Search Results
Results 401–450
of 577 found.
So, What Did We Learn?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The busy week of economic news left investors uneasy. The 4.0% GDP growth figure contributed to concerns that the Fed may be forced to raise short-term interest rates sooner rather than later. However, while the economic data reports, and even the Fed policy statement, had something for everybody, the outlook for monetary policy should be essentially unchanged.
Should Be an Eventful Week
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The economic calendar is packed with important items this week. Oddly, Wednesday afternoons policy announcement from the Federal Open Market Committee may be the least interesting. One shouldnt put too much weight on the advance GDP estimate, as the figures will be revised, but the initial estimate, along with annual benchmark revisions, should have important implications for the outlook for growth in the second half of the year.
Are Interest Rates Too Low?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
In her monetary policy testimony to Congress, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen offered no new clues regarding when the central bank will begin raising short-term interest rates. The Fed has been criticized for being behind the curve on inflation and for fueling bubbles. Neither criticism is right.
Reaching Escape Velocity?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The strong pace of growth in nonfarm payrolls suggests much more than a rebound from bad weather. While recent economic figures have been generally mixed, the job market is clearly improving, led by increased hiring at small and medium-sized firms. The hope is that good news will feed on itself, lifting the pace of growth in the second half of the year. However, there are a few concerns in the outlook.
Gut Wrenching
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The greater-than-expected downward revision to first quarter GDP was a shocker (even more of a surprise than Spain, Italy, and Portugal not making it out of group play in the World Cup). However, investors were willing to dismiss the bad first quarter performance. An inventory correction and a wider trade deficit subtracted 3.2 percentage points from 1Q14 GDP growth.
The Feds Outlook: Optimistic? Or Just Hopeful?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
As expected, Federal Reserve policymakers left short-term interest rates unchanged, did not alter the forward guidance on the federal funds target rate, and trimmed the monthly pace of asset purchases by another $10 billion (to $35 billion beginning in July). In its policy statement, the FOMC was a bit more optimistic about a pickup in growth. Fed officials forecasts of 2014 GDP growth were revised lower, but implicitly, forecasts for the final three quarters of 2014 remained strong.
Fed Outlook: Playing It Close to the Vest
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The Federal Open Market Committee will meet this week to set monetary policy. The FOMC is widely expected to further taper the monthly pace of asset purchases (not on a preset path, but continuing in measured steps). The bigger question is when the Fed will begin to raise short-term interest rates. The correct answer is it depends. Fed officials are currently debating the order of steps to be taken as they begin to normalize monetary policy.
Many Moving Parts
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter, but it appears very unlikely that weve entered a recession. Weather disruptions and the late Easter have made it difficult to gauge the underlying trends in the economic data, but a significant second quarter rebound appears to be baked in. Still, taking the first two quarters together, growth in the first half of the year is likely to be disappointing relative to earlier expectations.
A Revised Bond Market Outlook?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
A year ago, as Fed Chairman Bernanke spoke of the possibility of tapering the Feds Large-Scale Asset Purchase program (QE3), bond yields moved higher. Theyve been range-bound over the last year, but have more recently dipped to the lower end of that range. Whats driving the bond market?
Concerned Optimism
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
In her congressional testimony, Fed Chair Janet Yellen chose her words carefully. She indicated that if the economic outlook evolves as anticipated (growth picks up, the labor market tightens, and inflation moves toward the Feds 2% goal), then the Feds asset purchase program (QE3) will likely end in the fourth quarter. However, she refused to be pinned down on when the Fed would begin raising short-term interest rates. Global concerns and the housing sector will bear close observation.
The Job Market, GDP, and the Fed
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The U.S. economy added 1.15 million jobs in April thats prior to seasonal adjustment. We normally see large (unadjusted) job gains each spring. This year appears to be stronger than normal, partly reflecting a rebound from a bad winter. Strength in the seasonally adjusted payroll figure is certainly good news, but it may not necessarily be suggestive of a sharper underlying trend in job growth. There is still a very large amount of slack in the job market.
Yellen?s Three Big Questions (and a Few Others)
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Speaking to the Economic Club of New York, Fed Chair Janet Yellen presented an analysis of the monetary policy actions taken to address the Great Recession and offered guidance on what will drive policy decisions going forward. The centerpiece of her talk was about the three big questions that the Fed has to answer. However, there are a number of other debates going on in economics right now that have long-term consequences.
