1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Daybreak Asia podcast. I'm Doug Prisner. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: You can join Brian Curtis and myself for the stories, 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: making news and moving markets in the APEC region. You 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: can subscribe to the show anywhere you get your podcast 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: and always on Bloomberg Radio, the Bloomberg Terminal, and the 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business App. We bring in our guest, Katrina l 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: senior economist at Moody's Analytics, who joins us from Sydney. Katrina, 8 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: good of you to make time for us. So we've 9 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: got two stories to try to unpack here, one inflation, 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: the other deflation. And I'm going to begin with the 11 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: inflation story, and whether you feel confident now that we 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: are not going to see a re emergence of higher 13 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: prices or upward pressure on prices, that you feel relatively 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: confident that global central banks in countries like Australia, US, 15 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: South Korea even have done a reasonable job at getting 16 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: inflation under control. Is that a fair statement. 17 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: Yes, I think that is fair to say. I mean, 18 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: what we've seen is that inflation across most of the 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: developed world is really now on that nice entrench downtrend. 20 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 2: So what we're talking about now you know, last year 21 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: was all about how many more rate hikes are we 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,279 Speaker 2: going to see? Whereas twenty twenty four is all about 23 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 2: when will this well anticipated you know, rate cutting cycle begin. 24 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: I think that's really going to be the story of 25 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 2: this year. And I think, you know, we're all waiting 26 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: with bated breath of when those cuts are going to 27 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: occur so that we can get you know, that constrained 28 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: domestic demands that's happening across the world start to improve. 29 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: So what's the timeline then for fit easing. 30 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 2: So we're expecting at this stage that we will start 31 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: to see rate cuts in the US start from May, 32 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: so you know, it could be pushed out slightly because 33 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: what we're seeing is that because inflation and because the 34 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: jobs market is cooling quite nicely, the FED doesn't actually 35 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: need to rush when it comes to cutting rates because 36 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: the economy is not falling in a heap. It's holding 37 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: quite resilient. So I think the longer they wait, the 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: more comfortable they'll be with making sure that inflation is 39 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: really where it needs to be. They don't need to 40 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: kind of, you know, move more quickly to cut rates 41 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: to support the economy because it is holding resilient, so 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: may at this stage is where we're expecting the first 43 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: rate cut to occur. 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: So compare and contrast what we're seeing or what you 45 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: expect to happen in the US with what you're seeing 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: out out your back door there in Sydney. 47 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so in Sydney it's actually a similar story. So 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: we are seeing that inflation is on that downtrend in Australia. 49 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: I mean, it's not quite as cool as where we're 50 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: seeing it in the US, but it is getting there. 51 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: It's holding about four percent, so it's not quite back 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 2: to the RBA's magical two to three percent inflation target 53 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 2: yet and so for that reason, because it's not as 54 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 2: old on that clear down trend just yet and where 55 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 2: it needs to be, we are expecting in Australia that 56 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 2: we won't see a rate cut occur until September. So unfortunately, 57 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: if our households over here, they do still have some 58 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 2: time with that extremely elevated rate environment. 59 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 3: Although of course we didn't suffer as as higher rates 60 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 3: here in Australia as the rest of the world did. 61 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: The RBA was a bit more gentle with us. But 62 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 3: we've got some jobs numbers coming out here for January 63 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: in Australia, the rate scene ticking up. Where do you 64 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 3: see that leveling out? 65 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we're expecting that the unemployment rate in Australia 66 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: will actually end the year at about four point two percent, 67 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: So it's not that much higher from where it is 68 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: at the moment, in that sub four percent range. And 69 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: a consequence of that is that while household spending has 70 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: certainly pulled back, it hasn't pulled back as much as 71 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 2: we could have expected if we had seen more deterioration 72 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: in the labor market, because you know, that labor market 73 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: is really such an important firewall between households just cooling 74 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: spending and households going down a darker path, because we 75 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: all know it's one thing to be spending more on 76 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: goods and services in an elevated inflation environment, more on 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: