1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Ye, Welcome to the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. I'm Tom Keane. 2 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: Daily we bring you insight from the best in economics, finance, investment, 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: and international relations. Find Bloomberg Surveillance on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot Com, and of course on the Bloomberg. Right 5 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: now with us is James Sweeney of Credit Sweets in 6 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: our New York studios and John Fair. And I know 7 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: that we've read very carefully James Sweeney over the years, 8 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: always counseling against inflation fears. You updated you published yesterday 9 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: on this arch fear that's out there. Tell us what 10 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: you wrote, well, I mean, the FED has gotten some 11 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: criticism recently for claiming that the declines and inflation that 12 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 1: we've seen lately are due to temporary factors that will 13 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: go away. And we looked at it closely in we 14 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: found that it's due to temporary factors that will go away. 15 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: Does the FED look at temporary factors which is a 16 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: two point to four percent ten year yield and a 17 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: two year yield that's gonna drop under two at some point, 18 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: or do they look at the the Sweeney inflation rate 19 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: or the Powell inflation rate, which are they a slave 20 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: to right now. I think they're definitely a slave to 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: the bond market and the incoming growth data and the 22 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: fears about what's going to happen next more than what's 23 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: happening on inflation. I mean, this is lagging, this is statistical, 24 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: this is not particularly interesting. We're not We're not kind 25 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: of plunging towards deflation or anything like that. There are 26 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 1: many inflation measures and they are broadly sideways and dull. 27 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: But there is a growth issue. But there's there's a 28 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: growth issue. And you know, folks, let's get this straight. 29 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: There's two There's two mandates in the United States one 30 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: in some other countries, including the EU. Jeffrey Frankel of 31 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: Harvard did a great thing for n b R a 32 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: number of years ago, folding in the growth dynamic. Does 33 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: Chairman Powell have a Jeffrey Frankel like growth dynamic in 34 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: his mix? Well, I think the growth dynamic is that 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 1: we have weakening and pretty weak US manufacturing growth right now. 36 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: We have a shock right in the heart of that 37 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: with the trade dispute. So you know, I think the 38 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: I S M figure for for June coming up in 39 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks will be a very important data 40 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: point because it's possible that that will plunge from an 41 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: already low level. And we've been getting weak p M 42 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: s UH. That's the sort of thing that drives markets, 43 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: drives yields lower and and and de FED even intend 44 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: to react to that even in the absence of broader 45 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: weakness in the economy. And right now when you look 46 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: at labor market indicators, there are not signs of broader 47 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: weakness in the economy. We we have not seen jobless 48 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: claims rise, we have not really seen payrolls growth slow. 49 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: We certainly haven't seen unemployment rise. So so where we 50 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: are right now if if you think of really the 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 1: three variables is being the labor market, short term manu 52 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: facturing and investment momentum UH, and inflation. You know, inflation 53 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: basically ignore temporary factors manufacturing very bad, big risks given 54 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: the trade war and the labor market fine, but bears watching, 55 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: and that that I think is why the FED is 56 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 1: in wait and see mode right now. Um, but there's 57 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: some things there that can go in different directions rather quickly. 58 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: You can have a deal on the trade war, or 59 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: you can have disappoint on the labor side. See John 60 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: how he's doing that. He's hedgended as an economist. We're 61 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: going in different directions. That's what economists do, Tom James. 62 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the experience of Europe in the last 63 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: twelve months. They've managed to get by okay, and largely 64 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: because the weakness in manufacturing hasn't spread to services. The 65 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: experience of Europe is that something we can expect in 66 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: the United States. Well, this is really typically the case. 67 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: We have manufacturing slumps all the time around the world, 68 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: where labor markets are not affected very much. I mean, 69 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: you'll recall two thousand, fifteen sixteen, we had a large 70 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: manufacturing slump globally, also two thousand twelve and thirteen, and 71 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: neither of those cases did you see the US labor 72 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: market materially weakened. So uh yeah, I mean Europe