Yellen?s Three Big Questions (and a Few Others)
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Speaking to the Economic Club of New York, Fed Chair Janet Yellen presented an analysis of the monetary policy actions taken to address the Great Recession and offered guidance on what will drive policy decisions going forward. The centerpiece of her talk was about the three big questions that the Fed has to answer. However, there are a number of other debates going on in economics right now that have long-term consequences.
An Uncomfortable Discussion
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Income inequality is a touchy subject. It?s hard to have a polite conversation, but like it or not, we are going to have a discussion this year. I will not take a position here (this is largely a political question). Rather, I will try to illustrate what the data say and to present the different points of view.
The March Employment Report
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Last week began with a speech by Janet Yellen. The Fed Chair was not expected to say much of consequence, but instead, she continued to emphasize the large amount of slack in the labor market and the Fed?s strong commitment to reduce it. The clear implication is that short-term interest rates are not going up anytime soon. This message may have been meant to counter misconceptions taken away from her recent press conference.
Yellen?s Labor Market Dashboard
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
In her years as a Federal Reserve official (governor, district bank president, and vice chair), Janet Yellen expressed a greater concern about job conditions than her peers. As expected, that emphasis has continued into her tenure as Fed chair.
Yellen Speaks, Do the Financial Markets Listen?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
No surprise, the Federal Open Market Committee tapered the monthly rate of asset purchases by another $10 billion and altered the language in its forward guidance on the federal funds rate. In its policy statement, the FOMC indicated that ?it likely will be appropriate to maintain the current target range for the federal funds rate for a considerable time after the asset purchase program ends.?
The Fed Policy Outlook
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Much of the recent economic data have been distorted by adverse weather, which makes it difficult to gauge the underlying strength. However, while economic activity appears to have slowed in early 2014, the longer-term outlook hasn?t changed. Growth should pick up.
The Long Road Back
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Five years ago, the economy appeared to be in freefall. Monetary policy and fiscal stimulus helped to halt the downslide, but a full economic recovery was still expected to take years. This wasn?t your father?s recession that we went through; it was your grandfather?s depression. We have made progress, but we still has very long way to go.
Weather-Beaten
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Harsh winter weather often shows through in the economic data. Large seasonal adjustment can magnify that impact. Snowstorms happen every year, of course ? the key is whether they are worse than usual. This year, bad weather has been relatively widespread, affecting many areas of the country and much of the economic data for December, January, and February. None of the bad weather has had a significant impact on the longer-term outlook and investors have begun to take the economic news with an appropriate grain of salt.
A Few Concerns
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Weve begun 2014 with widespread expectations that economic growth will pick up. Growth last year was restrained by tighter fiscal policy. With that out of the way and the housing sector recovering, the pace of expansion is poised to improve. However, there are a number of concerns. Weak growth in real wages may limit consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of Gross Domestic Product. Long-term interest rates could rise too rapidly, choking off the recovery in the housing sector. A continued low trend in inflation, a major concern for some Fed officials, could weaken growth.
The Policy View From Washington
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Lawmakers put the finishing touches on the budget bill, which will remove most of the fiscal policy uncertainty for the next two years. Thats helpful for the economy and the financial markets, although the debt ceiling remains a possible trouble spot. Federal Reserve officials seem intent on continuing the tapering of asset purchases, but economic and financial market developments will dictate the pace.
The Employment Picture: Clear As Mud
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
On balance, most of the economic reports in recent weeks have been consistent with a moderate increase in momentum heading into 2014. However, the December Employment Report showed a surprisingly soft gain in nonfarm payrolls. Is this a sign of another false dawn in the recovery?
Ready For Lift-Off?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
While some had expected a quick recovery from the recession, that was never likely to be the case. Recessions that are caused by financial crises are different from the usual downturns - they are more severe, they last longer, and the recoveries take a long time. The economy has been in recovery mode for the last four and a half years, but finally appears to be poised for an acceleration in 2014.
Taper Time?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
There are many arguments for and against an initial reduction in the Feds monthly rate of asset purchases, but the balance has shifted toward a December taper. It appears to be a very close call, but even if the Fed decides to delay again, we all know (or should know) that QE3 is going to wind down in 2014.
Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy - Update
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Market participants expected the November Employment Report to be the deciding factor on whether the Federal Reserve would begin to slow its rate of asset purchases this month. However, officials arent going to react to any one piece of data. The best argument for tapering is that it has to start sometime. However, the key factors that delayed the tapering in September and October are still with us to some extent.
Permanently Depressed?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
One of the main economic debates of the last few years has been whether weakness is cyclical or structural. If the downturn is due to a temporary (albeit, severe) shortfall in domestic demand, then growth should pick up sharply at some point as the economy returns to its potential. If its structural, fiscal and monetary policy can do little to help. Opinions differ, but while the consensus may see the sluggish economy as reflecting mostly cyclical forces, cyclical weakness is more likely to become structural the longer it lasts.
Yellen: Farther To Go
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Janet Yellen gave a balanced assessment of how monetary policy will be conducted during her tenure as Fed chair. However, the financial markets perceived a dovish tilt. She stressed that conditions in the labor market are still far from normal and noted that inflation has been running below the Feds goal of 2% and is expected to do so for some time. However, Yellen noted that there were risks of removing support too late as well as too soon. QE3 cant go on forever.
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The economic data were mostly stronger than anticipated last week. GDP growth exceeded expectations, although the details were a bit troublesome. With everyone anticipating some impact from the partial government shutdown, nonfarm payrolls accelerated in October. Moreover, revisions to August and September, painted a much stronger picture of job growth. What does this mean for the Fed and its decision to taper?
Tighter Fiscal Policy Not Helping
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
We are now more than five years into the economic expansion, but to many Americans, it still feels like a recession. Many of the headwinds that restrained the recovery early on, such as housing and state and local government, have turned to modest tailwinds, and monetary policy remains highly accommodative. The biggest restraint on growth this year has been fiscal policy. There is a near-term focus on a long-term budget deal, but an agreement seems rather unlikely. Sequester spending cuts set for mid-January should be a more important consideration for lawmakers.
Beyond the Noise, More of the Same?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Delayed economic data reports have begun to arrive. The figures point to a disappointing 3Q13 (relative to expectations) and the partial government shutdown is unlikely to help in 4Q13. The recovery had been poised for improvement this year, but fiscal policy has been a major headwind. Economic figures will be distorted in October (due to the government shutdown) and in November (due to the rebound from the shutdown). Yet, beyond the noise, the underlying pace of growth is likely to remain disappointing in the near term. Is there hope for 2014?
The Fiscal Follies, the Economy, and the Fed
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The deal reached last week does not remove uncertainty about the budget and debt ceiling. We could go through a similar crisis in three months. The hope is that lawmakers will learn from the recent experience and work together.
Some Encouraging News, but Further Uncertainties
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Financial market participants welcomed signs that leaders in Washington were at least willing to talk to each other. However, it remains unclear what sort of agreement will be reached. A temporary extension of the debt ceiling sidesteps a near-term financial catastrophe, but does not remove uncertainty completely.
An Unnecessary Crisis
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
With the lapse in appropriations, the federal government slipped into a partial shutdown last week. The economic impact will depend on how long the standoff lasts, which could be a couple of weeks or more. Recent economic data suggest that third quarter growth was a lot lower than anticipated. So, the crisis in Washington arrives at a particularly bad time. Lawmakers appear to be taking the debt ceiling more seriously, and we could see action on that before the budget authorization is settled but its unclear how the situation will be resolved.
Misplaced Budget Priorities
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The Federal Open Market Committee delayed the initial reduction in the pace of its asset purchases, citing concern about the recent tightening of financial conditions (higher long-term interest rates). However, Bernanke also noted uncertainty in fiscal policy. He recognized the improvement in economic activity and labor market conditions since the Fed began QE3, which was achieved in spite of a federal fiscal retrenchment. He also suggested that the debates on the governments spending and borrowing authorities may create downside risks.
Bernanke Gets Another Chance to Communicate
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
It seems clear that most Fed policymakers have not decided whether to begin reducing the pace of asset purchases. Officials will review a wide range of data and anecdotal information this week. Its generally (but not universally) expected that this will lead the Federal Open Market Committee to begin tapering, but modestly, while signaling a wait-and-see attitude on further action. The Fed should continue to stress that short-term interest rates will remain low for some time. The economy is still far from being fully recovered, but were well on our way.