repaying your mortgage, but it's quite another if you lose 78 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: your job. And because we're not seeing that mass job 79 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: setting in Australia and also in many places overseas like 80 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: the US, we have seen a slowing in household consumption, 81 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: but not a really decent pullback, which is why these 82 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 2: global recession odds have also been paired back quite substantially 83 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: as well. 84 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: Speaking of dark paths, I guess you could say that 85 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: about the deflation story in China. I mean, we've been 86 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,119 Speaker 1: kind of in deflation on the wholesale level for more 87 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: than a year, and now it's intractable, it seems on 88 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: the retail level. Is this a significant headwind do you 89 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: think for the Chinese economy or is this something that 90 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: central bank policy, aggressive central bank policy can reverse. 91 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a really interesting question, and I think what 92 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: we've seen from from Chinese policy makers is that they're 93 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 2: not going to deliver that really aggressive stimulus on the 94 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: monetary fund or the fiscal front, and so we do 95 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: have a significant demand problem in China. And so you know, 96 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 2: it's it's problematic because on the one hand, in the 97 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: developed world, we're talking about how it's it's so wonderful 98 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: that inflation has called but in China we're almost talking 99 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: about the reverse problem of you know, prices have falling 100 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: too much. And I think what we're what we're seeing 101 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 2: in China is the problem of deflation. If it gets 102 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: too entrenched, we'll see policy makers have an even bigger 103 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: problem on their hand, because you know, we're starting to 104 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: see the beginnings of If households start to believe that, 105 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: you know, prices will keep falling on a sustained basis, 106 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: they'll also delay purchases, and you know that will impact 107 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 2: businesses and at the same time we'll also see real 108 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: rates rise, and that's problematic because the PBOC is actually 109 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: actively trying to ease that that credit environment in China. 110 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 2: So you know, lots of problems there that I think 111 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: we'll need to get addressed over the course of this 112 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: year if we are actually going to see domestic demand 113 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: in China start to stabilize. 114 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,239 Speaker 3: Of course, it is Lunar New Year. This week in China, 115 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 3: market through on a holiday, and so are people, so 116 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 3: they're traveling, they're spending more. When the data from this 117 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 3: Lunar New Year gets unpacked, what do you expect to 118 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: learn about the state of the Chinese economy. 119 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 2: So I think that the forward indicators around Lunar New 120 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 2: Year travel and projected spending have been quite positive because 121 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: we're not having the same sort of restrictions domestically on 122 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: travel and also international travel as well. So that's a positive. 123 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 2: But it's really a question of will that improved exuberance 124 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: from this year compared to last year. When it comes 125 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: to households, if that's actually going to be sustained beyond 126 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 2: the lunar New Year break, and unfortunately, we're just not 127 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: thinking that it will because we're seeing that households are 128 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: still incredibly cautious. But also you know, private businesses as 129 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 2: well are cautious, and then that's of course holding back 130 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 2: the jobs market. So again we're in this problematic cycle 131 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: of weak demand that's continuing to ensure that the Chinese 132 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: economy continues to underperform. And so that's why, you know, 133 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: we're really waiting on policymakers to deliver more meaningful stimulus, 134 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: and we've seen it in some degree. We are seeing 135 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 2: increased support to the property market, particularly to developers, but 136 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: it is still quite constrained to the point where it's 137 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: not going to reinvigorate the Chinese economy unfortunately, it's just 138 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: going to hopefully trying to rest this ongoing decline. 139 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: It's certainly reminiscent of what Japan went through more than 140 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: thirty years ago, and I'm sure that policymakers in China 141 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: have studied the history books and when you look at 142 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: the debt to GDP numbers. I think China right now 143 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: it's around two hundred and eighty seven percent. I mean, 144 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: it's flirting with three hundred percent. And that is probably 145 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: one of the apt comparisons to make when you look 146 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: at what China is now going through versus what Japan 147 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: went through three decades ago. Is there a real risk that, 148 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: like Japan, China gets stuck in in a deflationary trap 149 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: that could last decades. 