Market has been in 4th wave correction of the drop-out. We saw low of 1375.00 in S&P follow by major correction on the back of what was "relatively inteligent" move by Bernanke and Fed. Cutting the discount rate - did nothing for the credit conditions, but it did give market the smell of "bail-out".
The most interesting aspect of this being, that "post-game" analysis tends to focus on that Bernanke is trying to avoid Greenspan classic mistakes of giving the patient what they think they need rather than what the doctor prescribes.
The Kramer's of this world have no feel for reality. If they lose they want their old friend Mr. Fed to help them out. I have been hard on Greenspan for long, long time, and I am constantly reminding people that the very bubble we have right now is created by central banks generating too much capita at too low rates.
Fast forward to now, and let me stress I do not know if this goes from crisis-lite to fall-out, but inrespective of what happens a few things needs to happen:
1. A serious correction of growth forecasts. GS already looking for 75 bps this on the downside. C looking for 50 bps. Me? You know I have no predictability powers but I am more towards 100 bps.. and here is why:
2. Unemployment. Recent studies shows that the 130K plus jobs created this year on average is merely statistical mistake than real jobs. There are a number of reasons why reality is going to hit the economic numbers going forward.
3. Credit condition for Main street Americans is tigher much tigher:
a. food is through the roof b. energy still elevated c. Asset value of your home is deterioating d. Credit linkes being removed. You can not get a mortgage even as partner in GS right now! e. mortgages are rising and fast (despite yields coming of)
4. Global forces: China is looking to hike and that will slow their growth velocity, last week we saw Euroland come in below consensus growth, and the same for Japan. The world is SLOWING down from cyclical top.
5. Earnings will come down and fast. Unit Labor cost is rising much faster than GDP deflator (1st time since 2000)
6. Cash flow. Buy-back programs been very dominant factor in S&P last two years, without it S&P would have been down! Again Net Free Cash Flow have now turned negative (again 1st time since 2000)
These above 6 points remains with or without further crisis, of course if crisis persist then these points will be "leveraged" further.
Then let's return to credit market. I read on the wires that things are going back to normal: hmm... check this chart:
The CP market has NOT moved one Ioata back - there is NO normalisation. This market is behind most of leverage of the hedge funds, Private Equity and banks conduit funds, so in other words, the money lender is out of business.
Another way to look at this is to see how the banks are performing, post this Crisis-Lite:
Better but not back to anything like two month ago.
Well lets cut to the chase here is how I see the market from here (Remember throwing dart will give you better performance than following me!!!!!)
Stocks
Financials will continue to underperform and big MAJOR margin. We need some serious destuction of capital in the banking sector. If German Landesbanks are biggest investors, with State Street, in Conduits then they should be ashamed. No governance, no repurcussions and they cant even fights these vehicles in courts as that would expose them even more. This is MAJOR negative for coming years.
I am short EVERYTHING into 4th week of September - I expect bottom will come in for this year there and we will be smoothly sailing into year-end. Q1 2008 will be crunch time. The credit failures of the last 10 years will have compounded and the write-offs and law suits will be flying by then (Anyone know of public traded litigation stock I can buy?)
Never forget that SWF have plenty of ammunition and so does private equity, although the need to set their targets and funding levels lower - this will stop the market this time.
Foreign Exchange
The BIGGEST risk in the market remains the UNWINDING of carry trades in FX. FX is always the last component to move and the only REAL leverage remaining in the system is in JPY and CHF carry trading. When USDJPY have traded below 110 we are about back to normal (1.6000 EURCHF). This is the bigger risk here, as credit tightning so does conditions for the "free trade" of funding low and placing high.....
I expect a reversion of the weak US dollar based on repatriation of funds from US based investors from emerging markets, from the neutralisation of the theme : US is decoupling.. which a lot of market players have on right now. Finally, US is the only country in easing mode, i.e they will reverse this trend faster than the dogmatic European central banks.
Fixed Income
My arbitrage friends are busy telling me telling curve is wrong, well I am of the opinion that we are seeing correct rates. Remember, as RBS Greenwich tells me, "..the first ease in a given cycle 2y notes traditionally trade 125*150 bps through funds..."...... I.e: We can go even futher down in short-end before indicating cut.
Fed will cut as per my six points above. The cyclical growth and credit expansion have moved from BLOW OFF period, to bubble bursting...recession lite...
Be long short-end, and December Euribor. ECB is ni Catch-22 which will lead them to cut as well... (Just watch Spanish real estate markets!!!)
Norway and Sweden will most likely hike - its not for nothing they are bunch of dogmatic Socialdemocrats!
Commodities
Both energy & grains are in total denial of the changing cyclical forces.
I expect crude- and grain to put in negative performance over the next 2-3 months as the world adjust to "back to normal" leverage and growth.
I am very negative grains based on excessive speculation and indications of better than expected crop in the US.
Crude - Hurricane season always tough to play Crude in this part of the year, but risk is to the downside and as soon as next week.
Gold- Silver: Stay out for now.... but it in bull market and I will look to buy with end of September.
Best wishes
Steen Jakobsen
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