has 73 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: been hit by the trade concerns, but it's also had 74 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: some troubles last year in the chemical sector. It had 75 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: some troubles in the auto sector which persists to this 76 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: day and are being partly driven by by fears of 77 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: potential tariffs. But you know, the labor market in Europe 78 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: also bears watching it. As you said, you just got 79 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: a little bit of a blip on German unemployment. But 80 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: when you start to see labor data broadly start to slow, 81 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: then you you you have a different threshold of of 82 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: of worry. I mean, I look at where the market 83 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: is priced for FED cuts and and I don't see 84 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: the market pricing for a high probability of one or 85 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: two cuts. I see it pricing for a lower but 86 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: rising probability of a lot more cuts than that in 87 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: the case that labor market weakness really falls off. Do 88 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,559 Speaker 1: you think what it's priceful right now is misplaced? James, 89 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: what do you think of market pricing at the moment? No, 90 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: I think the market is is priced for for the 91 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: risks of moving towards a U S for session and 92 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: getting many many cuts from the FED. UM and and 93 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: so I think what we're what we've done recently is 94 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: we've moved away from this idea of insurance cuts. And 95 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: really the conversation in the market is are you going 96 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: to see the labor data start to break down in 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: the US so that the FED needs to cut a 98 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: hundred basis points two hundred basis points big moves? So 99 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: you know, my conversations with investors have really been about 100 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: you know that outlier scenario rather rather than you know, 101 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: an insurance cut or two a little bit of a 102 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: little bit of a tweak. Well, let's take the GDP 103 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: second look that we're gonna have and basically a bypart 104 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: economy we all agree many elements of any given domestic 105 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: nation economy now is actually pretty good. And then there's 106 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: old trade component as well. Do you look at as 107 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: a is a by part analysis or do you aggregate 108 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: into a moldy us g d P. Now we we 109 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: really do look at it as as pretty separate because 110 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: we see constantly, you know, we have many many charts 111 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: and models where you see the sensitivity of both FED 112 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: decisions and market behavior. Two wobbles in momentum in manufacturing 113 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: growth where the labor data are just not affected. So 114 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: it's it's during the two thousand eights and the two 115 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: thousand ones. These are the rare times where the labor 116 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: data broadly does get affected. So that is the big 117 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: question right now we are not assuming a material slow 118 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: down in the labor data. So so that means if 119 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: you think the labor market is going to be fine, yeah, 120 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: when either they're completely stable or they only hike once 121 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: or twice in a little bit of a panic. This 122 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: has been great. James Sweeney, thank you so much for 123 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: the attention to her, particularly after you publish on our 124 00:06:44,600 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: fears of deflation. Mr Sweeney with credit sweets joining us. 125 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: Someplace to say is Jerome Schneider. Good morning to Jerome, 126 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: Good morning overseeing short term rates here at PIMCO. What 127 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: a morning for it? What is going on in this 128 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: bond market? What do you tell clients this morning? Short 129 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: term rates, long term rates? Basically, the market believes that 130 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: defense wins championships at this point in time, and ultimately, 131 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: when you see what the movement and rates has done 132 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: over the past few days, the markets clearly romancing the 133 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: fact that perhaps recessionary environment is on the horizon, and 134 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: we clearly need to be thinking about that. From the 135 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: rate move for much of this year, For much of 136 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: we've been pricing in the idea, at least many people 137 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: have the idea of a soft landing in the United States. 