### Summary
Growing concerns about global economic growth and uncertainties in monetary policy have led to turbulence in financial markets, with rising bond yields and a decline in equity markets. Key factors affecting growth include interest rates, bond yields, and access to funds, which may result in a credit crunch and a more risk-averse environment in capital markets. China's shift towards self-sufficiency, combined with a more prudent policy environment, slower population growth, and trade sanctions, will lead to slower and more erratic growth in the country. Although there are near-term concerns, the longer-term outlook for global growth remains positive.
### Facts
- Global economic growth is a concern, reflected in rising bond yields and a decline in equity markets.
- Policymakers, particularly in the US, are worried about overtightening monetary policy.
- Western economies, including the UK, have proven resilient despite expectations of a recession.
- Lower inflation will boost spending power, but growth will depend on where interest rates and bond yields settle.
- Businesses face challenges in raising funds due to a credit crunch, tough lending conditions, and a risk-averse capital market environment.
- The International Monetary Fund forecasts global growth to slow from 3.5% last year to 3% this year and next, with Asia being a major driver.
- Concerns about deflation in China exist, but low inflation is more likely.
- China's shift towards self-sufficiency in response to trade wars has coincided with a more prudent policy environment and the need to curb inflation and manage debt overhang.
- A shrinking population and structural changes in China will result in slower and more erratic growth.
- Private sector activity remains strong in Asia, and Japan's economy is experiencing an economic rebound.
- Western economies previously experienced a prolonged period of cheap money, which led to imbalances and misallocation of capital.
- Prudent monetary policy in some emerging economies provides more room to act in response to economic weakness.
- Concerns exist regarding rising policy rates in the US, UK, and euro area and the tightening of central banks' balance sheets.
- The definition of a risk-free asset is being questioned, as government bonds, previously considered safe, have witnessed negative total returns.
- There has been a rise in shadow banking and non-bank financial institutions, with collateral in the form of government bonds playing a crucial role.
Overall, the focus is shifting from inflation to growth, and future policy rates may need to settle at a high level. High levels of public and private debt globally limit policy maneuverability and expose individuals and firms to higher interest rates.
The recent spike in U.S. bond yields is not driven by inflation expectations but by economic resilience and high bond supply, according to bond fund managers, with factors such as the Bank of Japan allowing yields to rise and an increase in the supply of U.S. government bonds playing a larger role.
Despite the inverted yield curve, which traditionally predicts an economic downturn, the US economy has remained strong due to factors such as fiscal and monetary stimulus efforts and a lag time before interest rate hikes impact the economy, but some bond market experts believe the yield curve will eventually prove to be a good indicator for the market and the economy.
Consumer debt, including auto-loans and credit card balances, is increasing in the United States, but strong government intervention and temporary relief measures have created a cushion of extra cash savings, leading to a positive outcome for Bitcoin (BTC) according to Cointelegraph analyst Marcel Pechman.
BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes believes that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could benefit from the interest income earned on US government paper, and predicts that Bitcoin will only fall mildly by less than 5% in the current market downturn.
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.
Bitcoin experienced a dip in price after the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair hinted at the possibility of an interest rate hike, but an on-chain indicator suggests that Bitcoin is undervalued and presents a good opportunity for long positions in the coming week.
Despite the appearance of a "Goldilocks" economy, with falling inflation and strong economic growth, rising yields on American government bonds are posing a threat to financial stability, particularly in the commercial property market, where owners may face financial distress due to a combination of rising interest rates and remote work practices. This situation could also impact other sectors and lenders exposed to commercial real estate.
The U.S. is currently experiencing a prolonged high inflation cycle that is causing significant damage to the purchasing power of the currency, and the recent lower inflation rate is misleading as it ignores the accumulated harm; in order to combat this cycle, the Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates higher than the inflation rate and reverse its bond purchases.
The founder of BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, argues that the Federal Reserve's rate hikes are fueling economic growth and benefiting the cryptocurrency industry, and believes that AI companies are less reliant on banks and more likely to prosper in the current economic climate. However, he also warns that investing in AI now may not yield immediate returns and that the convergence of AI, crypto, and money printing could result in a significant asset bubble.
Bitcoin (BTC) remains near a key long-term trendline as the U.S. dollar strengthens, with market participants predicting further downside for BTC and altcoins.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
The recent increase in interest rates has impacted the price of bitcoin, with factors like opportunity cost, risk sentiment, and inflation expectations playing a role.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced fluctuations following the release of U.S. inflation data, signaling a potential impact of higher interest rates on digital currencies.
Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, including a rise in producer prices and retail sales, has sparked concerns about sticky inflation and has reinforced the belief that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Crypto veteran Arthur Hayes believes that Bitcoin (BTC) can rise in price regardless of the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates due to the government's continued spending and the shift towards hard financial assets.
The Federal Reserve's continued message of higher interest rates is expected to impact Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar, with the 10-year Treasury yield predicted to experience a slight increase and the U.S. dollar expected to edge higher.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a rise prior to the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates, signaling possible volatility in the market.
Crypto analyst Will Clemente suggests that the US economy's need to issue more dollars to service its debt will inevitably lead to significant currency debasement, making Bitcoin the most promising asset for investors looking to protect their wealth. With the growing digital trend and a wave of Bitcoin adoption, Clemente believes that alternative monetary systems will become increasingly favorable.
