1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. I'm Jonathan Ferrow, along 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: with Lisa Bromwitz and Amrie Hordern. Join us each day 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 2: for insight from the best in markets, economics, and geopolitics 5 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 2: from our global headquarters in New York City. We are 6 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 2: live on Bloomberg Television weekday mornings from six to nine 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: am Eastern. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: anywhere else you listen, and as always on the Bloomberg 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: Terminal and the Bloomberg Business app. Equity Market's coming off 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: the last week of the year, the best week of 11 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 2: the year investors looking ahead to Friday when fed Share 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: Jaypowe speaks and we get the core PCU deflator Ediardenny 13 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 2: of Yourdenny Research writing this and the Financial Times at 14 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: this nirvana level, all is right with the US economy 15 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: because it is growing while inflation remains moderate. If the 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 2: economy is doing well with the current level of interest rates, 17 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: why lower them? At your Danny on places say, joined 18 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: this now for more at fantastic piece in the FT. 19 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: Enjoyed reading over for him when it came out a 20 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: little bit earlier. This morning, you say, why mess with success? 21 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: Can I get you a base case? Do you think 22 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 2: they will mess with success? 23 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: Well, based on what I heard coming in the press 24 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 3: at the press conference that Ja Powell had, it seems 25 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 3: as though he at least is continuing to. 26 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:28,919 Speaker 4: Tell us all that they. 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 3: Probably are going to lower interest rates, and that kind 28 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 3: of again raises the question exactly why is that. I mean, 29 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 3: we had a hot CPI and PPI a few days 30 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 3: before his press conference, and yet notwithstanding that, he expressed 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 3: confidence all as well, and he's right about the economy. 32 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 3: The economy is doing absolutely fine. I think there's some 33 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 3: Fed officials who believe in the concept of real interest 34 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 3: rates that if inflation continue used to come down, then 35 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: real rate real rates will be restrictive and that might 36 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 3: cause a recession. So I'm concluding that the Fed put 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 3: might actually be back. 38 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: So if they do go forward a mess with success, 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 2: Given that you believed the Fed put is back, does 40 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: it really matter? Is it equities up and up and 41 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 2: up and why. 42 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 3: No, it's fine for the economy. I think inflation is 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 3: still going to moderate though. I think they're taking a chance. 44 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 3: Here's with all prices going up the way they have. 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 3: That's not an area that can always spill over to 46 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: the rest of the economy. 47 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 4: So I don't think they want to get. 48 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 3: Everybody thinking about the possibility of inflation coming back. But yeah, 49 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: I think this is starting to possibly be reminiscent of 50 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 3: the nineteen nineties. And if you ask me where we 51 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 3: are in the nineteen nineties, I think we're at December fifth, 52 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety six, where Alan Greenspan asked, how do we 53 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 3: know if it's the irrational exuberance? And I'm concerned that 54 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 3: the market go up too fast. I mean, it's great 55 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: on the way up. Melt up so wonderful, but by 56 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: definition they can lead to meltdowns, and so that's where 57 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: my concern is. Look, I've been forecasting fifty four hundred 58 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 3: by year end. We can get there by the end 59 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 3: of the week the way things are going well. 60 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 5: But just to sort of sit a little bit on 61 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 5: what you were talking about with respect to commodities or 62 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 5: oil prices, we've seen a number of strategistical misass coming 63 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 5: out and seeing the potential for a fifteen percent gain 64 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 5: in raw materials over the duration of this year, in 65 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 5: part because the FED is going to allow growth to continue. 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 5: Mike Wilson over at Morgan Stanley also talking up the 67 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 5: liking likelihood that a commodity oriented cyclical boom really gets ignited. 68 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 5: At what point does this become a problem for the 69 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 5: broader market with the idea of inflation coming back. 70 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 3: Well, I'm not that worried about the inflation story because 71 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 3: I think, certainly on the good side, China is going 72 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 3: to continue to export deflation. We cantinue to see that 73 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 3: their producer price index is negative. We continue to see 74 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: that import prices for the US coming in from China, 75 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: those are negative on a year over year basis. China's 76 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 3: in a pretty serious recession. They're really in a property depression, 77 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 3: kind of similar to what happened in Japan a while 78 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: ago and in the United States, and it takes years 79 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: to off set or to come out of that kind 80 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 3: of deflationary experience. So I'm not particularly worried about price inflation. 