INVESTMENT COMPASS

Quarterly Commentary
Summer 2013
Suite 213 5455 152nd St.

Surrey BC Canada

Tel (604) 576 - 8908

invest@pacificapartners.com

Investors Throw a Taper Tantrum

In This Issue:
Tapering Stimulus: Equity markets
have been spooked by the Feds recent call to rein in bond purchases. Markets are reluctant to see any stimulus withdrawal.

Limits to Policy: Although the recovery

in the US is underway, unemployment remains stubborn. This is a key factor to watch going forward.
ing at how the Fed impacts the financial system. When the central bank buys bonds it is hoping that the sellers reinvest the proceeds of their bond sales into the financial markets. As these funds are channeled into these markets, the prices of financial assets such as stocks and bonds are expected to rise which will then create a wealth effect. The wealth effect, according to economists, is the idea that when individuals feel wealthier due to an increase in the value of their assets they will spend more. Thus, the Federal Reserve is wagering on the idea that rising asset prices would help higher spending to take root. This would in theory lead to a boost in economic output and eventubuys US ally jobs.

Europe & China: Europe may have

passed the worst of its decline while Chinas data continues to show weakness.

Tapering Stimulus

he financial industry rarely has a challenge when coming up with clever headlines to describe the markets. Our newsletter gets its title from recent investor re- The US Fed action to the mere hint that the US Feder- bonds to keep bond That is the theoretical concept and to al Reserve (the Fed) may reduce or prices high. This ac- be fair, the low interest rate environtaper its monthly $85 billion bond purment which the Fed has helped to crechase program. Since bond prices and tion has helped to ate has helped the recovery in US real interest rates move in opposite directions, keep interest rates estate. In addition, the US auto indusinvestors have taken great comfort in Fed at generational lows. try has powered up and automobile bond purchases since they have provided production has rebounded strongly. fuel for financial markets while at the same time These vital segments of the US economy are espekeeping interest rates anchored near generational cially important because they are able to generate lows. so many spinoff jobs. The reason that the Federal Reserves bond buying is so important to the markets can be seen by lookContinued on page 2

pg 2
Continued from page 1

pacificapartners.com Stimulus Addiction

As of the first quarter of 2013, the worlds central banks had injected over $12 trillion of stimulus into their respective economies since the start of the global financial crisis. This is in addition to cutting interest rates to near generational lows. Markets have now become accustomed, if not reliant, on accommodative monetary policy. This reliance became apparent through investors reaction to even the hint of stimulus tapering. On May

clarify what Bernanke meant to say. It should be noted that the minutes from recent Fed meetings reveal that Bernanke was not alone and had support from other Fed governors to begin trimming monetary stimulus if necessary. What Bernanke actually said according to the transcripts from the Federal Reserve is that the improving labor markets and the expected gradual rise in inflation towards its targeted two percent rate would dictate further policy actions such that, if the subsequent data remain broadly aligned with our current expectations,we would continue to reduce the pace of purchases in measured steps through the first half of next year.

Chart Source: FactSet

22nd, the head of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, told Congress that the central bank might wind down its monetary easing stance. The response: equities around the world sold off and interest rates rose quickly. Of course, this reaction was not contained to the US. Interest rates were impacted throughout the world. In North America, mortgage rates have moved up quickly and some observers say it is already impacting US real estate sales. As the chart above shows, the taper tantrum caused the US 30 year mortgage rate to rise by 1.15% in a two month period and mortgage refinancing activity simultaneously fell by more than 50%. Offsetting this interest rate spike is the fact that home affordability in the US remains comfortably above historic levels. The reaction from the markets was so quick and strong that the Federal Reserve attempted to walk back the earlier comments and go out of its way to

If that were not enough to make the markets to perhaps rethink their reaction, Bernanke also stated that he wanted to emphasize once more the point that our policy is in no way predetermined and will depend on the incoming data and the evolution of the outlook. In short, the Fed will look at the data and decide the appropriate course of action in the future. Perhaps the most important variable in determining Fed policy will be US jobs data. Even the traditional main focus of inflation will likely play second fiddle to the unemployment rate. As the chart on page 3 shows, the US economy has been able to add over 7 million jobs over the last 40 months. Although this might sound impressive at first, the job additions work out to less than 200,000 jobs per month. To put this into perspective, the US economy needs to generate about 350,000 jobs per month to keep up with the growth of the labor force

Continued on page 3

pg 3
Continued from page 2

pacificapartners.com
serves created by the Federal Reserve amounted to about a $70 increase in the money supply. However, after the financial crisis, this has dropped to only a meager $1.50 increase in the money supply. A rising money supply acts as a source of energy for the economy. The excess reserves that are not being borrowed by consumers and businesses (lent by banks) is now approaching a staggering $2 trillion.

and to keep the unemployment rate on a downward trend. Also disguised in recent US labor data is the sobering fact that the number of US workers with part-time jobs who have indicated that they would prefer a full-time position if possible sits at 8.2 million the highest in eight months. In comparison, 11.8 million Americans are unemployed. It bears clarifying that the official unemployment rate does not take into account individuals who have simply given up looking for work or are unable to search for work for various reasons. These individuals total an additional 2.6 million. Although the unemployment data is humbling to policy makers, on a positive note, wages have begun to turn up and the average work week has also been improving since the recession ended.