150 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: I mean, at this stage, when you know, we don't 151 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: see that as a real risk. We see that more 152 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: as a tail risk. But it's certainly a concern the 153 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: longer that China continues to underperform. And also it remains 154 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: a concern the until China can get some of these 155 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: these fundamental structural imbalances in their economy, until they can 156 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: actually improve those and I'm thinking here in particular about 157 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 2: the property market. If they can't kind of bring that 158 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: back to a sustainable level and come up with new 159 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: growth drivers as well, then I think we do have 160 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 2: a significant problem. That's kind of Japan era esque because 161 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 2: you know, if we're looking at the market, for instance, 162 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: it used to be such a critical growth driver, accounting 163 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: for around twenty five percent of GDP, but now, of 164 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 2: course it's in this deep correction territory forward indicator's point 165 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 2: to ongoing correction. We're seeing private businesses. Investment from private 166 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 2: businesses as well is particularly weak, and so we're kind 167 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 2: of looking around for, Okay, what's going to take the 168 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: place of the property market as such a critical growth driver, 169 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 2: and nothing is really standing out at this point, and 170 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: so I think we need to see that, whether it's 171 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 2: households coming to the party, or whether it's you know, 172 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,599 Speaker 2: high tech industries, we need to see something else to 173 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 2: take the place to kind of arrest this beary sentiment 174 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: in China that's really seems to have taken a life 175 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 2: of its own in the past couple of months. 176 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: Very quickly, Katrina, thirty seconds, we've got Japan GDP this week. 177 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: You mentioned Japan. Is that economy ready for the end 178 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 3: of negative rates or is this pretty much symbolic? 179 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: Great question. I don't think they have a choice. I 180 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 2: think that nega their rates are coming whether they like 181 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 2: it or not, and we are looking at it at 182 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 2: least a zero point one percent contraction from fourth quarter 183 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 2: GDP data release this week. 184 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: Katrina, thanks for making time to chat. Whether there's always 185 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: a pleasure. Katrina l senior economist at Moody's Analytics, joining 186 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: us from Sydney here on a debreak Gasha. 187 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 3: We're joined now by Garfield Reynolds, Bloomberg chief correspondent for rates, 188 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 3: here to talk about what else the markets and Garfield, 189 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 3: I want to start our neck at the woods. We've 190 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 3: got Australian bonds declining right now. What's there a function 191 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 3: of exactly? I mean, we don't have many other markets 192 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 3: open at the moment. Is this is just where the 193 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 3: money's flowing at the moment. 194 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 4: Yeah, Paul. It's a bit of a follow on from 195 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 4: what went on on Friday when your bonds declined in 196 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 4: the US. That was even after some CPI revisions came 197 00:10:55,040 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 4: in without causing any concerns that inflation might not be 198 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 4: slowing down. And you even have people saying after those 199 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 4: came out that this cements the case for FED rate cuts. 200 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 4: But bonds right now are extremely nervous worldwide, as policy 201 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 4: makers including the FED and the RBA as well last 202 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 4: week pushed back hard against the idea that they're about 203 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 4: to cut rates. So with US CPI coming up on 204 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 4: Tuesday in the US and more FED speakers as well. 205 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 4: That's enough reason for investors to be nervous about bonds. 206 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 4: You could probably even add in despite the fact that 207 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 4: oil is down slightly today. Oil has climbed quite a 208 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 4: bit in recent days, and that's particularly nasty for bonds 209 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 4: because that has such a strong link to inflation expectations. 210 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 211 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: One of the other things I think that is very 212 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: much in front of mind for the market here is 213 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: the idea of stress in the financial system as it 214 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: relates to well, consumer I mean commercial real estate. But 215 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: I'm looking at a story on the Bloomberg talking about 216 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: the shadow banking industry in the US loaning more than 217 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: a trillion dollars through the end of January. Now, a 218 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: year ago that figure was less than nine hundred billion, 219 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: So there continues to be an increase in the extension 220 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: of credit beyond kind of the conventional banking system. So 221 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: put that kind of on one side, and then introduce 222 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: or reintroduce the idea that since the New York Community 223 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: Bank story kind of captured investors' imaginations, I mean, it 224 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 1: goes to the issue of a lot of commercial real 225 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: estate debt that needs to be rolled over, and I 226 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: think that for the FED they would like to be 227 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: able to get out in front. If there is the 228 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: potential for easing, that it needs to happen sooner rather 229 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: than later. 