Yellen – More Punch Anyone?
Posted on Saturday, October 15th, 2016
“By a continuing process of inflation, government can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens”.– John Maynard Keynes
Central bankers have an obsession with inflation. Inflation is the central banker’s temperature gauge for the economy. Inflation above a certain level is too hot and deflation is way too cold. The natural question is at what level is inflation too hot? Currently, the US Federal Reserve thinks that above 2% is too hot, so 2% is their target.
On Friday, in a speech in Boston, Janet Yellen, Chairperson of the Federal Reserve, stated that it might be wise to consider the upside of a “high pressure economy”. While the FOMC has targeted a 2% inflation rate it appears that they are preparing us to accept a higher than normal inflation rate in order to “heal” the economy. One is very quickly reminded of the Weimar Republic. Prophetically, our good friend Arthur Cashin from the NYSE had this to say in his blog this week.
Originally, on this day in 1922, the German Central Bank and the German Treasury took an inevitable step in a process which had begun with their previous effort to “jump start” a stagnant economy. Many months earlier they had decided that what was needed was easier money. Their initial efforts brought little response. So, using the governmental “more is better” theory they simply created more and more money.
In 1920, a loaf of bread soared to $1.20, and then in 1921 it hit $1.35. By the middle of 1922 it was $3.50. At the start of 1923 it rocketed to $700 a loaf. Five months later a loaf went for $1200. By September it was $2 million. A month later it was $670 million (wide spread rioting broke out). The next month it hit $3 billion. By mid-month it was $100 billion. Then it all collapsed.
By October of 1923 German citizens were burning cash instead of wood for heat. It was easier to get and less expensive.
In a normal environment it has been said that it is the Federal Reserve’s job to take away the punchbowl just as the party has started. On Friday, it appeared that Yellen not only doesn’t want the party to end she wants to spike the punchbowl.
We do not believe that the November meeting of the FOMC is live and that they will not raise interest rates at that time. Not days before a Presidential election. Traders are betting that there is a 65% chance that they raise rates at the December meeting. If they raise rates in December it could make for another rocky start to the New Year.
One of the most astute investors that we know is a long time friend who pops in on us time to time. He is a very patient investor and quite prescient in his market calls. He called us out of the blue this week. He senses caution and is taking money off of the table. When he speaks we pay heed.
Technical analysis, while voodoo for some, is a way of quantifying the current state of market psychology. The market has been forming what is called a wedge. A wedge is a state of an increasingly tighter price range. This tells us that the market has been forming pressure much like a volcano or earthquake fault line. The market may have broken out of that range this week. The market has been below its 100 day moving average for the last two weeks. What was once support for the market is now resistance. The next real level of support is the always critical 200 day moving average at 2070 on the S&P 500. That is about 3% lower from the close of 2133 on Friday. The market is currently up 4.6% Year to Date (YTD). Investors, and professionals who looking to keep their bonus checks, could get very anxious if this year’s gains are put at risk in an October swoon. Keep an eye on 2070.
I think we aspire less to foresee the future and more to be a great contingency planner… you can respond very fast to what’s happening because you thought through all the possibilities, – Lloyd Blankfein
To learn more about us and Blackthorn Asset Management LLC visit our website at www.BlackthornAsset.com .
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill
Disclosure: This blog is informational and is not a recommendation to buy or sell anything. If you are thinking about investing consider the risk. Everyone’s financial situation is different. Consult your financial advisor.