(Bloomberg 12/28/20)

Alibaba Antitrust Fears Drive $200 Billion Chinese Tech Selloff
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. led a second day
of frenetic selling among China’s largest tech firms, driven by
fears that antitrust scrutiny will spread beyond Jack Ma’s
internet empire and engulf the country’s most powerful
corporations.

Alibaba and its three largest rivals -- Tencent Holdings
Ltd., food delivery giant Meituan and JD.com Inc. -- have shed
nearly $200 billion over two sessions since Thursday, when
regulators revealed an investigation into alleged monopolistic
practices at Ma’s signature company. That marked the formal
start of the Communist Party’s crackdown on not just Alibaba but
also, potentially, the wider and increasingly influential tech
sphere.

Policy Validation

(Bloomberg 12/27/20)
China Orders Ant to Return to Its Roots in Payments Services (3)

Chinese regulators ordered Jack Ma’s online
financial titan Ant Group Co. to return to its roots as a
provider of payments services, threatening to throttle growth in
its most lucrative businesses of consumer loans and wealth
management.

The central bank summoned Ant executives over the weekend
and told them to “rectify” the company’s lending, insurance and
wealth management services, the People’s Bank of China said in a
statement Sunday. While it stopped short of directly asking for
a breakup of the company, the central bank stressed that Ant
needed to “understand the necessity of overhauling its business”
and come up with a timetable as soon as possible.

(CNBC 12/10/20)

ECB expands and extends its bond buying as coronavirus resurgence weighs on the recovery

The European Central Bank on Thursday expanded its massive monetary stimulus program by another 500 billion euros ($605 billion), as a second wave of lockdown measures weigh on the euro area’s economic recovery.

Markets had largely expected the central bank to add to its bond buying, having vowed back in October to “recalibrate its instruments” as a resurgence in coronavirus cases across the continent led to further national shutdowns.

The ECB held interest rates on its main refinancing operations, marginal lending facility and deposit facility at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.50%, respectively.
The central bank launched its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) in a bid to shore up the bloc’s economy in the wake of the pandemic. Following Thursday’s expansion, the total asset purchase value is 1.85 trillion euros, and the ECB extended the horizon for purchases under the PEPP to March 2022.

In a statement following the decision, the ECB said it would conduct net purchases until its Governing Council judges that the “coronavirus crisis phase is over,” and restated that interest rates would remain at their current low levels until it the central bank sees the inflation outlook “robustly converge” to its target of “close to, but below” 2%.

The Governing Council also opted to “recalibrate” the third edition of its targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO III), which are ultra cheap loans for banks, by extending the current favorable terms to lenders by 12 months until June 2022.

(Bloomberg 12/9/20)

Poland, Hungary Say Deal Reached on $2.2 Trillion EU Stimulus

Poland and Hungary have agreed on a compromise with Germany to unblock the European Union’s $2.2 trillion budget and pandemic stimulus plan, a senior government official in Warsaw said. The compromise would end a standoff that saw Budapest and Warsaw threaten to torpedo the EU’s 750 billion-euro ($909
billion) pandemic aid fund and the 2021-2027 budget over objections to attaching rule-of-law conditions to cash. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said an agreement had been clinched with Germany, which holds the EU’s
rotating presidency, that would now be presented to the rest of the bloc. A deal could be finalized by Friday by the end of a two-day summit of European leaders in Brussels, he said. The zloty jumped to the highest level against the euro
since September on news of the EU deal. The forint also gained.

(Bloomberg 11/25/20)

Fed to Hold Off With Maturity Extension in December, Maybe 1Q21
RECENT EVENT REACTION: The minutes of the November FOMC meeting suggest any change to the Federal Reserve's asset purchases will be a 2021 action, in our view. The committee noted that its tool kit included both an outright maturity extension while maintaining current purchase sizes, or potentially extending purchases to longer-term securities while cutting total notional value the Fed is buying. We think the former is more likely in a deteriorating economic environment.