230 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 4: Well, I mean the difficulty there too is is something 231 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 4: that we're all used to the idea that the yield 232 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 4: curve is inverted, supposedly warning of a recession. It's been 233 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 4: inverted for almost the longest on record since July twenty 234 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 4: twenty two. And the thing about that is that banks 235 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 4: are in the business normally of borrowing short to lend long. 236 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 4: So if short term yields are above long term yields 237 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 4: in the regular markets, that makes that a much harder 238 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 4: your business to be in. You have to find some 239 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 4: way around that. How do you lend for five years 240 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 4: if it's going to cost you more than you can 241 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,679 Speaker 4: get to borrow for two years. So in that sort 242 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 4: of a situation, you get people turning to the shadow 243 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 4: banking sector. You're trying to find people who are more 244 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 4: willing to lend. 245 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 3: As policy starts to normalize, do you anticipate that that 246 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 3: your curve and version is getting near the end. 247 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 4: You would think it would be, although again it's already 248 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 4: the longest on record from the trough assuming the trough 249 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 4: was the one hundred and nine basis point inversion back 250 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 4: in March, until we get back to zero, and it's 251 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 4: proved very very sticky. The concern for the bond market 252 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 4: is that you might not get the sort of rapid 253 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 4: resteepening which has usually accompanied an end to the yield curve. 254 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 4: And the big question again is do we get it 255 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 4: happening with the bond market selling off, because there are 256 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 4: a lot of risks out there that people are looking 257 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 4: past that could lead to yield jumping in the something 258 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 4: like the way they did last year. We still have 259 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 4: too much debt out there. We still have the concern 260 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 4: that Japanese investors might head back to Japan once the 261 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 4: boj n's negative rates there. We still have the potential 262 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 4: for concerns about oil if oil continues to move higher. 263 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 4: So the bond market and other markets are very much 264 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 4: positioned for the idea that the yel curve will disinvert, 265 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 4: and then it will do so in the standard sort 266 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 4: of ways. But it's not all clear that we will 267 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 4: get that standard this inversion because there are a lot 268 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 4: of things about the way things are going at the 269 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 4: moment that are very far from being standard. 270 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: So let's change locale and talk about risk. The deflationary 271 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: story in China. Do you think that that's a big 272 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: risk for markets right now outside of China. 273 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 4: I think very much. So it's not at all clear 274 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 4: that they can turn that around. Some of it is 275 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 4: to do with you talked about commercial real estate. All 276 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 4: real estate in China is in a problematic state. And 277 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 4: part of that too is that demographics have turned against China, 278 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 4: so they don't have that population growth that can help 279 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 4: them to get out of it. And the biggest concern 280 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 4: in a lot of ways for foreign economies is that 281 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 4: the latest concentration within China has been on turning the 282 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 4: market around, doing things like discouraging what's selling, encouraging your sovereign, 283 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 4: your state backed companies to buy shares, encouraging others to 284 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 4: bring money back from offshore to buy shares without there 285 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 4: being anybody going, yeah, you should bring your money back 286 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 4: because we know how to solve these problems. So when 287 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 4: you have China, the world's second largest economy and the 288 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: overwhelming driver for global growth after the last twenty years, 289 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 4: in that sort of a situation, that has to raise 290 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 4: a lot of red flags. 291 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 3: All right, Gunfield Reynolds, Bloomberg chief correspondent for rates. Thanks 292 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 3: so much for joining us here in the Sydney studio. 293 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: Well. Last Friday, Israel's credit rating was downgraded for the 294 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: first time ever. This is going to complicate the process 295 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: of the country's debt sales. Israel will have to sell 296 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: a near record amount of bonds this year to fund 297 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: its war against Hamas. Let's take a closer look. Now, 298 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: joined by Bloomberg's Michael Heath, who covers the economy and 299 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: the government. He's one of our editors, joining us from 300 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: our newsroom in Sydney. Michael, thanks for joining us. First, 301 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: the basis of the downgrade. This is Moody's Investor Service, 302 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: right Where did they cite as the rationale for lowering 303 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: the credit rating? 