Fixed Income Update – Global Bond Markets

The ECB disclosed additional details in April about its bond buying program, stating that it will purchase government and corporate debt with maturities of 6 months to 30 years. Effectively, this strategy will provide cheap loans to global corporations operating in Europe, leading to a possible surge in debt issuance as companies take advantage of the ECB’s plan.

So far this year, corporate bonds have outperformed most government bond sectors, including Treasuries and mortgage-backed debt. High-yield corporate debt has seen the most appreciation of all corporate debt. Historically, high-yield bonds tend to correlate with equity markets due to factors as improving earnings and credit ratings. Some analysts believe that the Fed’s stance on keeping rates stable for now and the ECB’s stimulus program in Europe of buying corporate debt has prompted domestic bond values to rise.

Sources: ECB, Bloomberg, Federal Reserve

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.

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

International Review

China released economic data that showed exports were growing and that its GDP was heading higher. International analysts and economists tend to play down economic data released by the Chinese government due to perceived inaccuracies of what it releases.

Economic growth in the eurozone surpassed growth in the Unites States for the first quarter, a sign that central bank stimulus in Europe may be making some progress. The dollar’s recent slide against the euro was also an indicator that U.S. growth was stagnating relative to international markets.

Many economists believe that the central banks in Europe and Japan have held back on further stimulus efforts until financial conditions stabilize and their currencies regain some strength.

Sources: Eurostat, Bloomberg, Reuters

State Income Tax Rates – Tax Planning

Individual state income taxes are a major source of revenue for states, accounting for nearly 35% of state tax collections nationwide. Forty-three states currently impose a state income tax, in addition to a Federal income tax, with only seven states imposing no state tax at all.

As state and municipal finances have experienced unforeseen fiscal duress, many states have levied and plan to levy higher tax rates on their residents. The non-partisan, non-profit Tax Foundation founded in 1937 provides unbiased research and data on taxes imposed throughout the United States.

Individual state income tax rates not only affect individuals but also affect companies. As companies grow and hire staff for new locations, state tax rates can deter some companies from hiring in higher rate states. Some companies can pay less since an employee’s take-home pay might be higher should there be no state income tax.

Retirees also consider state tax rates when planning for retirement and reducing expenses. It’s no surprise that the seven states that have no state income tax are also popular living destinations for retirees.

Source: Tax Foundation

Where Our Tax Dollars Go To – Fiscal Overview

For fiscal 2015, the federal government took in over $3.2 trillion in tax payments, a record year compared to previous fiscal years. The federal budget for fiscal year 2015 ran from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015. The total figure amounts to approximately $21,833 for every person in the United States.

Taxpayers often wonder, where does all their tax money go. The Office of Management & Budget breaks down where tax payments go each year, allowing Americans to see what they’re getting.

Source: Office of Management & Budget

Rich Are Healthier – Health

Researchers at the Urban Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University released a report in April examining the links between health, wealth, and income..

For years poverty has often been associated with poor health, while the wealthiest have been thought of having fewer illnesses..

To confirm these perceptions, the report analyzed various health problems for which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recorded prevalence by family income. In every case, the wealthy are better off. .

How health and money are related is complex. For both rich and poor, the two attributes likely reinforce one another. “Health and income affect each other in both directions: not only does higher income facilitate better health, but poor health and disabilities can make it harder for someone to succeed in school or to secure and retain a high-paying job,” the Urban authors write..

Living in poverty often means less access to nutritious food or neighborhoods safe for outdoor exercise. Low-income people are more likely to smoke or be obese. White-collar jobs are less physically demanding, and people who have them can afford to take a day off for a doctor’s visit or to get a gym membership. They’re also probably not working the night shift, which is linked to cancer and other health problems..

Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Urban Institute & Virginia Commonwealth University

The Evolution of Bitcoin – Market Fact

A new form of digital currency has received tremendous media coverage this past year, Bitcoin, which is essentially virtual money that is traded digitally by exchanges. Bitcoins can only be purchased and sold with legitimate currency, such as dollars or euros making it available worldwide. The total estimated value of Bitcoins worldwide is about 9 ½ billion dollars.

Bitcoins exist as software, not physical currency, and are not regulated by any country or banking authority. Even though U.S. Senate hearings disclosed that Bitcoin could be a means of exchange, it gave no assurance that it would actually become an accepted medium of exchange. Government regulations would need to be created and then enforced in order for Bitcoin to become accepted by other government entities. The currency can be traded without being tracked, thus raising the potential for illicit activity, such as involving weapons, drugs, and prostitution. Bitcoins are not illegal, but it is also not legally recognized by governments as a currency.

In late December, the price of Bitcoins fell more than 50% from recent highs as the world’s biggest bit coin exchange, BTC China, said it would stop allowing its customers to use the Chinese currency to buy the virtual currency. This in turn removed a big source of cash that had been fueling Bitcoin prices. At one point in November 2013, the price of one Bitcoin was almost identical to the price of one ounce of gold, both being valued at approximately $1200.

The price appreciation of Bitcoin has been a result of speculation, and hasn’t been used as a store of value or as a medium of exchange to any extent. Some compare Bitcoin to the tulip craze in Holland of 1637, when speculators pushed the price of tulip bulbs to incredible levels, followed then by a collapse in the tulip bulb market.

Bitcoin has surged on speculation that perhaps one day digital money will eventually become a legitimate global currency, and even replacing currencies from certain countries.

Bitcoins are mined by powerful computers that calculate complex, mathematical functions. Total Bitcoin quantity is capped at 21 million, and currently there are about 12 million that exist worldwide. Circulating physical coins only represent Bitcoin, and are not a store of value as is legitimate currency.

The growing mobile payment industry could be a big benefactor to the acceptance of Bitcoin, as new and creative applications are being devised to accept digital currency. Bitcoin transactions are very popular among mobile users, where rather than using a credit card or cash to make a purchase, all you’d need is your phone.

Bitcoins emerged in 2008 designed by a programmer or group of programmers under the name of Nakamoto, whose real identity remains unknown. New Bitcoins can only be created by solving complex math problems embedded in the currency keeping total growth limited.

The value of Bitcoins fell by about fifty percent in mid December following remarks by China and Norway to not recognize the digital currency as legal tender. The government of Norway ruled that Bitcoin does not qualify as real currency, but rather qualifies as an asset, producing taxable capital gains. Norway said that Bitcoins don’t fall under the normal definition of money or currency.

More and more nations have been taking an official stance as the popularity of Bitcoins has evolved. The European Banking Authority has warned about the risks of trading digital money and being subject to losses where consumers are not protected by any government entity or authority.

As digital currency evolves, some believe that it will eventually be accepted as a legitimate currency. But for the time being, others believe that its time hasn’t arrived yet. Various studies have recently emerged with different opinions, such as a Stern School of Business study conducted by David Yermack, which concluded that Bitcoin behaves more like a speculative investment than a currency, and has no currency attributes at all.

Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters