1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, Welcome to the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. I'm Tom Keane. 2 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: Daily we bring you insight from the best in economics, finance, investment, 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: and international relations. Find Bloomberg Surveillance on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot com, and of course on the Bloomberg What 5 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: a joy it has been through surveillance this morning to 6 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 1: speak to any number of women who have been out 7 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: front with academic courage and uh professionalism within the industry, 8 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: including Julia Cornado with us earlier and now for the 9 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: entire hour. Thrilled to bring you Abby Joseph Cohen, who's 10 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: had a wonderful commitment to my work at Bloomberg on 11 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: the economy and Bloomberg Surveillance, and that she would commit 12 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: an hour to us this morning is greatly appreciated. Abby. Um, 13 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: you are the permeable, but the pros who know you 14 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 1: know you're not. And you have shifted over the last 15 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: number of months. Why have you shifted from a real 16 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: optimism on the stock market and on making money over 17 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: the long term to something that is more cautious. What 18 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: brought about that shift? Well, thank you very much for 19 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: including me in your programming today. I'm flattered to be 20 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: given this much time. In response to your question, I'm 21 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: going to quote Lord Maynard Kines, who one asked why 22 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: he had changed this forecast. He said, when the facts change, 23 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: I changed my mind. What do you do? And as 24 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: I take a look at things right now, UM, we 25 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: have this very mixed picture. It's almost bipolar, uh, in 26 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: terms of one extreme versus the other. On the one hand, 27 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: the fundamentals of the U S economy looks lalid. The 28 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: economy is growing well, g d P is rising, the 29 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: unemployment rate is moving lower, corporate profits moving up. All 30 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 1: of that looks great. And this is against a backdrop 31 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: in which inflation interest rates are rising only in a 32 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: very modest way. But what are the concerns? I'll start 33 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: with valuation. You know, if something good is already priced in, 34 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: where are the surprises likely to come from? And I 35 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: would say that what is priced into bonds right now 36 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: is that inflation um will stay extremely quiescent, and that 37 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: demand for US bonds will stay extremely robust. And I 38 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: think if anything we are making as a marketplace, UM, 39 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: we we're all too complacent about that. I think rates 40 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: are rising, and I am concerned that demand for treasury securities, 41 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: particularly among non American investors, may in fact be declining somewhat. 42 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: The second thing I would point to is the following. 43 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: We are all creatures of our arithmetic. We run the 44 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: valuation models. We have numbers for earnings, numbers for g 45 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: d P, numbers for job gains. What we have a 46 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: harder time building into our models are some of the 47 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: other things, the other factors. And right now I think 48 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: we're looking at notable changes in government policy, and some 49 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: of these are not for the better. You know. Just 50 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: a few moments ago, Mario drag when he was asked 51 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: about the European outlook, which is improving, growth is accelerating there. 52 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: When asked what he was concerned about, he says, the 53 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: number one risk was trade protectionism in the world, and 54 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: I am concerned about that, particularly since the United States 55 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: UH seems to have thrown down the gauntlet and thrown 56 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: down the gauntlet in a in an ill considered manner, 57 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: So that to me is a risk. I also think 58 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: there are risks in terms in terms of some of 59 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: the other policies that have already been implemented UH that 60 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: I think there were errors made, for example, in the 61 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: tax policy, but there are also errors in terms of 62 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: the things we're not doing, And we could spend a 63 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: whole hour on this, but basically, long term growth of 64 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: any economy is tried arithmetically to two things. Number one, 65 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: how many workers do you have and is there growth 66 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: in that labor force? And secondly, how productive are each 67 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: of those workers the labor productivity? And when I take 68 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: a look at policy initiatives that, for example, number one, 69 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: may reduce the pace of growth in our workforce because 70 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: of the changes in immigration, that is concerning. And number two, 71 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: when we take a look at are we investing sufficiently 72 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: in the future to bolster the productivity of all of 73 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: our workers, Um, it's not looking as propitious as it 74 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: normally does. In the United States, there have been cutbacks, 75 