304 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 5: Good Doug, Yeah, I mean the main thing, I guess 305 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 5: is the fiscal impact of the war, though they do 306 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 5: talk about the material rise in political risk and the 307 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 5: potential for it to weaken the executive and legislative institutions, 308 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 5: which is it's a little bit unusual, I guess in 309 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 5: a way. I mean the fiscal side. You can understand 310 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 5: obviously we've had three hundred thousand reservists called up. Those 311 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 5: guys are at war, they're not in their jobs, they're 312 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 5: not earning paying taxes, that sort of thing, plus the 313 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 5: military expenditure, So that side of it sort of makes sense. 314 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 5: The political side is sort of harder to gauge. I mean, 315 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 5: whether it's it's directly talking about the unpopularity of the 316 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 5: current government, polls are showing that it would lose an 317 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 5: election now, or the judicial review that was causing a 318 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 5: lot of up people in Israel prior to the war 319 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 5: breaking out, it's just not clear. But obviously, the longer 320 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 5: the war goes on, it's a fairly the government is 321 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 5: fairly right wing there includes some fringe parties. So the 322 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 5: longer it goes on, perhaps they just worry about about 323 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 5: how things are going to operate legislatively and politically there. 324 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 5: But the fiscal side, I think is fairly clear now 325 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 5: with Israel, one of its advantages is it does tend 326 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 5: to fund its budget and its debt from heavily from 327 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 5: domestic sources, so it's not going to do a lot 328 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 5: to it in terms of the rates that's paying and 329 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 5: that sort of thing. But you know, the longer this 330 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 5: war goes on and there's talk of it lasting through 331 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 5: this year, the harder it's going to get for the economy. 332 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 1: There, yeah, no doubt about it. And with a kind 333 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: of weaker economic activity, I'm going to imagine that the 334 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: tax revenues will begin to declining, and that's only going 335 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: to put for the stress on the system, right. 336 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, exactly when you hit from two fronts, aren't You've 337 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 5: got increased military expenditure, you know, Plus you've got decreased 338 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 5: revenue obviously from and businesses struggle obviously in a war 339 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 5: zone as well outside of not having those employees who 340 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 5: are paying tax and that sort of thing. So it's 341 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 5: a bit of a pencil movement on the budget there, 342 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 5: and it is going to get hard. But I mean, 343 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 5: Israel's economy is pretty impressive and it's pretty resilient, so 344 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 5: you'd assume that it will bounce back. I mean, perhaps 345 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 5: promised you know who might have been you know, studying 346 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 5: a bit to being a bit too sleik and saying 347 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 5: it's just the war and there's potentially a bit more 348 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 5: going on with Israel politically there. But nonetheless he does 349 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 5: have a good point that the war is the key 350 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 5: issue here. 351 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: So as we look at the future in these bond sales. 352 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: Will there be greater pressure do you think applied on 353 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: the part of the government to buy or on rather 354 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: Israeli pension funds and institutional investors. 355 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 5: Well, my understanding is that they're pretty good about buying 356 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 5: that as well. I mean, they've got a lot of money, 357 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 5: and the Ofment's obviously you know, don't it has a 358 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 5: very very good fiscal record and debt record and that 359 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 5: sort of thing. But yes, I think they would definitely 360 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 5: be very keen for domestic domestic funds to be buying 361 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 5: this debt because obviously, once you go off shore you're 362 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 5: paying higher rates. It puts even more strain on the budget. 363 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 5: And you know, the downgrade was sort of priced in 364 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 5: by markets to some extent. It hasn't had a huge 365 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 5: there hasn't been been much of a reaction at this stage. 