### Summary
📉 Americans could run out of savings as early as this quarter, according to a Fed study. Excess savings are likely to be depleted during the third quarter of 2023.
### Facts
- 💸 As of June, US households held less than $190 billion of aggregate excess savings.
- 💰 Excess savings refer to the difference between actual savings and the pre-recession trend.
- 🔎 San Francisco Fed researchers Hamza Abdelrahman and Luiz Oliveira estimate that these excess savings will be exhausted by the end of the third quarter of 2023.
- 💳 Americans are using their credit cards more, accumulating nearly $1 trillion of debt.
- 📉 The downbeat forecast raises concerns about the US economy as consumer spending is crucial for growth.
### Summary
The S&P 500 returns over the last one, five, and ten years are only slightly above their long-term averages, suggesting that the stock market is not unanchored from reality. However, the performance of long-term US Treasuries has been poor, with even 10-year Treasuries resulting in losses over the last five years. Slower economic growth may be on the horizon, but it remains uncertain whether it will be enough to bring down inflation rates.
### Facts
- The S&P 500 returns over the last one, five, and ten years are only slightly above their long-term averages.
- The performance of long-term US Treasuries has been weak, resulting in losses for investors even after accounting for coupon payments.
- Slower economic growth may be on the horizon, but it remains uncertain if it will bring down inflation rates.
- The nature of the stock market rally suggests that investors are still searching for buying opportunities rather than thinking about selling.
- Energy, industrials, and financials have become favored sectors, while technology stocks have started to decline.
- The Chinese economy is struggling, with retail sales and industrial production growth slowing down.
- The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about inflation but also noted downside risks to the economy.
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The majority of economists polled by Reuters predict that the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates again, and they expect the central bank to wait until at least the end of March before cutting them, as the probability of a recession within a year falls to its lowest level since September 2022.
The market anticipates a 100 basis point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in 2024, with US 10-year yields falling and Fed funds futures indicating a lower path ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium, as US services PMI disappoints and US retailer Foot Locker warns on the consumer.
Bitcoin has fallen below $26,000 as investors react to concerns about inflation and the possibility of higher interest rates, while other cryptocurrencies experience modest losses.
India's forex reserves hit a two-month low as it experienced the largest weekly decline in over six months, dropping by $7.28 billion to $594.90 billion, with the decline attributed to the central bank's efforts to defend the rupee against global pressures.
U.S. economic growth, outpacing other countries, may pose global risks if the Federal Reserve is forced to raise interest rates higher than expected, potentially leading to financial tightening and ripple effects in emerging markets.
The Federal Reserve is losing its power to influence the US economy, according to Wall Street economist Richard Koo, potentially requiring higher interest rates to drive inflation down and leading to a selloff in stocks and bonds.
The U.S. dollar rebounded from previous losses as investors awaited labor market data for clues on the Federal Reserve's policy path.
The Bank of England's losses on bonds purchased to support the UK economy post-financial crisis are expected to be significantly higher than projected, reaching around £48.7 billion for the current fiscal year, due to rising interest rates and falling bond values.
The 10-year Treasury bond is on course for a third consecutive year of losses, which is unprecedented in 250 years of U.S. history, as the bond's return stands at negative 0.3% so far in 2023 after significant declines in the past two years, due to factors such as rising inflation and interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve has sold about $1 trillion of its bond holdings without causing strains in financial markets, as part of its balance sheet reduction program.
The Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening program, which involves reducing its balance sheet, has not had a significant impact on the market so far, as private sector participants have taken over its role in the Treasury market; however, there is still a risk to banking reserves if money market funds stop buying T-bills.
The U.S. federal deficit is expected to nearly double this year, reaching $2 trillion, due to higher interest rates and lower tax revenue, marking the highest deficit outside of a recession or national emergency.
The US banking industry faces significant downside risks from inflation and high interest rates, which could weaken profitability and credit quality, according to FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is predicted to decrease significantly for the remainder of this year and in 2024, as economists anticipate the Federal Reserve to loosen its monetary policy and inflation to fall.
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by about one percentage point next year as economic growth slows and unemployment rises, according to chief economists at major North American banks.
Kyle Bass predicts that the US banking industry will suffer losses of hundreds of billions of dollars due to exposure to the office market, representing a 10% hit to US banking equity, while industrial and multi-family sectors will remain strong.
US banks are experiencing significant deposit outflows, with total bank deposits plunging by over $70 billion in a week, the lowest levels since May, leading to concerns about the ongoing regional banking crisis; meanwhile, US commercial banks have also suffered significant losses in deposits, with 60% of deposits moving to higher-yielding money market funds, and the balance of unrealized losses on securities at commercial banks rising to $558 billion in Q2; to address these issues, the Federal Reserve has reached an all-time high of $107.8 billion in its banking loan facility to provide funding to distressed banks.