(Bloomberg 12/1/20)

China plans to impose “special and innovative regulatory measures” on financial technology behemoths such as Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co. to eliminate monopolistic practices and strengthen risk controls.
Advances in technology have brought tremendous change to
the financial sector, Guo Shuqing, chairman of the China Banking
and Insurance Regulatory Commission and Party Secretary of the
central bank, wrote in an article outlining regulations over the
next five years. It was cited in the official Shanghai
Securities News.

(Bloomberg 11/3/20)

Xi Says Economy Can Double as China Lays Out Ambitious Plans

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the economy can double in size by 2035 and the country can reach high-income status in the next five years as the Communist Party outlined ambitious plans for the nation’s future. “It is entirely possible to reach the high-income country status by current standards by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and to double the total economic output or per capita income by 2035,” Xi said in a speech to the party’s Central Committee, according to state media Xinhua.

(Bloomberg 11/10/20)

EU Clears Hurdle to Unlock 1.8 Trillion-Euro Budget, Stimulus

European Union negotiators reached a deal on the bloc’s long-term spending plans, moving a step closer to finalizing its landmark 1.8 trillion-euro ($2 trillion) budget and stimulus accord.

The EU is under pressure to wrap up the emergency package so that it will be operational next year, as the continent contends with a surge in coronavirus cases and the worst recession in its history. The recovery plan is expected to add 2% to the EU’s economic output in the coming years, according to European Commission projections.

*GERMAN BONDS EXTEND DECLINE, 10Y YIELDS RISE 3BPS
*EUR/USD TURNS POSITIVE AFTER EU BUDGET NEWS

(Bloomberg 10/29/20)

ECB Signals December Stimulus Likely Amid European Lockdowns

The European Central Bank gave a strong indication that it will likely boost its emergency bond-buying program to stabilize the euro-area economy after governments imposed a spate of new restrictions to control the coronavirus.

For now, Governing Council held its pandemic bond-buying program at 1.35 trillion euros ($1.6 trillion), reiterating that it will run until at least June 2021 and won’t be stopped until the “crisis phase” of the pandemic is past. The ECB’s deposit rate stayed at -0.5%.
The policy statement also said though that new economic forecasts in December will set the stage for more support.

“The new round of Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections in December will allow a thorough reassessment of the economic outlook and the balance of risks. On the basis of this updated assessment, the Governing Council will recalibrate its instruments, as appropriate, to respond to the unfolding situation.”

Policy Validation

(Bloomberg 10/6/20)

Powell Warns of Weak U.S. Recovery Without Enough Government Aid
‘Risks of overdoing it’ are smaller than too little stimulus
GOP opposition to larger fiscal package has hampered a deal
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned of a weak U.S. recovery without sufficient government aid and said providing too much stimulus wouldn’t be a problem.

Powell’s remarks Tuesday came amid Republicans’ opposition to a larger relief package that’s kept talks with Democrats at a stalemate in Congress since aid to jobless Americans and small businesses expired in July and August.

“Too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses,” Powell said in the text of a speech for a virtual conference hosted by the National Association for Business Economics. “By contrast, the risks of overdoing it seem, for now, to be smaller. Even if policy actions ultimately prove to be greater than needed, they will not go to waste.”

(Bloomberg 10/7/20)

Fed to Debate Bond-Buying Program at Future Meetings

Some U.S. central bankers sought further debate on the future of the Federal Reserve’s asset-purchase program when they met last month, signaling they’d be open to altering or increasing bond buying going forward.

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s Sept. 15-16 meeting released Wednesday showed that some participants “noted that in future meetings it would be appropriate to further assess and communicate how the committee’s asset-purchase program could best support” the Fed’s dual-mandate objectives.
Policy makers agreed at the meeting to hold rates near zero until the labor market reached maximum employment, and inflation reached 2% -- and was on track to moderately exceed that goal for some time. Forecasts also released on Sept. 16 showed officials didn’t expect the economy to reach those targets until 2023 or 2024, as it gradually recovers from the steep recession inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. central bankers, gathering virtually as a precaution against Covid-19, agreed to keep purchasing Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds at a combined pace of about $120 billion a month.

At upcoming meetings in November and December, officials could seek to give the economy more monetary policy support by increasing the amounts of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities they buy in an attempt to lower borrowing costs for households and businesses.

