May 2016

Macro Overview

The prospect of a delayed tightening by the Fed, a weaker dollar, and a rebound in commodities helped stabilize equities in April. A falling U.S. dollar along with central banks in Europe and Asia trying to stem the rise of the euro and yen, is indicative of a currency war looming in the shadows. A weaker dollar makes U.S. products cheaper and the U.S. more competitive internationally, a concern to both European and Asian exporters.

Commodity related currencies from countries as Australia, Russia, Canada, and Brazil saw rebounds against the dollar in April, elevating assurances that a demand for commodities is still intact. Economists view this as a measure of a global economic revival.

Following years of debate and assistance, the IMF is considering letting its support for Greece go and cease participating in any further Greek bailouts. Such a possible move would force countries with dire fiscal constraints to reassess their financial policies.

The Labor Department reported that jobless claims for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level since 1973, historically representative of a strong labor market. Employment data also revealed that there is a growing number of part-time workers rather than full-time workers encompassing the labor force. Various research reports have suggested that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, whose major provisions were phased in by January 2014, encouraged employers to shift workers to more part-time positions in order to avoid having to cover them under the newly mandated health insurance requirements.

Records maintained and released by the IRS have identified a sharp rise in 1099 income filings as of 2014. 1099s are issued for any income generated over $600 during the tax year. Many economists believe that such dynamics is a validation of full-time employee positions being replaced by part-time independent contractors.

A strengthening Japanese yen over the past few weeks has led some analysts to believe that risk aversion may be a cause. A stronger yen and a weaker dollar has historically signaled less confidence in U.S. growth and a heightened attentiveness to global dynamics.

Sources: Labor Dept., IMF, IRS

 

 
Japanese Yen Rises Over 10% Versus The U.S. Dollar

Japanese Yen Surges – Currency Update

The yen has risen over 10 percent against the dollar so far this year, with any additional gains intensifying speculation that the Bank of Japan would intervene sooner rather than later, as Japanese politicians have raised concerns about the yen’s run-up. Japan’s rising currency is making Japanese exports form cars to pens more expensive worldwide, stifling any stimulus efforts that had originally been enacted.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to visit Italy and Germany in May where it is believed he will try to set the stage for a possible intervention in currency markets as Japan prepares to host a G7 meeting later in the month.

Some currency analysts expect a possible resurgence in a currency war should the yen and other major currencies continue to rally versus the U.S. dollar.

Competitive devaluation of a nation’s currency, also known as a currency war, is a condition in international affairs where countries compete against each other to achieve a relatively low exchange rate for their own currency.Yen 1000

The benefits of a devaluing currency for a nation’s economy include an increase in exports, which may result in additional manufacturing and employment. A significant hindrance of a devaluing currency would be imports becoming more expensive, thus indirectly causing inflationary pressures within an economy.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Market Returns: All data is indicative of total return which includes capital gain/loss and reinvested dividends for noted period. Index data sources; MSCI, DJ-UBSCI, WTI, IDC, S&P. The information provided is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy or completeness is not warranted. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any stock, bond, mutual fund, or any other financial instrument. The views and strategies discussed herein may not be appropriate and/or suitable for all investors. This material is meant solely for informational purposes, and is not intended to suffice as any type of accounting, legal, tax, or estate planning advice. Any and all forecasts mentioned are for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment recommendations.