1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 2: After four days of losses on the S and P 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 2: five hundred, Richard Bernstein if Bernstein advises, writing the FED 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: is caught between a rock and a hard place. GENIP 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 2: forecasts are being revised downward, but inflation expectations seeing poised 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: to accelerate. Richard joined us now for more, Richard, welcome 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 2: to the program. You put it in your note. Everyone's 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 2: got a plan, and so they get punched in the face. 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 2: That famous strategist on Wall Street, Mike Tyson, how strong 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 2: is that punch this morning? 11 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 3: I think the punch is a real It's not a jab, 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 3: it's a real roundhouse punch. And I think John, look, 13 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 3: you've been talking a lot about all the different uncertainties 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 3: and all the different things that are going on. That's fine, 15 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 3: but I think one also has to realize that we 16 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 3: entered the year with investors historically confident, so this has 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: a magnified effect on investors' confidence that they're being shaken. 18 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 3: So that was my point about that everybody has a 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 3: plan until they get punched in the mouth. Because everybody 20 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: had a plan, they thought it was easy. They thought 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 3: this was like, oh, you know, it's just buy an 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 3: index funder, let's buy the MAG seven. And all of 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: a sudden they're realizing that was the unusual period, and 24 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 3: now we're going back to something that's much more uncertain, 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 3: and they're getting punched in the mouth. 26 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: Richard Scott Best in Treasure Secretary speaking with Henry our 27 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: Own here and saying that this then is not necessarily 28 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: a MAGA problem, it's a MAG seven problem. 29 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: Do agree? 30 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: Is that basically what you're seeing right now is the 31 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: unwind of an overvaluation of a crowded trade at the 32 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: end of the last year beginning of this one. 33 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 3: Well, well, Lisa, I understand where he's going with that question. 34 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: But my response would be, why is the Russell two 35 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 3: thousand and performing so dramatically here if it were just 36 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: a MAG seven point? Why are the domestic the most 37 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 3: domestically focused companies in America smaller companies are underperforming? Right? So? 38 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 3: How is this just a large cap MAGA effect. It's 39 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: clearly not seven effects. Sorry, it's clearly not the You know, 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: I think this is a comment the markets are are 41 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 3: making a comment on the broad economy in the United States, 42 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: And you know, I think also the notion that this 43 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 3: is an orderly process. That's fine, I would agree with that, 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: but the process is not a positive one the markets. 45 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: You're not giving a positive verdict on that, And that's 46 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 3: kind of what I think people are still sort. 47 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: Of missing here, Richard. How do you navigate a situation 48 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: like this where the rules of the world may be 49 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: be called into question over a longer period of time 50 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: and acid allocation potentially could look very different if the 51 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: trends that we're seeing in markets today would hold. So 52 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: how are you thinking about not just short term investing 53 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: but the one year, two year, five years ahead? 54 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: Right? 55 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 3: So, so, Lisa, I think in the short term, you know, 56 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 3: you're using the word uncertainty. Everybody's using the word uncertainly. 57 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: I shouldn't personalize it like that. Everybody's using the word uncertainty. 58 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 3: That means is the scarcity in the marketplace is certainty. 59 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 3: That's what will command a premium through time is certainty. 60 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 3: What does that mean? That means quality, That means more 61 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: certain cash flows, it means dividends, it means near you know, 62 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 3: really kind of focusing on near term fundamentals as opposed 63 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 3: to long term growth stories. The second thing is, you know, 64 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 3: what do you do for three years, five years, ten years, 65 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 3: two years, whatever. And I think, look, the goal of 66 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 3: what's going on, of returning industrial processing back to the 67 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 3: United States and manufacturing back to the United States, I 68 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 3: think that's a that's a great goal. In fact, we've 69 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 3: been talking about it in my firm at Richard Bernsty 70 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 3: Advisors for ten years. I wrote an op ed in 71 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 3: twenty eleven in the Financial Times about this topic and 72 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: how important it was. This is. The goal is real. However, 73 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 3: the method that they're choosing to try and get to 74 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 3: that goal, what personal opinion here for a second, is 75 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: incredibly ham handed. There are many better ways to do 76 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: with that. Do not place attacks on the US consumer. 