How Strong is the Job Market?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
A year ago, as the Fed was about to embark on its third large-scale asset purchase program (QE3), the policy focus shifted to the labor market. In announcing QE3, the Federal Open Market Committee indicated that purchases would continue if the outlook for the labor market does not improve substantially. A year later, how much improvement have we seen?
On Tapering, All Signs Point to “Maybe”
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Investors looking to the July 30-31 Fed policy meeting minutes for clear clues on future moves were left disappointed. Nearly all senior Fed officials expect that a reduction in the pace of asset sales is likely to be warranted by the end of the year. However, they appear evenly divided on whether that will be sooner (September) or later (December). The economic data remained mixed, suggesting that the decision will be a close call.
The Tick-Tock on Tapering
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The Feds September 18 decision on whether to begin reducing the pace of asset purchases will depend on the economic data (the job market figures, in particular), but theres a growing consensus that were likely to see a modest initial step, as a compromise between Fed officials who want to end the program sooner and those that want to see it continued. There are other things for policymakers to consider. One is the possibility of an adverse reaction in the financial markets. Another concern is the low underlying trend in inflation.
An Important Week on the Economic Front
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The markets have placed too much emphasis on the Fed tapering. Whether policymakers decide to slow the rate of asset purchases in September or December shouldnt matter all that much. The Feds decision will be data-dependent. Note that its not the figures themselves that matter. Rather, its what the data imply for the overall economic outlook.
Blather, Rinse, Repeat
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
As expected, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke repeated recent themes in his monetary policy testimony to Congress. However, he appeared to make a clearer distinction between the Feds two current policies, emphasizing that short-term interest rates will remain low for a long time. Even though there wasnt anything new in Bernankes testimony, the markets took it as dovish. Importantly, the Fed isnt the only central bank placing an emphasis on forward guidance.
Bernanke Still Trying To Get The Message Across
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Economists view the Federal Reserves communications with the public as being consistent over the last several weeks. There has been no change in the monetary policy outlook. The Fed had been expected to reduce the pace of asset purchases later this year. The financial markets, however, seem to be hearing different things at different times.
Jobs, the Fed, and Long-Term Interest Rates
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The June Employment report showed a labor market that is far from fully recovered, but appears to be well on its way. Federal Reserve policymakers are not going to react to any one report, but the trend in nonfarm payrolls has remained strong. Is that enough to ease up on the gas pedal? Perhaps. However, it should still be some time before the Fed has to hit the brakes.
Failure to Communicate, Part 2
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The financial markets have begun to reassess Fed Chairman Bernankes monetary policy comments. Several Fed officials spoke last week, each echoing Bernankes key messages: 1) policy will remain data-dependent, 2) tapering is not tightening, and 3) a rise in the federal funds target rate is a long time off. With an emphasis on data-dependence, the economic figures should get more scrutiny from the markets. Still, theres a sense that hope plays a major role the Feds economic outlook.
What We've Got Here is (a) Failure to Communicate
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
In his press briefing following the June 19 FOMC meeting, Fed Chairman Bernanke outlined how the evolution of the economic outlook will drive policy decisions in the months ahead. The key messages are that monetary policy will remain data-dependent, that tapering is not tightening, and that higher short-term interest rates are still a long way off.
Dialing Down
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The financial markets have gyrated in recent weeks on fears that Federal Reserve policymakers will taper the rate of asset purchases. The rise in long-term interest rates and increased market volatility are hard to justify based on the discussion of possible changes in the Fed asset purchase program alone. No change in monetary policy is expected at this weeks Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
Filling in the 2Q13 Picture and Looking Ahead
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Were now two-thirds of the way through 2Q13. However, the second quarter economic picture is still sketchy. We have some data for April, which is subject to revision. Figures for May will begin arriving this week. Despite the cloudy near-term economic picture, the financial markets are looking ahead to better growth in the second half of the year.
The Week in Fiscal and Monetary Policy
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
The financial markets were more than a bit confused by the minutes of the April 30 May 1 Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Some Fed officials wanted to begin tapering the rate of asset purchases as early as June. However, that wasnt a majority opinion. Fed Chairman Bernankes testimony to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress was balanced, but strongly suggested that monetary policy is unlikely to be tightened anytime soon. In his testimony, Bernanke also lectured congress on fiscal policy, which has been completely wrong-footed this year.
Results 401–450
of 577 found.