138 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: Are we moving past that idea to something maybe a 139 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: little bit more sinister now? Well, it's definitely not at 140 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: the forefront, and most investors mind at this point in time. 141 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: In fact, you know, when you look at the frictions 142 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: that are going on and emanating in the marketplace. Uh, 143 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: there's some disjointed, desjointed views, and I think originally that 144 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: was thought as a low probability event or a lower 145 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: probability event has moved towards the forefront. Clearly, trade and 146 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: trade frictions have placed on that. And when people think 147 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: about that, they quickly exacerbate and extrapolate what is going 148 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: to happen in the environment, not just for the next 149 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: few days or weeks, but the next few years. And 150 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: we're seeing the rallying rates happened for two reasons. One 151 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: risk off scenario too when you think about the the 152 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: the continued evolution of where of where growth is going 153 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: in the United States. Again, a lower lower for longer, 154 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: which we've positive here for a long time here at PIMCO. 155 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: The reality is is that a lower growth rate probably 156 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: means that there's more susceptibility to re seasionary trends. And 157 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: when you have that, ultimately the race to a nearer 158 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: or closer to zero yield is going to be is 159 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: going to be in the cards to ye rights right 160 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: now two percent. It was only three years ago that 161 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: the two year Treasury not how to yield a fifty 162 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: basis points. We went up, we can come down just 163 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: as quickly, can't. Wait. Well, I mean that was the 164 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: idea behind the FED. Ultimately, what they want to do 165 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: is create a bandwidth, create some type of distance to 166 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: that zero bound, and timately with that zero bound, you know, 167 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: we really don't The FED wanted to simply use their 168 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: ordinary tools or traditionary tool kit at that point in 169 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: time to effectively cut rates. Should we have a recession 170 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: environment and don't expect anything, you know, much beyond that, 171 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 1: we're not going to be hitting negative rates in the 172 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: United States. But simply put, they're gonna be focusing on 173 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: on the sequencing a risk. And and mind you that 174 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: the market is well ahead of itself. There's a pretty 175 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: high barrier to cut rates, much a higher barrier than 176 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: than the market might appreciate at this point in time. 177 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: And so with that in mind, uh, you know, three 178 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: plus rate hikes priced into where we are right now, Uh, 179 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: does you know, does seem a little full at this 180 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: point in time. That being said, if if processionary environment 181 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: does come to fruition, you know, you can quickly see 182 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: tenure rates move well past that two percent threshold all 183 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 1: the way down to your rates. As you highlighted before, 184 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: could you know could quickly obviously recalibrate much lower considering 185 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 1: a rate cut that might happen. She's just joining us 186 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: worldwide John Farrell at Newport Beach, California with pim Co. 187 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: He begins a terrific day of conversations on Bloomberg, surveillance 188 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: and all the other feral properties, beginning now with Jerome 189 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: Schneider on short rates. Jerome, how do you measure the 190 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: left tail? Speak to our global Wall Street audience. You 191 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: walk into Pimco early early morning, You've got three logins 192 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: on your Bloomberg. How do you measure left tail instability 193 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: right now? Well, for me, the left tail instability it 194 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: comes from what I view as the great barometer of 195 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: financial markets, which is the funding markets, the repo markets, 196 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: and as we've discussed on many times, that has given 197 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: us great indicators of the health of the overall liquidity 198 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: and and overall aquidity of the marketplace and leverage within 199 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: the marketplace. You know, late, you know, the third quarter 200 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: of last year, we saw that begin to deteriorate as 201 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: we hit into your end. Actually, right now, there's very 202 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: little inclination that there's instability in those markets right now, 203 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: So it seems seems fairly stable at this point in time. 204 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: What I would say is that we clearly are focused 205 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: on the acro economic changing macro economic conditions tom which 206 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: ultimately says rates are moving lower in the US on 207 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: a relative basis, U s yields look relatively high compared 208 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:11,599 Speaker 1: to the rest of the world, clearly from the Eurozone, 209 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: even even other jurisdictions, you know, like Canada, etcetera. So 210 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 1: from that perspective, there's probably valid reason why rates should 211 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: coalesce at a lower degree than they were just even 212 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: a few days ago. You think that spread needs to 213 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: come in, well, I can understand why it should come 214 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: in at this point in time. Does it need to Well, 215 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: it all depends upon what your trajectory of growth is 216 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: and how higher probability do you think