Bond markets worry about higher rates under Trump

Significance Equity markets have risen in anticipation of a fiscal stimulus package which would boost growth prospects. In contrast, demand and prices for government bonds, which were already under strain due to rising inflation expectations, have fallen due to fears of aggressive interest rate tightening to combat a debt-fuelled inflation surge. A sustained bond sell-off -- particularly one accompanied by a sharp rise in inflation -- could lead to a severe deterioration in sentiment towards 'risky assets'. Impacts Investors will see Trump's victory as a shift from ultra-loose monetary policy towards a greater reliance on fiscal stimulus. Stock market enthusiasm for tax and spending ideas could evaporate if these plans are not implemented or do not boost growth as expected. Copper had its best week for five years as Trump's stimulus plans are expected to boost demand and prices for industrial metals. The rouble was less affected by the election than other major emerging market currencies on hopes that US-Russian relations will improve.

Subject Financial market momentum. Significance Global bond and equity markets continue to rally after making their largest annual gains since 2010 last year. Markets are brushing off a plethora of risks, from the escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington to concerns about weak global growth, particularly in Europe. While valuations are becoming dangerously stretched -- the forward price-to-earnings ratio of the benchmark S&P 500 index is at the highest since 2011 -- the absence of a credible catalyst for a sharp sell-off is helping to underpin positive sentiment. Financial conditions remain exceptionally loose. Impacts Demand for government bonds is building momentum and the ten-year US treasury yield is just 40 basis points above its all-time low of 2017. Emerging-market bond and equity fund inflows have momentum and while several risks could curb this, a sustained reversal is unlikely. The Shanghai stock market has lost 5% since Wuhan’s coronavirus outbreak spread beyond China on January 13; further falls are likely. Despite low market volatility, government debt markets are much more pessimistic than equity markets about global growth prospects.


Subject US tightening continued this month despite lower inflation expectations. Significance Monetary policy rifts have deepened since the decision by the Federal Reserve (Fed) on June 14 to raise interest rates for the second time this year despite inflation easing and oil prices falling below 45 dollars per barrel. Growing discord between central banks and bond markets has spread to the Bank of England (BoE), where three of the eight committee members disagreed with the June 15 decision to keep rates on hold despite inflation spiking to its highest since June 2013. The ECB and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) are also under pressure to set out plans to wind down their quantitative easing (QE) programmes. Impacts ‘Reflation trading’ continues to unwind; the world stock of negative-yielding government bonds has surged to nearly 10 trillion dollars. US equity markets are hovering near records despite a plethora of vulnerabilities, including lower oil prices and rising political risks. Emerging markets (EM) inflows continue to surge, but higher US rates may force EMs to raise rates before they are ready, hitting activity. The divergence between rising US rates and ultra-loose ECB and BoJ policy will cushion the dollar, protecting it from rising US risks.


Significance The rise in yields is stirring memories of the 2013 ‘taper tantrum’, which led to a dramatic decline in emerging market (EM) currencies and local bonds, prompting three years of net outflows from EM debt and equity funds. Investor fears of US tightening have risen with growth and inflation expectations. Impacts If the trade-weighted dollar index rises further, this will threaten EM currencies, especially those with large dollar-denominated debts. The Brent oil price has gained 70% since November to USD68 per barrel but further upside is limited, with no commodities ‘supercycle’ ahead. Recent moves fuel fears of the normally staid US bond market becoming volatile; stable ten-year Chinese yields are being seen as a haven.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominick Salvatore

This paper examines the reasons for the slow growth in the advanced countries since the recent global financial crisis, the slowdown in growth or recession in emerging market economies, the danger that the world may be drifting toward a new global financial crisis, and that it may face even secular stagnation. The paper concludes that growth is likely to remain slow for the rest of this decade in advanced countries and to continue to decline in emerging market economies. It also examines the danger that with interest rates at the zero-bound level in advanced nations, a new financial bubble may be in the making as investors, in search of returns, undertake excessively risky investments, and that this may lead to a new global financial crisis. It is not certain, however, that the world is facing secular stagnation and, if so, that a new massive fiscal stimulus (as advocated but some) would prevent it or correct it.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1245-1256
Author(s):  
Rubaiyat Ahsan Bhuiyan ◽  
Maya Puspa ◽  
Buerhan Saiti ◽  
Gairuzazmi Mat Ghani

