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Fed Data Dependent Policy — Data May Not Be Dependable — Puts FOMC and Investors on the Same Plane Creating Potentially More Volatility — Current Markets Create Investment Opportunities

Date Posted: December 26, 2018

Simultaneously Increasing Fed Fund Rates While Quantitative Tightening — No History and Greater Complexity
The recent December FOMC meeting also reminded investors of the complexity that results when the FOMC simultaneously increases Fed fund rates while reducing the size of its balance sheet — quantitative tightening. The following quote from our 11/29/17 commentary summarizes this:

“Even with the advantage of history, judging the effect of just a change in the Fed funds rate proves difficult enough for investors. Now add to that analytical difficulty by simultaneously reversing two monetary policy variables — not just one. As with the shift to Q.T., history provides investors with  little basis for making judgments when combining the reversal of these two policies.”

By Shifting Its Policy to Data Dependent, the FOMC Shares the Same Decision Plane with Investors
In 2019, the U.S. economy will likely move into a late cycle phase offering the FOMC less clarity on whether to increase rates or end rate increases altogether. Less economic clarity led the FOMC to shift to a data-driven strategy when determining their rate decisions. With that, both the FOMC and investors now occupy a relatively equal decision plane when making their rate judgments. As a result, greater financial market volatility could result when investors, using the same data, reach markedly different conclusions.

The Fed Funds Futures Market Projects One Increase — December — and Done
With the Fed funds rate approaching, the not easily determined, neutral rate estimated to be a range of 2.5- 3.5%, the FOMC faces its most difficult rate decision — when to end rate increases. The Fed funds futures markets suggest the December meeting represented the last increase — one and done — with a low probability of even one increase in 2019 (see Figure 1). Looking into 2020, the Fed funds futures market curve calls for a lower Fed funds rate (see Figure 2). In comparison to the Fed futures markets, the FOMC currently looks for two increases in 2019 and one in 2020.

Figure 1

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Figure 2

Source: The Wall Street Journal

First Quarter Data May Be Distorted by Extraordinary Fourth Quarter Shipments
To determine further rate changes, the FOMC will employ its newly adopted data dependent policy. Interestingly, the data the FOMC will depend on in the first quarter may not be dependable based on fourth quarter aberrations and the resulting first quarter distortions. For example, fourth quarter 2018 inventory buildup to beat the now delayed tariff increases will likely borrow and therefore negatively effect, at the margin, first quarter economic data.

Container Shipments Surge
Specifically, the National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracking Report showed that a new record of 2 million containers (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units) entered the United States in October. This represented a 9% increase when compared to September and over 13% YoY. The October number represented the highest volume for any single month since the survey began in 2000. A similar increase should occur in November. With fourth-quarter front loading of imports, January import container volumes will likely decline from a year ago by an estimated 2% and that downward trend will likely continue through most of the first quarter.

Trucking Tonnage Unusual Increase
Trucking accounts for 70% of all modes of domestic freight transportation. The same distortions show up in truck freight as in container shipments. Once containers leave the port, at some point trucks will deliver them to their final destination. In October, the last reported month, the American Truck Association’s ATA Truck Tonnage Index increased 6.3% compared to September (see Figure 3). Strong import shipments, particularly on the west coast, helped to create the October surge. When compared to October 2017, tonnage increased by 9.5%. Truck tonnage, similar to containers, will likely show a slowdown in the first quarter of 2019.

Figure 3
ATA Truck Tonnage Index

Source: Yardeni Research American Trucking Association

Continuation of Economic Momentum into 2019 May Turn On Consumer Spending
With the trade dispute unsettling first-quarter economic data, the FOMC will likely keep rates unchanged at its March meeting. How far fourth-quarter economic momentum carries into the first half of 2019, will likely determine whether the FOMC increases rates at their June meeting. Consumer spending will likely prove key to economic momentum early in 2019 Helping consumer spending will likely be increased tax refunds generated by over-withholding as many taxpayers did not adjust their withholdings for lower tax rates as well as lower oil prices. The G.A.O. estimates that nearly three — quarters of taxpayers withheld too much during 2018. In addition, consumers remain in strong financial position with modest debt relative to their incomes and a relatively low household debt service ratio (see Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 4
Household Debt as A Percent Of Disposable Personal Income


Source: Financial Stability Oversight Council 2018 Annual Report

Figure 5
Household Debt Service Ratio


Source: Financial Stability Oversight Council 2018 Annual Report

More Frequent Powell “Press” Conferences Increases Chances For Surprises And Increased Volatile Market Responses
Chair Powell increased the frequency of his “press” conferences from monthly to quarterly. In our view, with the absence of FOMC future guidance, those conferences could produce increased volatility if his comments do not meet investors’ expectations — good or bad. The Chair’s December press conference did not fully deliver what investors wanted to hear — as many see the Fed’s key role as meeting investor expectations. The markets reacted with a sharp decline. Besides investors, the FOMC, in its December decision to raise rates, also demonstrated the Fed’s independence from the President. In effect, the chair and the FOMC indirectly reminded all that its dual mandates comprise maximizing employment and stabilizing prices — not strictly satisfying investors (see our 11/9/2018 commentary The Fed Put May Be Kaput). The December FOMC rate increase also caused the President to increase his war against Powell. His continuing tweet storm destabilized equity markets — surprising since the president sees the stock market performance as a measure of his success.

Investment Conclusions
Our prior commentaries looked for a slowdown in 2019. At the same time, we expressed less certainty as to its timing in that year. On balance, we continue to recommend an equally weighted portfolio asset mix of equities, alternative investments, and short duration fixed income securities.

We respect the concerns showed by the major equity markets for potential economic slowing in 2019 and a possible downturn in 2020. At the same time, such sharp equity market downturns can create investment opportunities for those investors with liquidity and both the risk tolerance and strong stomach to look over such periods. For long-term investors — one to five years — the following table should provide some time perspective for that opportunity (see Figure 6). The table shows the positive performance of the S&P 500 following sharp quarterly declines similar to the fourth quarter. When excluding the Great Depression years, all other periods show positive performance for one, three, and five years.

Figure 6
Stock Market Performance 1, 3, & 5 Years After Major Down Quarters.


Source: A Wealth Of Common Sense Blog — Ben Carlson

Wishing all a happy, healthy — most important, peaceful — if only, and a prosperous new year.