that recessionary environment 217 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 1: UH is going to happen. Well, let's talk about your 218 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: trajectory for growth and how it might differ with everyone else. 219 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: Right now, you say this market might be a little 220 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: bit ahead of itself with the right cuts. Is pricing 221 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: in to what degree to run? Well, so from that 222 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: point of view, you know, we've we've had a view 223 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: that there's been moderating growth in the economy, in the 224 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: U S economy for some time. You have I S 225 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: M S that have continued to be above fifty, but 226 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: are deteriorated off the other peaks over the past few 227 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: past few months. At the same time, UM that others 228 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: response in the FED as as quickly elicited UH an 229 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: appetite for risk, for risk taking that we've seen at 230 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: the beginning of the part of the year. UM. When 231 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: you look at that, you know, there's clearly implications that 232 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: were much more positive just a few weeks ago. Now 233 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: we have trade frictions. Those might resolve tomorrow, they might 234 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: be resolve over the course of the next year or two, 235 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: and then the longer they take, there's obviously going to 236 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: be more to demand more drained on that growth expectation. 237 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: So from our point of view, you know, this is 238 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: just simply a point in time where you should be 239 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: playing a little bit more defense from a point in 240 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: the cycle where very late in the cycle, as we've highlighted, 241 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: we want to basically be picking our spots in terms 242 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: of credit, picking our spots in terms of credit portfolio 243 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: differentiations of having a diversified portfolio and ultimately, uh, you know, 244 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: focusing on that aspect of defense, focusing on the front 245 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: end of the YO curve, which we still find is 246 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: pretty safe at this point in time, self liquidating assets 247 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: and you can pretty much still hunt around and find 248 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: assets that are closer to about three percent compared to 249 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: the interest on access reserves, which is the Fed's benchmark 250 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: of about two point three percent. Snod as Beth McLean 251 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: joining us now. Tom. Thank you very much, pim Coage 252 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: portfolio manager on leverage lines. Beth. Great to have you 253 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: with us on the program. It is one of those 254 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: much talked about areas of fixed income, but perhaps one 255 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: of the least understood, the federal reserve piling in over 256 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. Saying that it's an area 257 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: of worry, perhaps an area that could cause some kind 258 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: of systemic risk. Let's start there, Beth, your thoughts on that, sure, 259 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: Thank you and thanks for having me this morning. Um. 260 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: You know, I do think it's interesting leverage zones have 261 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: become a real topic of conversation from the Fed to 262 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: the Hill and definitely in the media. But um, we 263 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: think in a way it's become a case of the 264 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: people aren't seeing the forest for the trees, right. There's 265 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: an increased risk across all of credit. The investment grade 266 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: market is now fift triple b s. There's weaker terms 267 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: and conditions in the loan market, yes, but also in 268 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 1: the high yield market, which is an unsecured market versus 269 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: loans which are which are secured um and and then 270 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: overall the growth of the private credit market, which is 271 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: completely unregulated. So I think there's plenty of risk to 272 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: go around. And importantly, you have to to boil it 273 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: down to you know, picking the individual credits, doing the 274 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: bottom up credit research so that you're picking the healthiest trees, 275 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: if you will, in in in the forest. The rny 276 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: of it all is that maybe the risks we're building 277 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: when the Federal Reserve was cutting hiking interest rates rather 278 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: because there was this massive wall of demand for floating 279 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: right product. Just how much have the covenants have some 280 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: of the securities that invested would typically have Just how 281 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: much have they been beaten up over the last couple 282 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: of years. Yeah, I think that's been an area of 283 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: focusing rightly. So, I think that the demand for income 284 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: across you know, high yield and leverage loans has driven 285 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: to weaker terms. So generally we see most of the 286 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: market now over it was quote unquote covenant light, which 287 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: means there's no maintenance covenants. But importantly there are still 288 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: incurrence tests, so companies can only incur debt if their 289 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: leverages is peaked at a certain level. So there are 290 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: some protection still in the documents. And then the other 291 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: area of weakness, if you will, has been you know, 292 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: maybe looser baskets. UM. There there's more room for adding 293 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: incremental indebtedness, there's more room to make restricted payments or dividends. 