Policy Validation

(WSJ 9/23/20)

The Fed last week said it was committed to holding rates near zero until the labor market is strong, inflation reaches 2%, and Fed officials believe inflation will run slightly above 2% for some interval. Mr. Clarida said the Fed would need to reach all three conditions before considering any move to raise rates. Simply reaching 2% inflation wouldn’t on its own satisfy the central bank’s new criteria, he said.

Projections released after last week’s rate-setting committee meeting showed most officials expect it will take three years for inflation and employment indicators to return to levels seen earlier this year, before the pandemic disrupted the U.S. economy.

Mr. Clarida said that would represent a stronger rebound than the one that unfolded over the decade following the 2008 financial crisis. Nevertheless, the Fed’s three-year projection window isn’t long enough for Fed officials to project an overshoot of their 2% inflation target given the severity of the current downturn, he said.

(Bloomberg 9/23/20)

Powell: Fed Studying Treasury Market Performance During Crisis
“What we’re doing is, we’re going back now, as we did after the financial crisis, and we’re looking at where were the stress points, how did all the work we did for the last 10 years, how did it hold up?” says Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
“What happened that was new? And we’re going to be doing a lot of work on that”
“We are doing a lot of work on that and a central part of that will be the Treasury market and what changes do we need to make in and around the Treasury market so that we don’t have this happen again”
Powell answers questions Wednesday before House select sub committee on the coronavirus pandemic.

Policy Validation

(Washington AP 9/16/20)

Federal Reserve Sees Rates Near Zero At Least Through 2023

The Federal Reserve expects to keep its benchmark interest rate pegged near zero at least through 2023 as it strives to accelerate economic growth and drive down the unemployment rate.
The central bank also said Wednesday that it will seek to push inflation above 2% annually. The Fed left its benchmark short-term rate unchanged at nearly zero, where it has been since the pandemic intensified in March.
The Fed's statement formalized a change in its policy toward inflation. Fed chair Jerome Powell first said last month that the Fed would seek inflation above 2% over time, rather than just keeping it as a static goal.
The Fed also said Wednesday that it will continue purchasing about $120 billion in Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities a month, in an effort to keep longer-term interest rates low.

(MarketWatch 9/10/20)

European stocks edge lower, euro rises as ECB lifts forecasts without talking down currency

European stocks edged lower and the euro rose on Thursday, as the European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged and offered a slightly more optimistic view of the economy.
Up 1.6% on Wednesday, the Stoxx Europe 600 declined 0.3%.
The ECB lifted its estimate for the eurozone economy this year, now seeing a contraction of 8% versus its previous estimate of an 8.7% drop, as it left 2021 and 2022 forecasts mostly unchanged.
During her introductory comments, ECB President Christine Lagarde did not mention the recent strength in the euro as a matter for concern.
Asked by a reporter, Lagarde said the ECB's governing council discussed the euro appreciation but said it doesn't "target the exchange rate." Lagarde said the ECB will have to "monitor carefully" the rate since it impacts inflation.
The euro traded at $1.1891, vs. $1.1804 on Wednesday.

Policy Validation
(Bloomberg 9/14/20)

Japan’s Suga Wins Ruling Party Race to Replace Premier Abe

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide
Suga was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party
by an overwhelming majority, ushering in the country’s first
change of prime minister in almost eight years.

(Bloomberg 9/1/20)

Japan’s Suga Favorite to Succeed Abe After Party Limits Vote

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party adopted a structure for a vote to
replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that could help the premier’s
right-hand man, Yoshihide Suga, take over. Party officials decided on a
system Tuesday that would give more weight to lawmakers in the party
over rank and file members, LDP General Council Chairman Shunichi Suzuki
told reporters.

The move comes as Suga appears to be picking up enough
support among powerful factions of lawmakers, which put him far
ahead of any contender. The system decreases the influence of
regional voters, who have previously shown support for a top
rival, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who on Tuesday
officially declared his candidacy.

