With everyone concerned about the recent action in global stock markets, they should be worried because all 5 major central banks are going to turn off liquidity, which has fueled stocks and other reckless speculation.
Central Banks To Turn Off Liquidity
May 18 (King World News) – Here is what Peter Boockvar wrote today as the world awaits the next round of monetary madness: Some have disagreed with me but I’ve remained steadfast that the post election stock market rally was mostly due to hopes for tax reform and regulatory relief (the Trump put I’ve heard from some) and the positive impact that would have on earnings. I’ve also repeated, likely to your annoyance, that the elephant in the market room in 2017 is that this will be the first year that all 5 major central banks will in some fashion turn off some of the liquidity lights at this party. Thus, the lack of tax and regulatory reform or a watered down version and the tightening of monetary policy would be the two main risks to stocks…
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With yesterday being the worst market day since Friday September 9th, 2016 when the S&P 500 fell 2.5%, let’s go back to the reason on that particular day. It was due to tough talk from Eric Rosengren on not letting the economy overheat and thus hinting at a rate hike which didn’t end up happening until December. Non voting member Robert Kaplan that day said pretty much the same and Lael Brainard announced an unexpected speech was going to be given the following Monday and everyone freaked on the thought that it would telegraph an upcoming rate hike. It of course didn’t and we rallied 1.5% that Monday.
The Main Driver Of Stocks
The point is, politics and monetary policy have been and will continue to be the main driver of stocks. At least over the past 7 years, mediocre economic activity, anemic revenue growth and low quality earnings didn’t matter, it was all about multiple expansion because of you know what. Trump’s victory added juice of course and we have to ask, now what? You tell me we’ve rallied because of better earnings in Q1? Did you see what stocks did since 2012 when earnings barely grew and in fact fell for 6 straight quarters? We’ve already pulled forward in stock market return the earnings rebound we are now seeing. That’s what happens when valuations get extreme and please don’t just value the market on one year’s forward earnings as your only indicator.
This all said, at least for now the S&P 500 is still in a range of 2325 and 2405 that it’s been in for the past 3 months until proven otherwise but I will add this: While valuations don’t matter until they do, I’ve argued that this year they will begin to matter and they have given us ZERO room for error of any important kind.
What’s the Fed to do if this political drama intensifies? Rate hike odds for June of course have fallen but they should ignore this because taken to its worst conclusion only gives us another President.
Lastly on this, after a nearly 50% one day increase in the VIX yesterday, many should be reminded again that it can stay low (defined as well below its long term average of 20) for a while but when it historically has gotten EXTREMELY low (aka, the lowest since 1993 last week), it has rarely stayed that low for that long.
Meanwhile, Across The Globe
…Japan’s economy in Q1 grew by 2.2% q/o/q annualized, the best in a year but it was all due to a drop in inflation. Nominal GDP q/o/q was unchanged. Real business spending surprised to the upside while personal spending was one tenth light. The yen is continuing to rally and the Nikkei fell 1.3% along with everyone else.
China’s latest round of trying to contain its property bubble resulted in less cities reporting price gains in April m/o/m. For new apartments, home prices rose in 58 cities vs 62 in March and fell in 8 vs 4 in March. However, prices were up in 69 of the 70 cities surveyed vs 68 in March. The Shanghai property stock index fell .3% overnight. Trying to maintain financial stability at the same time they want to limit credit growth, delever and still grow 6.5% continues to be the Chinese balancing act.
In Europe, the Fregt10nch mainland unemployment rate saw a sharp 4 tenths m/o/m decline to 9.3% and that was 3 tenths less than expected. It’s also the lowest rate since Q1 2012 and is finally distancing itself from those double digit levels. MFGA!
After a tough Q1 which saw the worst sales figures since 2010, April brought better retail sales in the UK. Sales ex auto fuel rose 2.3% m/o/m and 4% y/o/y, about double the estimate. As Easter came in April vs March last year, estimating the influence has messed with the numbers even though these numbers are seasonally adjusted. The UK Statistics office said better weather helped but isn’t the weather in April always better? Real wages are falling in the UK and will be a wet blanket on consumer spending the rest of the year.
KWN has just released one of Bill Fleckenstein’s greatest audio interviews ever and you can listen to it by CLICKING HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW.
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***KWN has already released the fascinating audio interview with Rick Rule discussing stock picks for gold, silver, and uranium, as well as the big picture for the gold and silver markets and you can listen to it by CLICKING HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW.
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