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: for example, in government funding for research in R and D, 76 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: and it's still early innings here, I know. But when 77 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: we take a look at what corporations are doing with 78 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: their prodigious cash positions and cash that will be increasing 79 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: because of the reduction in the corporate tax rate, so far, 80 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: the number one use of those funds seems to be 81 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: scare we purchased rather than doing things like raising wages 82 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: or in terms of long term investment, putting it back 83 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: into the company in the form of Capex. Having Joseph Corner, 84 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: I just want you to comment on when you went 85 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: to Cornell. I believe that it was one of the 86 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: few Ivy League schools that admitted women into the into 87 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: the study of economics and science. And I'm wondering if 88 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: that has changed to such an extent that the way 89 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: we view markets and investing has changed money. If you 90 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: could just give us your thoughts on that historical change. Well, 91 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: you know that's a great question, UM and takes us 92 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: back many years. The answer is yes. When Cornell was 93 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: found in eighteen sixty five as the land Grant College 94 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: UM for New York State, it accepted women immediately, but 95 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: it was harder for women to be accepted than for 96 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: men for a whole variety of reasons. That has now changed. 97 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: If we take a look at Cornell or any number 98 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: of other schools, we now see greater balance in things 99 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: like engineering, applied science UM and in the medical college 100 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: at Cornell more than half of our female half of 101 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: our students or women. So yes, there has been an 102 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: enormous change over this one generation. And I would say 103 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: good news, not just for the women, but also for 104 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: our population. Good news for our country overall. Well, let's 105 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: come back at Joseph Cohen with us here for the 106 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: A lot of things we'll do Central banking here next, 107 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: with huge changes at the fount of course, Mr Drug 108 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: so terse statements today on multilateral and unilateral trade dynamics 109 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: as well. Abby. We have a new vice chairman, Richard Clarida, who, well, 110 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: at least we believe he will be appointed. I guess 111 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: that's where we are in the mix. Who will be 112 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: a monetary economist to assist Jay Powell? Explain to our 113 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: audience how someone of the academic abilities of Richard Clarida 114 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: dovetails with a Wall Street veteran like Jerome Powell. How 115 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: does that work? Well, I think it's a wonderful question Tom, 116 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: and really raises a broader issue, and that is the 117 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: members of the Board of Governors of the Settle Reserve 118 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: are supposed to be diverse in their backgrounds, and when 119 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: the ft was originally put together, the idea was diverse 120 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: in their business backgrounds and also their regional backgrounds, which 121 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: is why you have the various regional banks around the 122 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: Federal Reserve system. For the Board of Governors itself. I 123 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: think it's critical to have people with business experience, banking experience, 124 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: but also the academic economic experience. We saw just how 125 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: valuable that was under the last two FED chairman. So, 126 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: for example, Ben Bernankee, his academic expertise was in the 127 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: Great Depression of the nineteen thirties, and so when the 128 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: financial crisis hit here um and around the world in 129 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight two thousand nine, there was probably 130 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: nobody better informed than Mr Bernankee to think about what 131 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: could be done going forward. And similarly, when Janet Yellen 132 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: was chair of the Board of Governors, her expertise was 133 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: in labor markets. And if you think about where the 134 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: stresses and strains have been in our economy, it has 135 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: been with regard to the workforce facing both cyclical and 136 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: structural issues. These have been her areas of experts ease. 137 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,079 Speaker 1: So I think it's very appropriate to have somebody with 138 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: academic expertise come onto the Board of Governors, whether if 139 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: it's not going to be the chairperson, at least there 140 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: is that strength there. And let's not forget the very 141 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: capable staff that supports the Board of Governors in Washington Abby, 142 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: Joseph Cohen, what kind of guidance or perspective can you 143 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: offer individuals, whether they be professional investors or people that 144 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: are concerned about their retirement, paying for healthcare, caring for 145 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: members of their family, or even I dare say it, 146 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: paying for tuition. What can you offer them in terms 147 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: of a new federal reserve governor what is important for 148 