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Policymakers and markets at odds on interest rates as Yellen briefs Congress Policymakers and markets at odds on interest rates as Yellen briefs Congress
(about 9 hours later)
While the Federal Reserve chair, Janet Yellen, is the one tasked with delivering a message over the next two days when she speaks to Congress, financial markets are keen to know if she has absorbed their message to her: stifle your rate hike plans.While the Federal Reserve chair, Janet Yellen, is the one tasked with delivering a message over the next two days when she speaks to Congress, financial markets are keen to know if she has absorbed their message to her: stifle your rate hike plans.
Related: Global markets fall after US jobs report raises prospect of interest rate riseRelated: Global markets fall after US jobs report raises prospect of interest rate rise
In the 52 days since investors last heard from Yellen, when she held a press conference after overseeing the first US interest rate hike in nearly a decade, markets have been roiled with volatility and increasing doubt about the health of the US and global economies. In the 53 days since investors last heard from Yellen, when she held a press conference after overseeing the first US interest rate hike in nearly a decade, markets have been roiled with volatility and increasing doubt about the health of the US and global economies.
In that time, the S&P 500 has lost nearly 11% of its value and the 10-year note’s yield has declined by half a percentage point.In that time, the S&P 500 has lost nearly 11% of its value and the 10-year note’s yield has declined by half a percentage point.
The upshot: investors have abandoned any notion that more rate increases are coming from the Fed any time soon.The upshot: investors have abandoned any notion that more rate increases are coming from the Fed any time soon.
“Investors are pricing in no chance of a rate hike until summer of 2017, and the Fed is indicating four more,” said Brian Reynolds, chief market strategist at New Albion Partners. “It’s a big gap, and it’s widened dramatically this year.”“Investors are pricing in no chance of a rate hike until summer of 2017, and the Fed is indicating four more,” said Brian Reynolds, chief market strategist at New Albion Partners. “It’s a big gap, and it’s widened dramatically this year.”
When the Fed on 16 December lifted its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 0.25% to 0.50% from 0.0% to 0.25%, policymakers signaled they saw that rate climbing to 1.4% at the end of 2016 and to 3.3% by the end of 2018.When the Fed on 16 December lifted its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 0.25% to 0.50% from 0.0% to 0.25%, policymakers signaled they saw that rate climbing to 1.4% at the end of 2016 and to 3.3% by the end of 2018.
But key financial futures markets in the weeks following that decision have substantially driven down the level of anticipated interest rates for years to come, placing them squarely at odds with policymakers’ projections.But key financial futures markets in the weeks following that decision have substantially driven down the level of anticipated interest rates for years to come, placing them squarely at odds with policymakers’ projections.
For instance, the price on the Fed fund futures contract expiring in December 2016 now implies the Fed funds rate will be 0.43% at year end, within the current rate range.For instance, the price on the Fed fund futures contract expiring in December 2016 now implies the Fed funds rate will be 0.43% at year end, within the current rate range.
That suggests just a one-in-five chance the Fed will pull off even one more rate hike this year. On the day of the rate hike, however, the implied yield on that same contract was 0.83%, reflecting expectations for two rate hikes in 2016.That suggests just a one-in-five chance the Fed will pull off even one more rate hike this year. On the day of the rate hike, however, the implied yield on that same contract was 0.83%, reflecting expectations for two rate hikes in 2016.
Implied rates on longer-dated contracts in closely related eurodollar futures have fallen even more dramatically.Implied rates on longer-dated contracts in closely related eurodollar futures have fallen even more dramatically.
The fed funds rate implied by the contract expiring in December 2018, when policymakers project it will hit 3.3%, now stands at just over 1%. It had been around 1.85% on 16 December. The Fed funds rate implied by the contract expiring in December 2018, when policymakers project it will hit 3.3%, now stands at just over 1%. It had been around 1.85% on 16 December.
Related: Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged while monitoring marketsRelated: Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged while monitoring markets
“The Fed has been able to influence the very near-term … contracts, but their control of things out the curve has been pretty weak,” said Mike Cloherty, head of US rates strategy at RBC Capital Markets, a primary dealer in Treasury securities.“The Fed has been able to influence the very near-term … contracts, but their control of things out the curve has been pretty weak,” said Mike Cloherty, head of US rates strategy at RBC Capital Markets, a primary dealer in Treasury securities.
To be sure, Yellen and her colleagues already appear to be damping expectations for future rate increases.To be sure, Yellen and her colleagues already appear to be damping expectations for future rate increases.
In its late January policy statement, the Fed altered its language to acknowledge that global financial and economic developments had clouded the outlook. Top Fed officials, including vice-chairman Stanley Fischer and Federal Reserve Bank of New York president William Dudley have nodded to those concerns in recent speeches and interviews.In its late January policy statement, the Fed altered its language to acknowledge that global financial and economic developments had clouded the outlook. Top Fed officials, including vice-chairman Stanley Fischer and Federal Reserve Bank of New York president William Dudley have nodded to those concerns in recent speeches and interviews.
Still, markets are keen to see if Yellen follows their lead.Still, markets are keen to see if Yellen follows their lead.
“The issue is whether Yellen indicates the FOMC is willing to change its stance and move closer to investors,” Albion’s Reynolds said.“The issue is whether Yellen indicates the FOMC is willing to change its stance and move closer to investors,” Albion’s Reynolds said.