81 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 3: I'm more concerned about asset inflation. You know, it's not 82 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 3: just the stock market that sanitary, it's also gold that's bitcoin. 83 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 4: Spread between high yield corporate. 84 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 3: Bonds and the treasuries is extremely narrow, So that's where 85 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: the Fed's running a risk here. 86 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 4: I think there should be three mandates. 87 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 3: If they're going to have a mandate to keep inflation down, 88 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 3: price inflation down, keep unemployment rate down, they also have 89 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 3: to be concerned about financial stability. 90 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 6: And when you look at the take from Mohammad A. 91 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 6: Lar told us on Friday, it might not be this 92 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 6: pinpoint when it comes to inflation. Maybe the FED is 93 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 6: now targeting a range, and he said last week was 94 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 6: a really good moment where potentially you saw that shift. 95 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: Do you agree. 96 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 6: Do you think the Fed is now looking at a 97 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 6: range instead of two percent? 98 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 3: Well, it seems more like based on what pal said, 99 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 3: that their target is still two percent. 100 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 4: They're not putting that in a range. 101 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 3: It's just Palell kept saying over and over again that 102 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 3: they're shooting for two percent over time. Two percent over time. 103 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 3: He said it several times. And that implies that they're 104 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 3: willing to lower rates before they actually get to two percent, 105 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: whereas the message before seemed to be that they're not 106 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 3: going to lower rates until they're actually at two percent 107 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 3: or so close to it and so comfortable that it's 108 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 3: going to stay there that they can go ahead and ease. 109 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: So I think the message right now is pretty ambiguous. 110 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 3: Quite honestly, it does kind of make me wonder, what 111 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 3: do they know that I don't know what's the worst 112 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 3: to lower rates. 113 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: The answer to that is maybe nothing, as you know, 114 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 2: because they're often surprised by many things. And I just 115 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: want to know, given everything you've said in the last 116 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: five minutes or so, what are you advocating for in 117 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 2: equity markets? What are you ratificating for now from here 118 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: to year? Rent? 119 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 4: Well, I'm still going to use fifty four hundred. 120 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 3: I mean, obviously we were only you know what, two 121 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 3: three percent away from that, But I'm I think it's 122 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: still a bullmarket. I think next year we'll be looking 123 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: at six thousand, maybe sixty five hundred by the year 124 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 3: after that. 125 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 4: So I think we're still in a bull market. I 126 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 4: think you're stay invested, and. 127 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 3: If we get them melt up, well we'll have to 128 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 3: discuss whether it's time to take some profits before I 129 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 3: melt down. 130 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 4: But that's that's a risk scenario right now. It's not 131 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 4: the most likely scenario. 132 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 5: So where does the financial stability point come into play? 133 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 5: How concerned are you about that? 134 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's kind of like the nineteen nineties 135 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: in that regard, but it's not nineteen ninety nine. 136 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 4: It's more like nineteen ninety six. So we maybe early 137 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 4: on in the. 138 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 3: Financial instability issue here, But things move pretty quickly these days, 139 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 3: and everybody knows the history of the stock market. 140 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: They knows what happened in the nineteen nineties. 141 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 3: And if the FED really, you know, gives us a 142 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 3: rate cut before we're expecting it, I think you'll see 143 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: the market. 144 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 4: Moving a lot higher. 145 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 5: How much are you concerned about bonds waking up to 146 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 5: the idea of something of a range of the idea 147 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 5: of stick your inflation right. 148 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: Well, I think the bottom market is happy to see 149 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 3: the inflation coming down, and I think the bottom market 150 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 3: is struggling the way all of us are with the 151 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: Fed's message. What do they really want to do here? 152 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 3: You know, the foc statement, It made it sound like 153 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 3: we're going to wait until we have the data that 154 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 3: gives us confidence that inflation's coming down. And how modified 155 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 3: that statement by saying that you know, things probably are 156 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 3: going to work out in that direction. 