(Bloomberg 8/27/20)

Treasuries Extend Gains After Fed Unveils New Inflation Approach

Treasury futures rise to session highs after Fed Chair Powell confirms a new approach to policy that takes a more relaxed stance on inflation and on its view of how low U.S. unemployment can go.
Gains are led by long-end of the curve, pushing 5s30s onto lowest levels of the session; yields richer by 1bp to 3bp across the curve
Move is accompanied by sliding inflation breakevens with 10-year tenor dropping around 4bp from near highs of the day
S&P 500 E-mini futures jump to session highs, advancing 0.2% on the day.

(Bloomberg 8/19/20)
Treasuries Fall After FOMC Minutes Are Silent on Asset Purchases
By Elizabeth Stanton
-- Treasuries erased gains and fell to session lows after minutes of the FOMC’s July 29 meeting were largely silent on the prospect of changes to the size or composition of the central bank’s purchases of Treasury securities.
Yields across the curve reached session highs, led by the long end, steepening the curve; 10-year yield erased what remained of an earlier decline of as much as 2.4bp and climbed as much as 1.8bp on the day to reach 0.687% before stabilizing

Policy Validation

(Bloomberg 8/14/20)

U.S.- China Six-Month Trade Agreement Review Delayed: Reuters

The six-month review of the trade agreement
between U.S. and China slated for Saturday has been delayed due
to scheduling issues, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar
with the plans.
* A new date has not been agreed to: Reuters
* NOTE: U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Sec. Steven
Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He had been expected to
meet via videoconference on Aug. 15, the six-month anniversary
of the agreement entering into force

Policy Validation

(Reuters 9/17/20)

European Parliament votes for new taxes in EU to repay recovery borrowing

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of assigning new tax revenues to the European Union to repay the bloc’s intended joint borrowing of 750 billion euros ($888 billion) for economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawmakers voted 455 votes in favour and 146 against, with 88 abstentions, to introduce new sources of revenue - so called “own resources” - to the EU budget that should at least cover the costs related to the recovery plan.
They could include a tax on unrecycled plastic and on goods imported into the EU from countries with less ambitious climate-change fighting standards. Also under consideration is taxing digital giants and extending an EU CO2 emissions trading scheme into the maritime and aviation sectors.

(Bloomberg 7/21/20)

Policy Validation

Judy Shelton, President Donald Trump’s contentious pick for the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, cleared a key hurdle to confirmation by winning the approval of a majority on the Senate Banking Committee.
She was backed in a party-line vote Tuesday, 13-12. The committee also voted in favor of Fed nominee Christopher Waller, currently director of research at the St. Louis Fed. His nomination passed 18-7.

(Bloomberg 7/20/20)

The euro climbed to a four-month high, European bond spreads narrowed and stocks rose as leaders made progress in negotiating a historic stimulus package. U.S. equity futures were mixed with the S&P 500 coming off a three-week rally.
Italy’s 10-year bond yield spread over Germany, a key gauge of risk in the region, fell to the lowest level since March.
In Europe, leaders appeared close to reaching an agreement on a rescue package. The four governments that have been holding up negotiations are ready to agree on a key plank of the deal, two officials said. The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden are satisfied with 390 billion euros ($450 billion) of the fund being made available as grants with the rest coming as low-interest loans, the officials said, asking not be named discussing private conversations.

(Bloomberg 7/6/20)

Short-End of Yield Curve Climbing
Yields are heading higher at the front end of the Treasury curve on
hints of skepticism about the usefulness of yield curve control. The two-year is at a session high of 0.16%.

Policy Validation

(Bloomberg 7/1/20)

Fed Officials Were Unconvinced on Need for Yield-Curve Control
By Christopher Condon

Federal Reserve officials had “many questions” about the benefits of yield-curve control when they discussed its pros and cons during their meeting in early June.

“Many participants remarked that, as long as the committee’s forward guidance remained credible on its own, it was not clear that there would be a need for the committee to reinforce its forward guidance with the adoption of a YCT policy,” minutes published Wednesday of the June 9-10 Federal Open Market Committee meeting showed. YCT refers to yield caps or targets.

U.S. central bankers left interest rates near zero at the session, which was conducted via video conference. They also agreed to keep purchasing Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds at a pace of about $120 billion a month.

In a press conference that followed, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said officials were “not even thinking about thinking about raising rates.”