Goldilocks Growth
Financial markets may be able to handle a stimulus exit if the global economy can continue to grow at a goldilocks pace of not too hot and not too cold. In such a scenario, bond markets will be relieved that the pace of tapering will be gradual. Meanwhile equity markets may hope to offset the gradual drag of higher borrowing costs through a slow and steady rise in corporate earnings. Unfortunately, second quarter 2013 reported earnings are not too spectacular. Sales growth is coming in at

Policy Limits
On the one hand markets are dreading the day the Fed eases back on its stimulus, yet on the other, the Feds policies have not been effective for the millions of people looking for full time employment. The job creation gap is putting a spotlight on the limits of monetary policy.

Equally frustrating for the Federal Reserve is that despite injecting trillions of dollars of capital into the US banking system the lack of credit creation from banks has been lacklustre. Simply put, banks arent lending enough and households and busiChart Source: Market Watch, US Department of Labor nesses are reluctant to take on debt. In some ways this amounts to a failure by businesses and consumers to take sufficient the lighter end of expectations and companies are inadvantage of the Feds current generosity. dicating global challenges remain. These challenges arise from Europe continuing their austerity and debt Growth in bank lending is a vital element for the Feds struggles, China and India showing slowing economic efforts to succeed. Ultimately, every bond purchase growth and Brazil the engine of Latin America by the Fed ends up increasing the bond sellers bank floundering with a bout of rising inflation and slowing reserves. Reserves are the amount that a bank can economic growth. Brazils economic challenges can lend out. Historically, as excess reserves were lent be highlighted by the fact that the consensus forecast out by the US banking system, each dollar of refor Brazils economy calls
Continued on page 4

pg 4
Continued from page 3

pacificapartners.com
Even in the face of reduced Chinese commodity demand, Canada may surprise economists to the upside. With roughly 75% of Canadian exports heading to the US, strength in the US economy may serve to offset other growth anchors. The firming of oil prices has also been a boon to the critical Canadian energy sector which has faced challenges due to constrained distribution channels as we noted in our last newsletter. If recent retail sales numbers in Canada are any indication of what is in store for the Canadian economy then the Bank of Canada's projections for the Canadian economy will likely be revised upward for 2013 with retail sales rising 1.9% in May vs. an expected 0.3% consensus gain amongst economists. Clearly, markets are watching the economic data around the world. In particular, US data is being filtered through the lens of whether or not it will lead to higher interest rates. In Europe the focus is whether or not the data can continue to confirm that the European economy has escaped its long recession. For China, the markets will likely want to see continued stabilization of the economy and a sign that tighter lending is bringing property prices down to a sustainable level. The big three economic blocks of Europe, China, and the US will decide which way the economic recovery goes from here.

for a 2.3% growth rate while inflation has increased to 9.4%. Currently, Brazils economy is achieving the lowest economic growth rate in 24 years. To be sure, much of the front page exuberance about Brazil has faded.

US Leads the Way Forward

Fortunately, Europe seems to have passed the worst of its decline and the European Central Banks pledge to do whatever it takes seems to have gotten the markets collective attention. In addition, the worst of the government spending cuts across Europe seems to have passed allowing the economy a chance to stabilize. The latest data show that manufacturing is beginning to rebound and the economy is no longer contracting. Europes plight can at this point be best summarized as a little growth is better than no growth. The continents economy is being led by the German manufacturing sector. Surprising to some might be the fact that Chinese manufacturing data is continuing to show weakness under the dual pressures of slowing export growth and relatively tight monetary policy in China. The Chinese government is taking the hard road in order to correct some of the imbalances in its economy. These imbalances have been brought about by years of excessive investment that has created a massive oversupply in everything from housing to roads to industrial capacity. The slowing Chinese economy and the governments clamp down on construction has impacted the global demand of commodities such as copper and steel.

Pacifica Partners Inc. (Canadian Head Office)

Pacifica Partners Capital Management Inc. (US branch)

Suite 213 5455 152nd St. Surrey BC Canada Tel (604) 576 - 8908

Suite 205-8105 Birch Bay Square Bellingham WA USA Tel (877) 576 - 8908

The information in this newsletter is current as at July 15, 2013, and does not nec- Pacifica Partners Inc., Pacifica Partners Capital Management Inc. and/or their offi essarily reflect subsequent market events and conditions. ers, directors, or representatives may hold some of the securities mentioned here and may from time to time purchase and/or sell same on the stock market or othe This newsletter is published for information purposes only and articles do not prowise. vide individual financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written conse of Pacifica Partners Inc. Graphs and charts are used for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect future values or future performance. The statements and statistics contained herein are Pacifica Partners Inc. is Canadian incorporated entity and is a registered Portfol based on material believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed to be accurate or Manager in certain Canadian Provinces. complete. Particular investments or trading strategies should be evaluated relative Pacifica Partners Capital Management Inc. is a US incorporated entity, whol to each individuals objectives in consultation with their legal, investment and/or tax owned by Pacifica Partners Inc., and a Registered Investment Advisor with th advisor. Pacifica Partners Inc. and Pacifica Partners Capital Management Inc. are SEC. not liable for any errors or omissions in the information or for any loss or damage 2013 Pacifica Partners Inc. All rights reserved. suffered.