What a day. A very important day for Europe and the rest of the world. The ECB left its main refinancing operations rate unchanged and lowered the deposit interest rate by 10bps to -0,5 percent. Not only that; policymakers also approved a new round of bond purchases at a monthly pace of €20 billion as from November 1st.
They do this because we have Brexit and trade war with China and the plan is to boost growth. At the same time, the ECB lowered its GDP forecasts to 1,1 percent this year. Inflation expectations were also slashed to 1,2 percent in 2019.
President Trump attacked the FED, calling Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other members «boneheads» for not driving the U.S interest rates down to zero, or less. Trump explained that he wanted negatie rates in order to refinance the outstanding $22 trillion in government debt and lengthen the term.
Right now, there is a $16 trillion in negative yielding debt around the globe. What a number! Historically, negative rates have been used as an anti-recession tool to boost growth when the economy is weak.
But negative interest rate have now become much more common. Just take a look at the value of the negative-yielding debt over the world. It has shot up to $16 trillion, according to BofA.
If you have your money in your bank, it means you have to pay your bank to lend them your money. Crazy right? Normally, you will get paid from the bank if you have your money there, but with negaive interest rate, it is turned up side down.
Similarly, with government-issued debt, global investors also pay money to hold a bond with negative yields because the premium that they initially paid for it exceeds the total interest they receive over the life of the bond.
Switzerland have negative interest rate at -0,75 percent. Denmark; -0,65 percent. Sweden; -0,25 percent and Japan; -0,10 percent.
Other countries in Europe are near negative interest rate. All these countries have zero interest rate; Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Netherlands, Malta, Luxemburg, Latvia, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Germany, France, Finland, Euro Area, Estonia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Belgium and Austria.
In comparison; the U.K have 0,75 percent interest rate and the U.S have 2,25 percent. The U.S lowered the rate for the first time in July for the first time since the financial crisis, as inflation remains subdued amid hightened concerns about the economic outlook and ongoing trade tensions with China.
The U.S economy is good, but the global economy is slowing, notably in Germany and China. There are also growing possibility of a hard Brexit, rising tension in Hong Kong, and dissolution of the Italian government. Fed Chair Jerome Powell have a great challenge.
Ket Garden
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