Tag Archives: Fedral Reserve

The ECB lowered the interest rate to -0,5% and Trump wants to do the same

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.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shiny bull. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Shiny bull nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Shiny bull and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

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President Donald Trump is nearing a decision on whom to pick to lead the Federal Reserve

Fed Chair Janet Yellen`s job is coming to an end. She took over the job from Ben Bernanke who started to «print» money. Four years is over and President Donald Trump have a few but strong candidates on his table.

President Donald Trump had a meeting with Standford University economist John Taylor and according to a White House official, Mr Trump is nearing a decision on whom to pick to lead the Federal Reserve.

 

 

John Taylor is one of the candidates and Janet Yellen is the other one. Other candidates are Fed governor Kevin Warsh who is on Trumps shortlist. Current governor Jerome Powell and Trumps economic adviser Gary Cohn is also on the list.

Mr Trump has scheduled a meeting with Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Thursday.

Ms Yellen`s four-year term as chairwoman expires on February next year and Mr Trump will meet her to discuss the possibility of nominating her for a second term as central-bank chief. Mr Trump is considering offering Yellen the chance to stay in the job, but will announce his nominee before leaving for a trip to Asia next month on November 3.

John Taylor said he agree with the Fed`s strategy to remove economic stimulus, and the Fed policy rate is now set at 1 percent to 1,25 percent. What the right thing to do about the rate is a matter of debate among economists, also among Taylor and his camp.

John Taylor is a Ph.D economist with a strong expertise in monetary policy and institutional leadership which is key attributes for the Fed Chair, and this is probably why Taylor is one of the biggest favorite for Mr Trump.

Donald Trump is planning to cut the taxes and monetary policy is therefore critical and important.

Former Fed Chair Ben Bernanke started the QE program after the financial crisis in 2008, and Fed governor Warsh was against further monetary stimulus in 2010 with unemployment above 9 percent and inflation decelerating.

Ben Bernanke is an expert on the stock market crash in 1929, and called Warch`s political and markets savvy «invaluable,» according to Bloomberg.

Central banks are often independent from other policy makers. This is the case with the Federal Reserve and Congress, reflecting the separation of monetary policy from fiscal policy and the latter refers to taxes and government borrowing and spending.

The Federal Reserve has what is commonly referred to as a «dual mandate»:

  • to achieve maximum employment (around 5 percent unemployment), and
  • stable prices (2-3 percent inflation).

In addition, it aims to keep long-term interest rates relatively low, and since 2009 has served as a bank regulator. Its core role is to be the lender of last resort, providing banks with liquidity in order to prevent the bank failure and panics.

The central bank of the United States is the Federal Reserve System, which Congress established with the 1913 Federal Reserve Act.

Central banks are inherently non-market-based or even anticompetitive institutions. Many central banks, including the Fed, are not government agencies, and so are often touted as being politically independent.

Monetary policy consists of the actions of a central bank, currency board or other regulatory committee that determine the size and rate of growth of the money supply, which in turn affects interest rates.

There are two types of monetary policy; expansionary and contractionary.

Expansionary monetary policy increases the money supply in order to lower unemployment, boost private-sector borrowing and consumer spending, and stimulate economic growth.

Contractionary monetary policy slows the rate of growth in the money supply or outright decreases the money supply in order to control inflation, while sometimes necessary, contractionary monetary policy can slow economic growth, increase unemployment and depress borrowing and spending by consumers and businesses.

An example would be the Fedral Reserves intervention in the early 1980s: in order to curb inflation of nearly 15 percent , the Fed raised its benchmark interest rate to 20 percent.

This hike resulted in a recession, but did keep spiraling inflation in check.

Mr Trump is planning to cut taxes and build more and better highways, and this is fiscal policy, which is trying to control inflation, stabilize business cycles and to improve unemployment rate. Sooner or later, we all know that the recession will come.

The tools will then be fiscal policy and the government will start to lower tax rates to try to fuel economic growth. If people are paying less in taxes, they have more money to spend or invest, and increased consumer spending or investment could improve economic growth.

On the other side; too much spending could increase inflation.

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shiny bull. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Shiny bull nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Shiny bull and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

 

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