157 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: And this just sounds like extended cycle, which raises the 158 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 2: question about the cycle that I'd like to rimput on. 159 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 7: Here. 160 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: Are a lot of people come on this program and 161 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: say we're late, Psycho. I think Lisa's asked the question 162 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: a few times, just how late are we actually, I've 163 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 2: given the conversation. 164 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 3: We have it. 165 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 5: Well. 166 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: I think we've discovered over the past couple of years 167 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 3: that history doesn't always repeat itself, but it does rhyme, 168 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 3: and you know, we are I think just somewhere in 169 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: the middle of the cycle. 170 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 4: I don't think we're late. 171 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: I think the economy is still showing plenty of signs 172 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 3: of infation, is coming down. But you know, you have 173 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 3: to put everything in a global context. It's not just 174 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,719 Speaker 3: the same old US business cycle. It's you have to 175 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 3: put it in the context of what's going on in China, 176 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 3: what's going on in Europe, what's going on in the geopolitics, if. 177 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: You had any research. And thank you sir, giving us 178 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,119 Speaker 2: lots to think about. 179 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: Stocks. 180 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: Pausing on the back of another record week, we love 181 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: doing shows for you. Fueled by the Fed's latest confirmation 182 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: we really do it will cut sometime this year with 183 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 2: the market on track for its fifth consecutive month of games. 184 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: I'm speaking to management, not the audience. Neil Dutta, we 185 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 2: love doing it for you too. Here's the quote, Neil, 186 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: the market's rightly viewed the FED decision as duvish, hence 187 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 2: the rallying stocks and bonds. The risk is that January 188 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 2: and February's inflation data represent a series of higher than 189 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: expecting inflation prints. Ultimately power ses. The stance of monetary 190 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: policy is very restrictive. As a result, he's more an 191 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: alert for downside surprises to growth than he is upside 192 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: surprises to inflation. Neil, I'm pleased to say, joined us 193 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 2: now for more So, Neil, let's get into your framework. 194 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 2: I remember a line of yours at the end of 195 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: last year. I remember you sent me a message and 196 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: you said, the labor market is no longer a reason 197 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 2: to be hawkish. And I thought it was really important 198 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 2: at the time, because it wasn't just that the labor 199 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 2: market was somehow weakening or deteriorating. It was that even 200 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 2: with labor market strength, even with economic growth, that was 201 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 2: no longer a reason per se to be hawkish. Now, 202 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: can you just walk us through how you thinking about 203 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: the economy with that in mind? 204 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: Yeah? 205 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 8: Sure, thanks John for having me on. Well, you know, 206 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 8: compensation growth equals inflation plus productivity. Okay, and we know 207 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 8: that compensation growth is moderating. You know, there's a lot 208 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 8: of focus, of course on wages because that's the monthly data. 209 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 8: But you know, remember that benefits are slowing a lot 210 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 8: more rapidly than wages and salaries, and in theory, workers 211 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 8: bargain over their entire compensation package. And when you look 212 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 8: at quits, quits are basically below where they were just 213 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 8: before the pandemic, and it suggests that broad measures of 214 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 8: compensation growth like the employment cost Index will be you know, 215 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 8: somewhere in the vicinity of three percent by the end 216 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 8: of the first quarter. Now, if you have three percent 217 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 8: compensation growth, and we know that productivity is normalizing to 218 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 8: around one and a half percent, where's the inflation coming from. 219 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 8: So compensation is three maybe three and a half, and 220 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 8: productivities around one and a half, then you're at the 221 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 8: fed's underlying inflation. 222 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: Objective of two. 223 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 8: So there's a lot of focus right now on things 224 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 8: like goods prices, producer prices. You know, as I mentioned 225 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 8: the last time I was on the program, Lisa is 226 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 8: very focused on chocolate prices. But but there's limited paths 227 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,599 Speaker 8: through from those things into core consumer prices. And I 228 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 8: do think that the normalization of labor market conditions will 229 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 8: take a lot of the pressure off of services which 230 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 8: are running, you know, well above what they normally run 231 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 8: above with respect to goods prices. 