294 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: So those are the things that again it gets down 295 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: really to us to how do you underwrite these loans 296 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: and are you in your models? You know, we have 297 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: our our global credit research team that that you hear 298 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: Markquisel and others talk about. UM. That team is very 299 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: focused on doing that bottom up analysis and taking a 300 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: look at the structure and saying, what if we fund 301 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: that incremental debt and it pays a dividend. So it's 302 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: not really doing anything to help the company, if you will, 303 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: but to help equity investors. UM. You know, how does 304 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: that look, what does that impact our you know, our 305 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: view on their ability to deleverage over time, how the 306 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: company can fare through a downturn. So we're always under 307 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: writing to what is that downside? What if they pull 308 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: all of these triggers that they have in their credit 309 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: agreements and how do how do how will they be 310 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: able to sustain cash flows and pay down debt during 311 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: during a weaker economic And let's talk about the prospect 312 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: of a much weaker economy. We have a global bond 313 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: market pricing in right cuts in the treasury market, for instance, 314 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: the prospective recoveries the default cycle. What it could look 315 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: like now for this error fixed income versus what it 316 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: looked like ten years ago. Has it changed in your mind? 317 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: I think it has changed. Um you know, you can't 318 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: have this this fundamental shift in weaker terms, etcetera, and 319 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: not have some expectation on how it's going to impact 320 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: the behavior through the next economic cycle. Um. So I 321 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: think a couple of things. One, we do think that recoveries. 322 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: In the last couple of cycles, you've had cumulative default 323 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: rates oft with recoveries and loans of about sevent If 324 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: we go through the next cycle, and let's say you 325 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: have the same cumulative default rate but recoveries of same 326 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: were like sixty to sixty five percent, which is what 327 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: the UM, what the rating agencies are are generally forecasting. Obviously, 328 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: that's increased losses to UM you know two investors. But 329 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: I think if you put it in in in the 330 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 1: broader framework, the loan market is about a trillion dollars. 331 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: Let's say we have that thirty percent cumulator default, right, 332 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: and a more draconian scenario of fifty percent recoveries. That's 333 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: a hundred and fifty billion of losses. So that's not 334 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: not unmeaningful. But think about what the fang stocks lose 335 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: sometimes in an afternoon, right, If you put it in perspective, 336 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: that's not that big. And and then secondly, those losses 337 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: are going to be born primarily by CLLO equity investors. 338 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: CLOS owned two thirds of the loan market and Cello 339 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: Equity is the first loss. So even in that scenario 340 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: where you have fifteen percent cumulative losses, most of that 341 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: actually hits just the CLLO equity and maybe the double bs. 342 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: Beth really smart stuff and gas get your insight this 343 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: morning on an area of fixed thing. Come Tom, But 344 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: I think he's talked about a lot but not understood 345 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: very well. Beth McLean that of pim cut really good 346 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: perspective in a series of conversations with John Farrow at 347 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: Newport Beach with PIMCO. Today, we now get a clinic 348 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: on China from Hugo Rogers, chief investment strategist at Dell Tech. 349 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: He's smarter than I am. In February he's in the Bahamas. 350 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: Even now in May he's in the Bahamas. So, Hugo, 351 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 1: you're smarter than I am. But your note on China 352 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 1: is jaw dropping. You clearly take the gloomy side. Why well, Um, 353 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: there's a very thank you for your introduction. My ability 354 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: to focus the weather is is well famous. Maybe I'm 355 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: very tough to do in the Bahamas, but continue exactly. Um. 356 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: So the gloomy view and China really is that there 357 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: are long term structural issues in China. China is has 358 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: been running a series of stimulus since the Great Financial Crisis. 