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 1: them to understand that would affect the way that they 149 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: plan for their financial future. Well, there are so many 150 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: different elements that one needs to take into consideration. And 151 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: let me begin with one group that you mentioned, and 152 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: that would be individual investors. I think that many individuals 153 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: really should begin with a financial plan. Uh. You know, 154 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: I've spent my career working primarily with institutional investors, but 155 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: individual investors need to take into consideration many of the 156 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: factors to which you just alluded. So, for example, what 157 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: are their long term goals with regard to education for 158 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: their children, their own retirement, but also what is their 159 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: tax situation? Uh? And are they saving appropriately? I think 160 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: as a nation we are facing some problems and that 161 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: we are finding that many families are not saving adequately, 162 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: and we really need to start there. So before we 163 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: even get to the individual investment decisions. Let's make sure 164 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: that households are saving enough of their current income to 165 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: plan for their future needs. Okay, So in that context, 166 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: if you went around Goldman Sacks or any big institution 167 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: and you ask people to raise their hands to say 168 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: how many people have six months worth of what it 169 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: takes for them to live in cash? Do you think 170 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: you get a lot of hands raised. Well, I'll give 171 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: you an example from Goldman Sachs because you specifically asked 172 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: about it. We do, in fact provide access to financial 173 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 1: planning advice. So you would think that so many people 174 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,559 Speaker 1: who are involved in the investment business would not need 175 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: or want that kind of assistance. In fact, they do 176 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: um because even in a firm like ours, you know, 177 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 1: more than a third of our employees are in technology, 178 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: they're not really investment people per se. And we give 179 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: people access to others who can help them on these 180 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: issues about how much they should be saving, what the 181 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: tax issues are in terms of long term saving and 182 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: preparing for these long term goals. I don't think there 183 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: is anyone exempt from needing this sort of assistance and 184 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: help abby with then, where we are right now and 185 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: within the central banks, well, let's do this. Let's come 186 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: back and do this right. We're thrilled, Dave abbe Joseph 187 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: Cohen for a lengthy time and instead of cutting her 188 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: off here as we move to the market openings, let's 189 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 1: do this right and come back. That means Joseph Cohen 190 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: on central banking, and I really want to talk to 191 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: her also about the state of her global Wall Street 192 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: as well. Mrs Joseph Cohen is with Golden Sack. What 193 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: a joy, Abby, Joseph Cohen with us. We've been talking 194 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: about the equity markets, a little bit on central banks 195 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: and some of the dynamics that we saw from Mr Droggy, 196 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: Abby Pim and I would like to talk to you 197 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: about the evolution we've seen. You've been hugely active within 198 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: the c f A Institute program, writing trenched uh financial 199 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: articles with some heavy duty mathematics to it. I would suggest, 200 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: unlike the gloom in this country about a brain drain 201 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: or a dumbness, the industry gets smarter and smarter and 202 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: smarter and smarter. How much smarter are we now than 203 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: when I did the sea if A are you to 204 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: the c f A, Tom, I think that as a 205 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: profession we have gotten smarter because we have better tools. Um, 206 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: and I think that the average professional investor is now 207 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: much more quant savvy, knows where the data are, knows 208 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: how to use it and so on. And one of 209 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: the things I am concerned about as we look intermediate 210 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: to long term is that we become too complacent because 211 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: they become so focused on those models. And what we 212 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: have to ask ourselves are the models to use the 213 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: statistician's expression? Are the models properly specified? That is, are 214 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: the equations correct? Are there other factors out there that 215 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: we're not yet taking into consideration? I mean, I look 216 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: at this Pim Fox and can you imagine Ms Joseph 217 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 1: Cohen that Goldman sex She shows up the first day? Well, 218 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: tell us about it, Joseph Calm. What was it like 219 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,199 Speaker 1: walking in the door at Goldman Sachs when you first 220 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: arrived there? Um, it was a delight because quite frankly, 221 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: I have been recruited to Goldman. Uh. They knew what 222 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 1: they were getting and that's what they wanted. Um. They 223 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 1: wanted somebody who had background in quantitative analysis and also economics. 