232 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: Now, one take that we heard last week repeatedly, I 233 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 2: think across the street, including from yourself, was that the 234 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 2: FED was embracing this supply site narrative. Could you briefly 235 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 2: describe that a little bit more broadly and help me 236 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 2: understand how do you set monetary policy when it's the 237 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 2: supply site doing all the work? 238 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 8: Well, I mean, I think first it's important to understand 239 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 8: why the supply side looks better. I think that's primarily 240 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:08,599 Speaker 8: a function of normalization dynamics following the pandemic. So you know, 241 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 8: this time last year, labor productivity growth was deeply negative, 242 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 8: and now it's normalizing that. That's that essentially raises the 243 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 8: speed limit for the economy. So if you have stronger 244 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 8: economic growth, as Powell mentioned, I mean, you could have 245 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 8: stronger employment and economic growth without necessarily pushing inflation higher. 246 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 8: And I think that's why it's important. Gives the FED 247 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 8: room to kind of recalibrate policy. But you know, I mean, 248 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 8: and that's why it's important, you know. So productivity is up, 249 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 8: that gives the Fed a little bit more more space 250 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 8: to ease, you know, modestly, if inflation's slowing more quickly. 251 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 5: Neil, I'm having a hard time, and I'm having a 252 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 5: hard time for a number of reasons, partly because it's 253 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 5: very hard to find people who can really pose and 254 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 5: sort of negative case. But there is one to be 255 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 5: made with the data that is coming in hotter than 256 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 5: expected in certain areas. You talk about the fact that 257 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 5: wage inflation seems to be nowhere. The New York Fed 258 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 5: has a new measure of trend wage inflation that Torst's 259 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 5: slock put out this morning, saying that it's currently running 260 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,959 Speaker 5: at five percent, looking pretty sticky. Other measures showing that 261 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 5: inflation is reaccelerating, with Jim Bianco is saying this no 262 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 5: landing is going to pose a real problem for bond markets. 263 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 5: How do you dismiss those things out of turn and 264 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 5: retain faith in the disinflation story. 265 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 8: Well, you have to go to first principles. I mean, 266 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 8: I'm not a big believer in indicator macro. I don't 267 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 8: like going and saying look at this indicator. See you 268 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 8: know it's up well, I mean that's again, as I 269 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 8: mentioned before, I mean, looking at the wage number, that's 270 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 8: one thing, But people bargain over their entire compensation, right, 271 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 8: I mean, that's just to me, that's a red herring 272 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 8: to distract people from the best measure of compensation growth, 273 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 8: which is the employment cost index. Okay, and you know 274 00:13:54,440 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 8: there's minimal pass through from goods into into core consumer prices. 275 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 8: But as I mentioned first principles, where is the acceleration 276 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 8: in household and corporate measures of inflation expectations? Where is 277 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 8: this showing up in earnings calls? Where I mean Costco 278 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 8: is talking about basically holding the line on prices, Walmart's 279 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 8: talking about bringing their roleback back. So I mean, if 280 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 8: households expect inflation to basically be you know, I mean 281 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 8: those expectations have been coming down in the last few months, 282 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 8: it would suggest that, you know, the inflation upside surprises 283 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 8: that we've seen in the realized data will be fleeting. 284 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 8: I'd also point out I'd also point out Lisa, that 285 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 8: inflation data has been generally on the weaker side of 286 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 8: the consensus overseas interesting it would support the idea that 287 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 8: I think the FED is putting a lot of currency 288 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 8: into I think rightly that residual seasonality is a big 289 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 8: driver of why the inflation numbers looked a little bit 290 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 8: worse anywhere in February. 291 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 5: Then, Neil, if that's the case, do you reject this 292 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 5: idea of a reacceleration of the economy in some sort 293 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 5: of material way of broadening out around the world and 294 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 5: see that that's premature because there is more weakness under 295 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 5: the hood and frankly challenges to certain businesses that don't 296 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 5: have the pricing power that would suggest that the FED 297 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 5: was justified and cutting now, I. 298 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 8: Think to me, the strength of the economy, that's a 299 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 8: reason to expect a ceiling on how many cuts the 300 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 8: FED can deliver. It's not a reason for the FED 301 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 8: not to cut at all. I think part of this 302 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 8: is we're all very used to the FED cutting a 303 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 8: lot or not at all, because primarily it's you know, 304 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 8: they're cutting aggressively to stop a recession from gaining hold, 305 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 8: or they're already too late, and that's why you're in 306 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 8: a recesion. You have to cut a lot. What I'm 307 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 8: talking about is just a recalibration of policy. It's difficult 308 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 8: to see the FED cutting six seven times, because, as 309 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 8: you mentioned, the economy strong, but if inflation is falling, 310 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 8: they can at least adjust policy a little bit to 311 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 8: kind of reset the economy. This isn't an outright easing. 