive hikes in interest rates during a Trump presidency. The sell-off comes amid improving EM fundamentals, unlike the 'taper tantrum' after the Fed unexpectedly shrank asset purchases in 2013. Turkey's creditworthiness will continue to suffer after the botched military coup. Limiting the scope for a full-blown financial crisis is its banking sector, among the emerging world's best capitalised and most resilient.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1006-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Lima ◽  
Claudio Foffano Vasconcelos ◽  
Jose Simão ◽  
Helder Ferreira de Mendonça

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze if the unconventional monetary policy, known as quantitative easing (QE) practiced by central banks in the USA, the UK, and Japan was effective to increase the market share after subprime crisis. Design/methodology/approach In order to analyze the effect of the QE on the stock markets of the USA, the UK, and Japan, the authors use an ARDL model to find the long-run relationship among the variables. Findings The findings denote that the QE implemented by the central banks in the USA, Japan, and the UK had a positive impact on their stock markets. Originality/value The results of the paper give some new insights about the conduction of monetary policy when the interest rates are close to zero.


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