224 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: And this was fairly new because at that point, portfolio 225 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: strategy was often done by pardon me for saying this, 226 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: UM a mature gentleman, UM, not a Goldman. But at 227 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: other places, uh, sitting back smoking a pipe, perhaps pontificating 228 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: about markets and the Goldman. Excuse me, you're you're describing 229 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg surveillance at the softball Go for it. Continue. So 230 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: what we basically have UM at Goldman is this focus 231 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: on let's really do the homework. Let's dig into the 232 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: data on economics, on corporate performance, work the valuation models 233 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: and use that as a critical portion of our theme 234 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: uh and our conclusions. And we always start with that 235 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,479 Speaker 1: as the base, uh, be at fixed income or equities, 236 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: US or non US markets. And then I think the 237 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: art form UH that's involved here is to say what 238 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: are we missing what's not included in those models? And 239 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: one of the things that we are focused on right 240 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: now are policy switches of somewhat inconsistent nature that are 241 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: occurring right now. UM. What would be the largest one 242 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: that that that you think people are not paying attention to? 243 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: What would you tell them to focus on? Well, there 244 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: are two right now. One is the tax cut. The 245 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: short term aspects of the shortcut are favorable. We see 246 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: that corporate profits in cash flow or moving up and 247 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: so on. But long term, what that tax cut has 248 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: done has basically been to take away a lot of 249 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: the seed corn that would normally be used for future investment. 250 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: And that's of concern in terms of what this means 251 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: for longer term economic growth. What does it mean in 252 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: terms of increasing the deficit, interest rates, treasury borrowing, and 253 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: so on. The second one, which of course is still 254 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: up in the air because the President's statements are changing, uh, 255 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: literally from hour to hour, is what are we doing 256 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: with regard to trade policy? Uh. Mario Draggy, the US 257 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: Chamber of Commerce, many others just over the last twenty 258 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: four hours have said that they believe that this movement 259 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: towards potential movement towards protectionism would endanger global economic growth. 260 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: The United States would not win a trade war. Nobody 261 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: wins a trade war. It basically is not a zero 262 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: sum sort of thing. Uh. Protectionism and trade friction basically 263 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: reduces economic activity globally, as was seen in the nineteen thirties. 264 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: So I think that that is the single biggest concern 265 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: I would have, you know, I take a look at 266 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: the analysis that's being done, because we have to do 267 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: something in terms of working numbers to see, you know, 268 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: on the margin, which industries would be helped, which countries 269 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 1: might be helped, and so on. That's only part of 270 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: the pictures. Okay, but let let's say, can you just 271 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: give us the global g d P. Can you give 272 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: us worst case scenario for someone or an institution that 273 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: is using an exchange traded fund that invests, say in 274 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 1: the SMP five worst case scenario for let's go backwards 275 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: to start with trade policy and tax cuts. What happens 276 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: to that SMP five portfolio. Um, the valuation work that 277 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: we do, which assumes a modest rise and interest rates 278 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: and inflation, assumes that the fair value for the SMP 279 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,199 Speaker 1: five hundred is roughly so that's the level which is 280 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: supported by the strong underlying fundamentals right now in the 281 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: United States. Um, what we did see when there was 282 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: the first beginning of talk about trade problems and so on, 283 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: is that we backed off level which is where we 284 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: were a few week weeks ago. And normally, normally volatility 285 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: is typically within the ten percent range. I'm not making 286 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: a forecast. I'm just saying historically that's what it's been. 287 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 1: But the other thing to look at is risks, potential 288 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 1: risk to the upside, potential risks to the downside, potential 289 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: risk to the upside. Could the economy be much better 290 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 1: and corporate performance much better than what's already priced in. Perhaps, 291 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: but it's not a high probability event. Could there be 292 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: these unpleasant policy surprises UM to the downside? Yes, And 293 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: my personal view is we're more skewed to the downside 294 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: at this point than the upside. Well within that caution, 295 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: skewed to the downside. Does that be Joseph Cohen believe 296 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: cash is an asset. When we UM advise institutional clients, 297 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: which again is my primary UH conversation level, we are saying, 298 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: you know, take a look at a little bit of cash, 299 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: a little bit of dry powder, because if we have 300 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: a situation where volatility in the markets just returns to 301 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: normal UH, there could be some interesting opportunities to get 302 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: back into assets which are long term agreeable UM, but 303 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: at lower prices. So the answer is, yes, a little 304 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: bit of cash on the sideline not a bad idea. 305 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: And our biggest concern TOM with regard to valuation is 306 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: not equities, it's really fixed income. UH. Interest rates in 307 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: the United States are likely to rise, we don't think 308 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: very much. On the other hand, inflation we believe has 309 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: bottomed in the United States. The said is likely to 310 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: raise short term rates four times. And we are concerned 311 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: about the demand from foreign investors. You know, at this 312 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: point they have typically owned well more than of U. S. Treasuries. 313 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: If the dollar becomes something that is not needed as 314 00:19:55,800 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 1: much because it's no longer as important in trade, that's initiative. 315 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,479 Speaker 1: Correct with the savvy Joseph cohe of golden sacks at 316 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: generous hour, and that's allowed us to go deeper here 317 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: than we usually do. Abby, I interrupted you so rudely 318 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: there as we went to break and Um, we're talking 319 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: about if we get a week dollar, what are those 320 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: ramifications if we get you know, I guess with some 321 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,360 Speaker 1: higher inflation and some dynamics of fiscal policy, the surprise 322 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,679 Speaker 1: of a week dollar, what will that mean for investors? 323 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: That is a whole big area of discussion, Tom, because 324 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: there are also the technical aspects of supply and demand 325 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 1: for U. S. Treasuries. Um, not that long ago foreign 326 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: investors owned about of the U. S. Treasury market. They're 327 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: down to now. Some of that was a portfolio decision, 328 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: some of the money has gone into higher yielding corporate bonds. 329 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: But we have to keep in mind the following technical aspect. 330 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: Not all trade UH involving dollars involves the United States. Okay, So, 331 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: for example, in Asia, more than half the trade is 332 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: actually denominated in dollars, even though dramatically less than that, 333 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,120 Speaker 1: maybe ten or fift involves the United States. And over 334 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: the last few years, we've seen that the Chinese have 335 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: moved aggressively to try to denominate trade contracts in Redmond 336 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: b rather than dollars. And if that happens, there's less 337 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: foreign demand for U S treasuries. Consider, for example, that 338 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: decomposition of who does China really trade with. What we 339 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: see is that about fifty percent of Chinese exports go 340 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: to the nations of the new Trans Pacific Partnership. This 341 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: is the trading block that the Trump administration pulled us 342 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: out of as one of the very first policy actions 343 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: when they came into office. So fifty of UH Chinese 344 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: exports go to t p P and sixty of Chinese 345 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: imports come from those TPP nations. Almost all of that 346 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: is now denominated in dollars. It's very possible with the 347 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: us not being part of that trade pact, We're going 348 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: to see less demand for the dollar as that denominating 349 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: currency in foreign trade. And of course, if our policy 350 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: becomes increasingly uncertain in the eyes of others around the world, 351 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: the dollar loses some of its aura as a safe haven. 352 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: Our belief at Goldman Sachs is a decline in the dollar, 353 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: which began in the autumn of two thousand and sixteen, 354 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: will continue. That's an interesting uh called pimp. Well, I 355 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: just want to get your thoughts on comment that was 356 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: made by Daniel Pinto. He is the JP Morgan Chase 357 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,199 Speaker 1: executive and he warned that equity markets could fall as 358 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: much as in the next two to three and the 359 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: media picked up on but it was that banned. Well, okay, 360 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: let's say that's still a big, a big gap. Could 361 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 1: this Do you believe that this deep correction could happen? Um. 362 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: I've had the opportunity to look at least at the 363 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg coverage of his statement, and he said something ahead 364 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: of that possible correction, and that is markets look good 365 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: for the next year or two UM. So that intermediate 366 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: to long term forecast is something that I suspect everyone 367 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: would want to be well, how do the facts on 368 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: the ground actually develop in the meantime and what will 369 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: the valuation look like? UM. If we look at the 370 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: valuation right now, UM, I would say that equities are 371 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: pricing in a realistic positive scenario. UM. And that's why 372 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: our teams think is fair value for the SMP five 373 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: hundreds this year. UM. It is the credit markets UH 374 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: that look overvalued UM. And that is something that we 375 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: probably need to be focused on sooner than that two 376 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 1: to three year horizon. And let me go back to 377 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: a point PIM that you raised earlier, and that is 378 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 1: what about individual investors? UM. We have seen over the 379 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: last ten years that individual investors, particularly those who have 380 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: lost their defined benefit pension programs and have gone into 381 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 1: define contribution and are now running more and more of 382 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: their own retirement money, they have skewed much more towards 383 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,959 Speaker 1: sixth income equity. And I think that there is a 384 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: false sense of security that these are safe investments. If 385 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: interest rates go up, the value of those assets will 386 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: go down. But have you a cardinal rule here that's 387 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: so important to Pim's comments is you can't invest unless 388 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: you're stealed for a twenty five or decline somewhere along 389 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: the road. It's going to happen. And I would suggest 390 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: a generation or two have lost that understanding. They're clearly 391 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: has been in a sense of complacency now with a 392 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: very low volatility, both in equities and fixed income. And 393 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: it's not just in the US, it's around the world. Um. 394 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: And when we take a look at surveys of individual investors, 395 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: they nevertheless believe that fixed income is much safer than equities. 396 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: And I would argue it depends upon the valuation. Um. 397 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: What is priced into bonds to me is unrealistic um 398 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: And and therefore I would be more concerned there. But 399 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: you're absolutely right. We have a generation of investors who 400 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,919 Speaker 1: have been burned by the equity market, not by the 401 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: fixed income market. Bonds have been in the thirty year 402 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: bull market. I believe that that has either ended or 403 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: will soon end. What do you believe will happen with 404 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: digital currencies? Do you foresee a time when all money 405 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: will become digital? No? Why? Um? This is not my 406 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: area of expertise. You know, I do have a lot 407 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: of mathematical and computer training, um. And I'm very impressed 408 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: by things like blockchain and and some of the things 409 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: that underlie cryptocurrency. But as I studied currencies, UM, usually 410 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: the ones that succeed are backed by the full faith 411 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: and credit of a nation, of an economy um and 412 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 1: UH to quote somebody else, these are backed by the 413 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: full faith and credit of air. I would say, maybe 414 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: the full faith and credit of electrons um and and 415 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: so um. Is there a role for electronic exchanges, absolutely, um, 416 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: But whether it takes the form of a currency per se, 417 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: it's not quite clear. The greatest enthusiasm for using cryptocurrencies 418 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: has been in number one, areas that don't want to 419 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: be tracked um because of perhaps you know, dealings that 420 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 1: they do not want in uh to be a transparent uh. 421 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,719 Speaker 1: The second possible use has been in nations UH that 422 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,239 Speaker 1: are really undergoing you know, economic herm oil uh and 423 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: therefore the cryptocurrency is not tied to their troubled nation. 424 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: But for cryptocurrencies to become major elements UM for developed 425 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: economies with central banks and so on, I don't. I 426 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: don't see it in the nearer intermediate term, asked me again. 427 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: In a couple of years, as as this developed, as 428 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: we see what the regulatory process is for them and 429 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: also as the exchanges for the cryptocurrency has become more mature. 430 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: Right now they are not mature. Ebbe Joseph Cohen, thank 431 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: you so much for your commitment to the show, your 432 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 1: appearances today with Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio and Bloomberg Surveillance. 433 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 1: Abbe Joseph Cohen, folks of Golden Sax and I really 434 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 1: want to say thank you as well to State Global 435 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: Advisors for their commitment to what we're doing here today 436 00:27:50,000 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: with International Women's Day as well. So thanks for listening 437 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: to the Bloomberg Surveillance podcast. Subscribe and listen to interviews 438 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or whichever podcast platform you prefer. 439 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm on Twitter at Tom Keene before the podcast. You 440 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: can always catch us worldwide. I'm Bloomberg Radio