The Federal Reserve is unlikely to panic over the recent surge in consumer prices, driven by a rise in fuel costs, as it considers further interest rate hikes, but if the rate hikes weaken the job market it could have negative consequences for consumers and President Biden ahead of the 2024 election.
The Federal Reserve faces the challenge of bringing down inflation to its target of 2 percent, with differing opinions on whether they will continue to raise interest rates or pause due to weakening economic indicators such as drops in mortgage rates and auto sales.
The Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates until inflation decreases, even if it means more people losing their jobs, according to CNBC's Jim Cramer.
Markets on Wall Street are expected to open with losses after the Federal Reserve suggests it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as previously thought, leading to a decline in futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average; uncertainty surrounding inflationary indicators and high rates is a major concern for traders moving forward.
The Federal Reserve's measure of inflation is disconnected from market conditions, increasing the likelihood of a recession, according to Duke University finance professor Campbell Harvey. If the central bank continues to raise interest rates based on this flawed inflation gauge, the severity of the economic downturn could worsen.
The Federal Reserve's mortgage bond holdings may take up to six more years to shrink below $1 trillion due to slow progress and climbing U.S. mortgage rates, hindering refinancing and sales activity.
US stocks are set for their worst monthly loss of 2023 as bond yields surge on fears of higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve.
The US economy is facing turbulence as inflation rates rise, causing losses in US Treasuries and raising concerns about the impact of high interest rates on assets like Bitcoin and the stock market. With additional government debt expected to mature in the next year, there is a fear of financial instability and the potential for severe disruptions in the financial system. The Federal Reserve may continue to support the financial system through emergency credit lines, which could benefit assets like Bitcoin.
Gold futures experienced their second largest monthly decline of the year in September, losing $99.80 or 5.08%, which can be attributed to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and their delayed reaction to rising inflation.
The federal debt, which has reached over $33 trillion and is increasing, is predicted to cause a crisis in the near future, leading to high inflation, lower profits for companies, and potential stock market problems, highlighting the importance of diversifying investments.
The S&P 500 closed out the quarter with a 3.6% loss, attributed to factors such as rising interest rates, a slowing housing market, and businesses preparing for tough times, resulting in a slow decline in stocks. Additionally, the resumption of student loan payments and expectations of more rate hikes from the Federal Reserve are expected to impact consumer spending power and business cutbacks. However, as the year comes to an end, traders and investors may look forward to 2024 for possible rate cuts and a return of strength in the market.
The Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes have resulted in a decline in the profitability of S&P 500 companies, with the return on equity ratio falling this year, and the trend could worsen if interest rates remain high.
The Federal Reserve's shift towards higher interest rates is causing significant turmoil in financial markets, with major averages falling and Treasury yields reaching their highest levels in 16 years, resulting in increased costs of capital for companies and potential challenges for banks and consumers.
The chaos in Washington and uncertainty surrounding a possible government shutdown could make it less likely for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again this year, as the economy and inflation appear to be cooling off.
The Federal Reserve may not raise interest rates again this year due to an already uncertain political climate in Washington, as well as a cooling economy, slowing inflation, and potential negative impacts from high interest rates and a government shutdown.
The sell-off in Treasury bonds with maturities of 10 years or more, which has caused yields to soar, is surpassing some of the most severe market downturns in history, with losses of 46% and 53% since March 2020, comparable to stock-market losses during the dot-com bubble burst and the 2008 financial crisis.
The recent stock market declines may indicate that the Federal Reserve's actions could result in future pain for the economy.
The Federal Reserve is expected to continue reducing its bond holdings despite the recent surge in bond yields, as key measures of volatility and liquidity in the bond market are not indicating a significant risk, and higher credit costs align with the central bank's goal of restraining growth and lowering inflation.
In the past year, America's four largest banks have lost hundreds of billions of dollars in deposits, with approximately 30% of the total exiting JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citi, indicating a decline in trust in the banking system and a potential mass consolidation of regional banks in the US.
Despite the ongoing bear market in Treasury bonds, certain sectors of the fixed-income market, such as bank loans, short-term junk bonds, and floating-rate notes, are performing well in 2023, offering some protection from the losses in long-term Treasuries, which have slumped 46% since March 2020. The future performance of long-dated bonds depends on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and the resilience of the economy.
The gold market has experienced nine consecutive days of losses, its longest losing streak in seven years, due to surging bond yields, but rising bond yields also pose significant risks for the economy, creating potential for short-term challenges and a potential breakdown in the U.S. dollar's international appeal.
The US stock market experienced losses in the third quarter, driven by rising US Treasury yields, leading to a surge in the US dollar and a hostile environment for gold and silver; the fourth quarter may see a continuation of this trend if US yields continue to rise.
Treasury debt losses over the past three years have resulted in the worst bear market for the U.S. in its nearly 250-year history, with long-duration Treasury yields reaching their highest levels in over 16 years, putting pressure on U.S. stocks.
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio believes that central banks around the world, including the Federal Reserve, are losing money due to the high-interest rate environment and will eventually have to resort to money printing to cover their losses.
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