Stocks fell into the close today on bleak statements from Fed Chair Jerome Powell this morning in an online speech. He described the future as “highly uncertain and subject to significant downside risks,” urging the White House and Congress to provide more stimulus. Its worth noting that the U.S. federal deficit skyrocketed 3/4ths of a trillion in one month as initial stimulus was rolled out. Powell also predicted a slower economic recovery than we had hoped which aligns with some alarming potential indicators. Core CPI saw its sharpest decline in decades, and a look at the correlation between unemployment and mortgage delinquencies may be signaling a more systemic disaster for the banking sector. This is why some lawmakers are eager to reopen the economy but the concerns of a second wave of coronavirus might keep consumers at home regardless. And a second wave of coronavirus outbreaks seems to be on equity investors minds as well as a recent poll cited this as the top concern among equity investors. This is certainly an unprecedented situation… which has led to an “unprecedented use of the word unprecedented” according to Google search volume.
1. Markets love to climb a wall or worry…
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/12/20
2. COVID-19 induced closures are forcing many industries to cut prices. Will this be a boon for consumers with pent-up demand?
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
3. As the stimulus packages were implemented, the U.S. Federal deficit shattered the old records…increasing by 3/4s of a trillion in one month.
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
4. Unlike the Federal Governments, States are required by law to have balanced budgets.
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
5. All government and corporate debt levels around the globe are dramatically increasing to finance COVID-19 revenue shortfalls. Here is China:
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
6. Refinancing will help the consumer, but it is hard to do without a job…
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
7. Mortgage forbearance has risen form less than 1% to 6-11%…
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/12/20
8. Recent unemployment figures may be a leading indicator… Are delinquencies in mortgages, and other types of debt such as business loans, student loans, credit cards, etc., going to cause systemic issues for the banks?
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/13/20
9. Similar to the large banks, U.S. regional bank loan loss provisions are now higher than during the Great Recession.
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/11/20
10. Unparalleled, exceptional, extraordinary, unique, record…
Source: WSJ Daily Shot, from 5/7/20