359 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: They've all been debt fueled fixed asset investment, and the 360 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: marginal returns on those kinds of investments have been falling. 361 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: You know, the the credit impulse has led to a 362 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 1: lower and lower GDP response each time. So there is 363 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: a problem with the old way of stimulating growth. That 364 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: mechanism is broken, Um. And there's actually it's worse than that. 365 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 1: There's a direct conflict. The way you're funding that growth 366 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: away that China is funding that growth is your effectively 367 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: expropriating savings from your consumers. And it's the consumer you 368 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: need to pick up the economy. You know, it's less 369 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: than half the economy and it's just not growing. What 370 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: do you make of the bank failure and inner mongolia 371 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: four or five, six days ago? Is that a one 372 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: off video syncretic moment or not. It's it's potentially a harbinger. 373 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: But you know, let's not let's not read too much 374 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: into a small banker. But the you know, I've seen 375 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: the Chinese banks I met when the i PR however 376 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: long ago, and they all are state controlled, so they 377 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: have to lend where they're told and as provide the 378 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: balance right now of the political economics of Beijing with 379 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: the trade war and with the classic answer, which is China, 380 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: what outpatients us? Do they have the underlying economic slash 381 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: financial to out patients? President Trump, Um, Yeah, I hate 382 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: to be consensus, but the answer is they do have 383 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: They have less domestic political pressure. They control the narrative, 384 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: they control the press. They can they can play a 385 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: long game. But I think it's clear that that is 386 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: what they are betting on. They are turning around and 387 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: saying that we can play the long game. Trump isn't 388 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: the presidential election cycle right now. Um, so if we 389 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: wait out, we get a softer Um administration, we can 390 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: maybe we can maybe win. Come on, they're not a 391 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 1: currency manipulator. There was an uproar one year ago, two 392 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: years ago, five years ago. They were a currency manipulator. 393 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 1: I guess they still aren't. Fine. We've got rarers now, 394 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: know not the band folks from a million years ago? Rarers, Cobalt, 395 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: selenium and the rest of it. Go on. We got 396 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,959 Speaker 1: all that. Are those distractions or should we actually study 397 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: those as we try to study China? Um? They are. 398 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: I think there's there's small weapons. You know that the 399 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: problem is that actually right now China is in such 400 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: a weak position because it's trying to stimulate its economy. 401 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: It's it's been suffering. There's been in credit contraction for 402 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: a period of time in China, and and so Donald 403 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: Trump has got them over a battle barrel. So that 404 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: the best defense they have is a long term We're 405 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: playing a long term, patient game. But I find it 406 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: quite interesting that they're talking. They are trying to back 407 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: channel at the same time as trying to retaliate. At 408 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: the same time is trying to circumvent what So, which 409 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: one of those three should we focus on as we 410 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: try to figure out what to do? So this is 411 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: where I think, this is where China is actually smart, 412 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: because it does how it's it's playing all three games simultaneously. 413 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: When Trump is pushing home in advantage along a single line, 414 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: which is if FX reserves, if if if the Chinese 415 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 1: surplus falls, they have they have problems. They have significant problems. 416 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 1: That's that's like a lightning one that's going straight through. 417 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: But China is playing three games simultaneously to try and 418 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 1: try and circumvent that. Are they going to import Iranian 419 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: oil for example? Are the other ways of having some 420 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: kind of allegiance with with Europe if they get if 421 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: you get auto taris placed on them. So it's the 422 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: best it's the best response they have is to play 423 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: these these these small, subtle games. But they are in 424 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: a weaker position and it can't be denied. Thank you. 425 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: So much with del Tector today are chief investment strategies, 426 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: even from the Bahama. Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg 427 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: Surveillance podcast. Subscribe and listen to interviews on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, 428 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: or whichever podcast platform you prefer. I'm on Twitter at 429 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 1: Tom Keene before the podcast. You can always catch us worldwide. 430 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: I'm Bloomberg Radio