Purpose Sukuk is an innovative financial instrument with a flexible structure based on Islamic financial contracts, unlike a bond which is based on the structure of a loan imposed with interest. With the notion that sukuk differs considerably from the conventional bonds in terms of risks related to investment, this study aims to examine whether the sukuk market is different from conventional bond markets based on the value-at-risk (VaR) approach. Design/methodology/approach The VaR of a portfolio consists of sukuk and bond indices and is undertaken to determine whether there is any reduction in the VaR amount through the inclusion of the sukuk index in the portfolio. The analysis is undertaken based on the developed and emerging market bond and sukuk indices from January 2010 to December 2015. Findings This paper examines whether the VaR of sukuk market differs from conventional bond markets by using fundamental techniques. It was observed that the VaR amount of sukuk indices is comparatively much lower than the VaR of bond indices in all the cases. Including the sukuk index with each bond index can reduce the VaR of the portfolio by around 30 to 50 per cent for all the developed and emerging market bond indices. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to covering six years of data. Nonetheless, it is able to provide findings which are believed to be useful for the market players. Practical implications This study unveils attractive opportunities in terms of diversification benefits of sukuk indices for international fixed-income portfolios. Originality/value The VaR method is a useful risk management tool. This study uses this method to emphasise the significant reduction of risks and diversification benefits that sukuk investment could offer by including it in the investment portfolio.


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.


Significance The gains in global equities stem from the expanding universe of negative-yielding government bonds, which now account for nearly a third of the stock of global sovereign debt. This is pushing yield-hungry investors into riskier assets, despite concerns about the sustainability of a stock market rally with weak fundamental underpinnings and central banks' ultra-loose policies driving asset prices. Impacts Sterling will remain under pressure because of the BoE's aggressive monetary easing, both conventional and unconventional. The recent oil price rebound will support equity valuations and risk appetite. Fiscal stimulus will benefit stocks in the construction and defence sectors.


Subject Prospects for emerging economies to end-2016. Significance Despite political risks causing bouts of volatility in countries such as Brazil and Turkey, emerging market (EM) growth prospects have improved moderately and asset prices have rebounded after the turbulence of early 2016. More stability in exchange rates has helped, with the US Federal Reserve (Fed) holding off raising rates. The rebound in commodity prices has been supportive, too, together with receding concerns about China's slowdown. Some countries have also eased fiscal policy to reduce social tensions risks.


Significance The lira’s collapse is fuelling outflows from Turkey’s local currency government debt market, as foreign investors reduce their purchases of emerging market (EM) domestic debt amid a sharp sell-off in bond markets following Donald Trump’s upset victory in the US presidential election. Both Hungary and Poland -- hitherto two of the most resilient EMs -- suffered net outflows last year and are likely to come under further pressure as the ECB starts to scale back, or ‘taper’, its programme of quantitative easing (QE) in April. Impacts The dollar’s rise against a basket of other currencies since the US election will put severe strain on EM assets. The surging price of Brent crude is improving the inflation and growth outlook. Higher international oil prices will also reduce the scope for further easing of monetary policy in developing and developed economies.


Subject Financial market volatility. Significance A more dovish outlook for US monetary policy and the weaker performance of the far right in the Dutch parliamentary election have contributed to subdued volatility and risk aversion in financial markets. The Euro Stoxx 50 Volatility Index, Europe’s so-called ‘fear gauge’, measuring anticipated price swings in European equities, is close to a historic low. However, other gauges of sentiment, such as outflows from ‘junk-bond’ funds, suggest investors are increasingly concerned that markets are too frothy. Impacts Oil prices fell by 10% in March amid oversupply concerns, and further slippage would complicate OPEC talks on extending the output curbs. Emerging market equities have risen by 11.1% this year as dollar weakness and improving growth prospects lure investors seeking returns. The spread between France's ten-year government bond yield and Germany's remains close to a four-year high, highlighting Europe’s variation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document