Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
February 2, 2013
| Rodrigo C. Serrano, CFA | SIPA | Columbia University Master of International Affairs 14 Candidate | New York City, NY | 01-305-510-0181 | rcs2164@columbia.edu !
This abridgment compliments my in-depth 2014 global macro outlook. The page numbers below locate the topic on the expanded version. Highlights:
The global economy remains on weak foundations, susceptible to positive and negative factors. Negative surprises include a budding political crisis in Europe ! p.4 " , a hard landing in China ! p.13 " , a wave of uncertainty from the Federal Reserve ! p.16 " , and Japan#s debt problems finally coming home to roost ! p.9 " . Positive surprises lay in a strengthening global recovery, coupled with the development of nascent, long-term trends in reshoring ! p.22 " and the fracking industry ! p.19 " . The expanded outlook can be found here: http://rcsinvestments.word investments-2014-globalmacro-outlook/ press.com/2013/12/28/rcs-
! ! !
least, Chinas ongoing economic remodeling from exports and fixed-asset investment, all the while taming a suspected credit and property bubble, calls for a resumption of global growth as well. The communist countrys 3rd Plenum of the 18th Central Committee has generated optimism that leaders have finally gotten serious about tackling the states unsustainable business model. However, reforms may lead to unintended consequences, the most pressing being increasing stress on the nations progressively fragile financial system. Meanwhile, the U.S. sports a couple of budding secular bullish tailwinds in re-shoring and hydraulic fracturing or fracking. George Mitchell, considered by most to be the father of fracking and horizontal drilling, laid the foundation for a revitalized energy industry in America. The technology has been instrumental in producing economic conditions in North Dakota, which flaunts an unemployment rate of 2.6%, envied by the rest of the nation. The evolution of the industry will close to double the segments workforce according to energy consultants. Moreover, industries ranging from trucking, to rail construction, to restaurants and hotels will benefit, providing jobs for the foreseeable future. America will likely become the worlds largest natural gas producer and will compete for the zenith in oil production, currently owned by Russia. From a macroeconomic perspective, increasing energy independence will likely help in shrinking Americas chronic current account deficit and in boosting FDI, itself a symptom of a second principal bullish trend to keep an eye on this year: Re-shoring. Lower energy costs are making the United States an increasingly attractive option for foreign businesses in Europe to set up shop. Meanwhile, the renminbi has appreciated by roughly 25% in just 6 years. Even better for re-shoring, Chinese labor costs have more than quadrupled since 2001. This sino-trend will continue due to a shrinking workforce throughout this decade. After a lackluster 1st half of the year, U.S. economic growth has accelerated; surging 4.1% on an annualized basis in Q3. Furthermore, the unemployment rate hit a 5-year low of 7.0%. The aforementioned bullish tailwinds are playing a role in Americas resurgent economic growth, in addition to rising home prices and improved consumer psyche. However, not all the news is rosy. These dynamics will bring about a wave of uncertainty over financial markets with regards to Federal Reserve policy. Janet Yellen is scheduled to take over as chairwoman of the Fed come February 1st. She wont be the only new face. Potentially 75% of the FOMC voting committee may change. The addition of Charles Plosser and Richard Fisher as voting members, replacing Charles Evans and Eric Rosengren, means a stronger hawkish contingent for Dr. Yellen to tame. Furthermore, in exchange for a slight closure of the monetary spigot (tapering), the Fed provided investors with another gadget, Forward Guidance. This concept serves as an indication to investors, business, and consumers of how the Fed intends to conduct monetary policy in the future. By stating that rates would remain low well past the time that the unemployment rate, now 7%, declines below 6.5%, long-term rates would be expected to decrease and lower borrowing costs to help the recovery. However, the risk of reputational damage increases using this strategy. What if the FOMC suddenly had to backtrack on a stated promise due to unexpected inflation? The tapering of QE and introduction of forward guidance is likely to ferment uncertainty over the coming months. Since the 2008 financial crisis feeble global growth has brought about an increasingly vocal cohort forewarning of secular stagnation, a prolonged period of insufficient worldwide aggregate demand whereby improved economic conditions come at the expense of financial stability (ie overextended asset prices). Returning to our analogy, its been a very long and exhausting journey for the kids. On the bright side, like all situations, this too shall come to pass. Long-term reforms in China will eventually strengthen the foundations for a protracted period of global expansion. Re-shoring and the rise of fracking worldwide will provide for long-term growth as well. The question that 2014 will likely answer is whether officials took a wrong turn at some point throughout the trip. Most of the time investors figure this out much later, as was the case with the repeal of portions of Glass-Steagall during the Clinton years (1999) and years of suboptimal interest rate policy by Alan Greenspan. As I stated in my prior outlook roughly 1.5 years ago: If world leaders can successfully navigate the treacherous waters of global restructuring over the coming years, eventually todays seemingly endless period of weak economic performance will lay the foundation for a powerful secular bull market that may last for decades. Until then, investing today will require flexibility, risk management, and a willingness to embrace the fact that buy-and-hold investing has taken a back seat for the time being. Always fasten your seatbelt!
"#$%&'#()*+!!,&)'$)!-#*$.!%/0$1&.!2/1*!-#0'0%#'&!'34#$/*!-/*!'&&!#(5/*.'0.!#04)$.()0.!*)&'.)3!3)%#$#/0$!
6!