366 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 5: But the longer this goes on, you know, as you 367 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 5: have to go on buying overseas, sorry, buying get overseas, 368 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 5: and as I guess the world starts to get more 369 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 5: critical of Israel with this war as well, perhaps it 370 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 5: causes a bit more difficulty there. So they'd definitely be 371 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 5: keen on the on the domestic investors buying it yet, So. 372 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: What has the central bank been doing to support economic 373 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 1: growth at a time of war? And I'm wondering about 374 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: the role the currency plays and all of this as well. 375 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 5: Well, Yeah, it's really quite interesting when Israel's currency actually 376 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 5: has has bounced back. I mean it took a hit 377 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 5: initially with the attack and with the war, and you know, 378 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 5: as markets globally sort of everyone's quite shocked obviously at 379 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 5: what happened in that early October period. It's actually since 380 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 5: bounced back and the Israel actually carent rates recently. So 381 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 5: the central Bank is a pretty pretty well regarded institution 382 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 5: and its response was was fairly measured as well to Moody. 383 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 5: So you know, I think I think that they're they're 384 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 5: one of the one of the strong pillars of the 385 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 5: of the institutional system there. 386 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: So in terms of ensuring Israeli sovereign credit, have you 387 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: seen a move in the credits default swaps market? I mean, 388 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: his insurance on these bonds become a little more expensive. 389 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 5: Look, I haven't looked lately, but I think they had 390 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 5: edged up a tad. There haven't been as I mentioned, 391 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 5: there hasn't been a huge, a huge response because there 392 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 5: had been a pricing in for the downgrade, so so 393 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 5: the impact should be fairly limited either way. But you'd 394 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 5: imagine that, you know, the longer this goes on, for 395 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 5: the more pressure that we'll come on those fronts. 396 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned the fact that the expectations are we 397 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: could be looking at another year of this. It's interesting that, 398 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: you know, from the American side, and I don't think 399 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: the United States is alone in this in calling for 400 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: a cease fire, but that doesn't seem to be something 401 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: that would would likely happen at this point, does it. 402 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 5: No, No, it's a really interesting one, isn't it. I Mean, 403 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,679 Speaker 5: I think sometimes with President Biden, his first comments are 404 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 5: often his right ones, and when he was talking about 405 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 5: Israel's some of its military actions recently being over the top, 406 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 5: I think he was saying what he really thought there. 407 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 5: And obviously there's this discussion about Israel moving into Rufa, 408 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 5: which is sort of right down the end of the 409 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 5: Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, and that's where most 410 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 5: of the refugees during the fighting have all gathered, so 411 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 5: you've got more than a million people there. Israel's talking 412 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 5: about going in there to get rid of the remaining 413 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 5: or the Hummust militants who are hiding among those refugees. Now, 414 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 5: obviously that's probably almost certainly the case that that's what 415 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 5: they're doing. The problem is that, you know, the US, 416 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 5: the UK Arab countries, they want Israel to provide a 417 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 5: safe area for these civilians. Now promise Natnya who said, yes, 418 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 5: we're providing that north of Rafa. But the problem is 419 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 5: that over this three months or nearly four months this 420 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 5: conflict's gone on, there's a bit of a credibility gap 421 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 5: between what Israel says is available to these civilians and 422 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 5: what in reality is available to them. And I think 423 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,199 Speaker 5: that's really what's worrying the US and UK. I mean, 424 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 5: UK came out with a statement and obviously President Biden 425 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 5: has as well. They really want Israel to avoid really 426 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 5: heavy bloodshed here, and it's very difficult to see how 427 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 5: that will happen with so many civilian people in such 428 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 5: a small area. So it's really really quite concerning that 429 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 5: that situation, and I think Israel's going to have to 430 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 5: play this very very carefully because we're sort of almost 431 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 5: at a pivot point internationally where people are starting to 432 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 5: get twenty seven thousand deaths, even if it's humas reporting 433 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 5: that there's a lot of people who've died in that 434 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 5: area and the tolerance for it, I think is starting 435 00:23:58,240 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 5: to wane. 436 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: No doubt about that. Michael will leave it there. Thank 437 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: you so much for making time to chat with. It's 438 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: Michael Heath, Bloomberg Economy and Governor Editor, coming to us 439 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: from Sydney. This has been the Bloomberg Daybreak Asia podcast, 440 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: bringing you the stories making news and moving markets in 441 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: the Asia Pacific. Visit the Bloomberg Podcast channel on YouTube 442 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: to get more episodes of this and other shows from Bloomberg. 443 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else 444 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: you listen and always on Bloomberg Radio, the Bloomberg Terminal, 445 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: and the Bloomberg Business App.