312 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 8: It's just simply taking policy from significantly restrictive to maybe 313 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 8: a little bit less restrictive. That's all I mean. This 314 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 8: isn't like a broad wholesale change. I think that's kind 315 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 8: of the sort of thing that people are getting. I think, 316 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 8: in my view confused by this isn't a wholesale change 317 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 8: of policy. It's simply a recalibration of monetary conditions. 318 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: Now, I'd like to finish there, because I think those 319 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 2: words are really important, just how bullish the reaction function 320 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 2: of the Federal Reserve actually is, because many people run 321 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: away with the idea that it was super, super bullish. No, 322 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 2: I just wonder how close we actually were to having 323 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 2: a very different conversation if that median dot had shifted 324 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 2: from three cuts to two, and it was very close 325 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: to doing so. Do you think the conversation would have 326 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: been very different after the FED meeting? 327 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 8: Onestake, not really, because what would have happened My sense 328 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 8: is that the bond market I mean, the markets probably 329 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 8: would have sold off a little bit. I mean, certainly 330 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 8: the expectation going into that meeting John was that, you know, 331 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 8: we were kind of gravitating. The risk was for for 332 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 8: two cuts instead of three, and maybe if they penciled 333 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 8: into the markets would have taken that and and sold 334 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 8: off a little bit. You would have seen a modest 335 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 8: tightening of financial conditions. But then guess what, Cheri Powel 336 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 8: would have come out, struck the same dubbish tone, and 337 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 8: then markets would have rout. 338 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: So I you know, I don't know. 339 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 8: I mean, I think I think the big story is 340 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 8: they're cutting, they're just not cutting as aggressively. And the 341 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 8: strong growth in the economy puts a floor or sorry 342 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 8: a ceiling under how many cuts they can do. And 343 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 8: that's also in the dots. That's the that's in the 344 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 8: outlook for twenty five and twenty six. 345 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 2: Got it, Neil, cry to catch up, Got to do 346 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: it again soon, no doubt to the redmac on the 347 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: latest in the economy on the Federals of have Aswell 348 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 2: PRAMO following a series of dubbish Central Bank matings, Jim 349 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 2: Bianco of Bianco Research saying this the Fed cannot randomly 350 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: pick some day and cut rights if they do, and 351 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: the market thinks it is not serious about inflation, soal 352 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: bombs FED dubbishness only works if the market is convinced 353 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 2: inflation is not a problem. Right now, it's unsure. Jim 354 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 2: joins us now for more, Jim, are you unsure? 355 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? I am. 356 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 7: I mean if you look at the markets, we've got 357 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 7: the so called everything rally, except one thing has not 358 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 7: been rallying with the everything rally, and that's been the 359 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 7: bond market. It has been kind of meandering unchanged, especially 360 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 7: if you go back to before the FED meeting. 361 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: It here's the Fed wants to cut rates. It looks 362 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: at the data. 363 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 7: It sees stronger data, higher inflation expectations. It also sees 364 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 7: the FED upgrading its inflation and economic growth forecasts. And 365 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 7: I think it's wondering is this a good idea for 366 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 7: the Fed to be cutting rates? Because if they're not careful, 367 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 7: they could cut rates, and if the bond market's thinking 368 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 7: that they're unsious about inflation, we could wind up with 369 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 7: higher yields, not lower yields. I think that's what we 370 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 7: saw last summer when the FED stopped raising rates on 371 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 7: July twenty sixth, the market was worried, it was unseerious 372 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 7: about inflation. We were at three ninety on the ten 373 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 7: year note. Ninety days later we were over five percent 374 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 7: before it started to really believe that the inflation numbers 375 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 7: were coming down. 376 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: You said last year that disinflation was transit three. Jim. 377 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 8: You said that. 378 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 2: You came out very early on and said it. I wondered, Jim, 379 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 2: what you saw at the time that led you to believe. 380 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,239 Speaker 1: So just looking at the data, you're right. 381 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 7: I mean I was looking at headline CPI and it 382 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 7: has bottomed June of twenty twenty three to three percent. 383 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 7: And if you look at the data going forward from here, 384 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 7: especially the March data should be very strong, and you're 385 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 7: probably not going to be below three percent. 386 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: Until the fall, if not the earliest. 387 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 7: Unless price ACCRUDEIL collapses down to fifty dollars, then you'll 388 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 7: get there, But short. 389 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: Of that, you're not going to be below three percent. 390 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 7: And what I saw was just that the housing data 391 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 7: was staying stickier than everybody thought, the wage data was 392 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 7: staying stickier than everybody thought, and in oil and energy prices, 393 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 7: which matters for headline CP was also not really declining 394 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 7: to the extreme that everybody wants, and I think that's 395 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 7: still the case as we move forward. 396 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 5: When is it going to be something that the bond 397 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 5: market wakes up to, because right now it hasn't been 398 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 5: material sell off, and frankly, bonds have handled this pretty well. 399 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 7: Yeah, they've handed it well, you know over the last 400 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 7: couple of weeks, which I've said, it's been on sure, 401 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 7: But of course the ten ure yield started the year 402 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 7: three eighty eight, so it's up about forty basis points 403 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 7: for the year as we end the first quarter. The 404 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 7: other problems, or the other issue in the bond market 405 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 7: is everybody's bullish. Everybody thinks that bond. Bloomberg had a 406 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 7: story basically about, you know, we're back in the curve 407 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 7: steepening trade again. Everybody's losing money in that trade, but 408 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 7: don't worry, it's going to be a good trade to 409 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 7: wind up making. 410 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: And that's really what the bond market is. 411 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 7: Dealing with is a lot of bullishness right now, but 412 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 7: data that is not supporting it. 413 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: So it's going to take some time. 414 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 7: And I think if the data continues to come in 415 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 7: stronger than expected and the inflation data stays hotter than 416 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 7: its affected, the bond market will eventually turn towards higher yields. 417 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 5: Well, this is really something that we were talking about 418 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,439 Speaker 5: with Sinaldasaia and she said that she still likes duration actually, 419 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 5: and the reason why is just because of the wall 420 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 5: of money. And it's clear that there is so much 421 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 5: liquidity in the system that's got to go somewhere, and 422 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 5: the ball of money is just going into every risk 423 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 5: asset as well as bonds. How do you argue against 424 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 5: that that that's not going to persist. 425 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: Well, it is going to persist until the wall of 426 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: money ends. 427 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 7: And really the biggest driver of that wall of money 428 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 7: has been central bank policy. Now I know they're doing QT, 429 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 7: but they're also having their reverse repo facility roll off. 430 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: I know this is a bit wonky. 431 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 7: That's money that's outside the financial system that's getting pushed 432 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 7: into the financial system, that is creating more liquidity. That's 433 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 7: within a couple of weeks to a month of ending, 434 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 7: and then all of a sudden, I think the liquidity 435 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 7: situation in the bond market or in financial markets generally 436 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 7: is going to start to turn lower, and that wall 437 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 7: of money is really going towards where it's treated the best, 438 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 7: and that's cash. It's you know, we've seen a trillion 439 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 7: and a half dollars go into money market funds and 440 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 7: they just keep booming to new highs, and why shouldn't 441 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 7: they the highest point in the yield curve and their 442 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 7: forward looking thinker, Tom Keene has now got a quadruple 443 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 7: levered cash fund and so I think he's got the 444 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 7: right idea when it comes to where you should be. 445 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:17,239 Speaker 4: That's right. 446 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 2: He had this European tour last week, celebrates in Jim 447 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 2: Bianco at Vianco Research. Jim is going to catch up, buddy. 448 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Surveillants podcast, bringing you the best 449 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 2: in markets, economics, and geopolitics. You can watch the show 450 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 2: live on Bloomberg TV weekday mornings from six am to 451 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 2: nine am Eastern. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify 452 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: or anywhere else you listen, and as always on the 453 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Terminal and the Bloomberg Business app.