77 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: Richard. We heard from one ECP official earlier on this 78 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: morning that said there's no reason for a rate cut 79 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 2: right now. I think you refer to fifty basis point 80 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: kunts as ridiculous. Mary Daily, the San Francisco FED president, 81 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: putting out a post on LinkedIn saying we have the 82 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 2: time and space to deliberate our next moves. Lisa, that's 83 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 2: what's different about this moment. These officials are these central 84 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: banks aren't Russian to race in, Russian to step in 85 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: and provide support like maybe they would have done a 86 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: number of years ago, and. 87 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: For the correct reasons, which is this is a very 88 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: different type of crisis that is not of the credit 89 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: markets making. This is about policy uncertainty and the potential 90 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: stagflationary shock that comes along with inflation. If you take 91 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: a look at two year break even rates, they've actually 92 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: hit the highest level going back to two thousand and 93 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: two earlier this morning. It's shifting around incredibly volatile markets, 94 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: but the signal is not so clear in terms of 95 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: how they should act, let alone. 96 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: If Richard, are you thinking about where pockets are leverage 97 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: might be. This has been a really unusual cycle here 98 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: in the United States and worldwide because of the support 99 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: that was offered through the pandemic and through the recovery 100 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: as well. When you think about where pockets of leverage 101 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,119 Speaker 2: might be this time around, how do you ask that question? 102 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 3: So, John, it's related to what you and Lisa were 103 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: just talking about. The FED was spoiled for many, many years, 104 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 3: decades two to two three decades by globalization. Globalization was 105 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 3: a massive disinflationary force on the US economy. Why because 106 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 3: we were just increasing competition and we all know when 107 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: you increase competition, you put downward persure on prices, so 108 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 3: the FED could play the hero and ride in on 109 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 3: the white horse and save the day. Now what we're 110 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 3: seeing is deglobalization. That whole disinflationary process is now being reversed. 111 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: So it's now an inflationary process that ties the Fed's hands, 112 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 3: and the FED can't play the hero anymore. And I 113 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 3: think that's one of the things that's happening. So where 114 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: is the pocket of leverage. I don't really know. You know, 115 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 3: one could argue that it's in the private market somewhere, 116 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 3: because I think that a lot of their returns have 117 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 3: been boosted by by leverage and the ability to borrow 118 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 3: cheaply to make acquisitions. Maybe that's where it is, you 119 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 3: know it certainly you know not going to be I 120 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 3: would argue it's unlikely to be in the big banks. 121 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 3: The big banks, for all the all the their whining 122 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 3: about over regulation, big bank balance sheets are pretty strong. 123 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 3: It looks like the regulation has worked. But where is 124 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 3: that leverage. It's in things like private debt and and 125 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 3: all of that. So the risk hasn't gone away, it's 126 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 3: just moved I think from the public markets. To the 127 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 3: private markets. It's an interesting monetary and fiscal question, is 128 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 3: that if there is some kind of problem in the 129 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 3: private markets, they're supposed to be private, will they come 130 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 3: to the rescue. I would think they'd be very hesitany 131 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: to do that. 132 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: The Treasury Secretary this morning is saying really nothing to 133 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: see here. I feel like I'm going to sound like Lisa, 134 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: but how do you think this bond auction is going 135 00:06:58,520 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: to go today? For the ten year? 136 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 3: Well, a little outside my area of expertise, I just 137 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 3: don't think. I think what we are seeing is a 138 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 3: complete repricing of US assets with a higher risk premium. 139 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 3: Right if you think about it, we've taken about five, 140 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 3: maybe six multiple points off the S and P despite 141 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 3: good earnings. We're seeing in a very short period of 142 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 3: time the ten years self off. But certainly bond volatility 143 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 3: has gone up. Whether whether you agree with my statement 144 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 3: about the risk creamer now, certainly bond volatility has gone up. 145 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: And I think what's happening is US assets are being repriced. 146 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 3: You know, you mentioned before about you know, or are 147 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 3: we a safe haven anymore? 148 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: Maybe not? 149 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 3: And that's kind of what we're seeing. 150 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: I spy the Tottenham emblem right behind you as well, Richard, 151 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 2: super depressing stuff for you. I appreciate the time as 152 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: Alway Rough rough season. Thank you, Sir. Richard Ferns stated 153 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: Richard Ferns stand advisist. Thank you very much