The US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady at 5.25% to 5.50%, projects higher rates for next year, and expects stronger economic growth, causing a slight drop in Bitcoin's price.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a decline after the Federal Reserve decided not to raise interest rates, suggesting that significant gains may not be anticipated in the near future.
The Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at their highest in over 20 years is posing a "nightmare" scenario for bitcoin and crypto companies, potentially leading to price chaos and further decline in the bitcoin price.
The Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates and the possibility of rates remaining higher for longer may have triggered a sell-off in the US equities and cryptocurrency markets, with risk assets typically underperforming in a high-interest-rate environment.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are experiencing a slight increase, but the surging bond yields are causing pressure on digital assets as investors consider the impact of interest rates and Federal Reserve policies.
Government bond yields are spiking in the US, Europe, and the UK due to investors realizing that central bank interest rates may remain high for an extended period, and concerns over inflation and supply shortages caused by the retirement of baby boomers.
The U.S. economy is experiencing turbulence, as inflation rates rise and U.S. Treasuries lose value, leading to concerns about whether Bitcoin and risk-on assets will be negatively impacted by higher interest rates and a cooling monetary policy.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are facing pressure due to the U.S. debt pile, leading to fears of a "debt death spiral" that could boost the bitcoin price.
Rising interest rates, rather than inflation, are now a major concern for the US economy, as the bond market indicates that rates may stay high for an extended period of time, potentially posing significant challenges for the sustainability of government debt.
The U.S. bond market is signaling the end of the era of low interest rates and inflation that began with the 2008 financial crisis, as investors believe that the U.S. economy is now in a "high-pressure equilibrium" characterized by higher inflation, low unemployment, and positive growth. The shift in rate outlook has significant implications for policy, business, and individuals.
The US economy needs to see a weaker labor force and weaker economic data in order to see inflation get down to 2% and for the bond market to soften.
Bitcoin and gold are expected to thrive amidst fiscal problems in the US economy and a potential pivot from the Federal Reserve, according to macro investor Luke Gromen. Gromen also suggests that the launch of a gold-backed currency by the BRICS alliance may weaken the US dollar as the world's reserve currency.
Former CEO of BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, predicts that the United States government's ballooning treasury yields could lead to a new bull market for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, as rising interest rates may force the government to resort to mass liquidity injections.
Yields on U.S. Treasury bonds are rising uncontrollably, causing ripple effects in financial markets, as the 10-year Treasury yield reaches its highest level since August 2007, resulting in plummeting bond prices and impacting various assets such as stocks and gold. The rise in Treasury yields is attributed to factors such as the U.S. government's expanding budget deficit, the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening program, and its restrictive stance on interest rates.
The US economy could be reaching a tipping point as bond yields rise, while gold remains relatively resilient but faces pressure from the bond market.
The recent surge in global bond yields, driven by rising term premiums and expectations of higher interest rates, signals the potential end of the era of low interest rates and poses risks for heavily indebted countries like Italy, as well as Japan and other economies tied to rock-bottom interest rates.
Bitcoin is outperforming the US dollar in terms of beating inflation, as shown by the St. Louis Federal Reserve's comparison of the prices of a dozen eggs in both currencies since January 2021.
Federal Reserve officials are not concerned about the recent rise in U.S. Treasury yields and believe it could actually be beneficial in combating inflation. They also stated that if the labor market cools and inflation returns to the desired target, interest rates can remain steady. Higher long-term borrowing costs can slow the economy and ease inflation pressures. However, if the rise in yields leads to a sharp economic slowdown or unemployment surge, the Fed will react accordingly.
Bitcoin could face difficulties in the long term due to tightening liquidity in the current macroeconomic environment, according to crypto analyst Nicholas Merten. Merten believes that Bitcoin's price is heavily influenced by monetary policy and warns that if sentiment turns bearish, investors may start cashing out.
Federal Reserve officials view the increasing yields on long-term US Treasury debt as a sign that their tight-money policies are effective, although they do not see it as a cause of concern for the economy at this point.
A spike in interest rates has negatively impacted stocks and bonds, but Bitcoin may continue to rise regardless of the rate changes.
The Federal Reserve is facing a tough decision on interest rates as some officials believe further rate increases are necessary to combat inflation, while others argue that the current rate tightening will continue to ease rising prices; however, the recent sell-off in government bonds could have a cooling effect on the economy, which may influence the Fed's decision.
Rising interest rates on government bonds could pose a threat to the U.S. economy, potentially slowing growth, increasing borrowing costs, and impacting the Biden administration's priorities and the 2024 presidential election.
Wall Street and policymakers at the Federal Reserve are optimistic that the rise in long-term Treasury yields could put an end to historic interest rate hikes meant to curb inflation, with financial markets now seeing a nearly 90% chance that the US central bank will keep rates unchanged at its next policy meeting on October 31 through November 1.
Bitcoin (BTC) remains stable as U.S. inflation data surpasses expectations, leading to uncertainty in monetary policy and the Federal Reserve's ability to cut interest rates; market participants are cautious about a potential upside for BTC in the short term.
