US: Fed maintains status quo; tone moderately hawkish

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1 Dec-16 Feb-17 Mar-17 May-17 Policy Watch: US Fed Treasury Research Group For private circulation only US: Fed maintains status quo; tone moderately hawkish Market implied probability of a December rate hike currently stands at 78% (%) Market implied probability of a rate hike Source: Bloomberg, ICICI Bank Research November 2, 2016 Samir Tripathi samir.tripathi@icicibank.com Sumedha DasGupta sumedha.dasgupta@icicibank.com 83.0 Please see important disclaimer at the end of this report In line with our expectations, US Fed maintained status quo and kept the Fed funds target range unchanged at 0.25%-0.50%. A greater emphasis on inflation in the latest policy statement was the key difference between this policy and its September 2016 counterpart. Incoming data and developments in the global and financial markets, in addition to the outcome of the US Presidential elections, will remain critical for determining the next policy action. Our assessment currently attaches a high probability to a policy move in December Fed maintains status quo The Fed maintained status quo in its policy meeting, in line with expectations. The FOMC judged that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate had continued to strengthen but decided, for the time being, to wait for some further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives. Members voting against the action were Esther L. George and Loretta J. Mester, each of whom preferred to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 1/2 to 3/4 percent. This is in contrast to three dissents being recorded in the September meeting. Deviation from the September 2016 statement While the FOMC had noted in its September meet that inflation continued to run below the FOMC s 2% long-run target, the latest statement sounded hawkish, stating that inflation had increased somewhat since earlier this year, rescinding its view of low inflation. Additionally, the FOMC highlighted that inflation is expected to rise to 2% over the medium-term, without any mention of the expectation that inflation would remain low partly due to earlier declines in energy prices. Macroeconomic conditions continue to improve gradually The US economy has been showing calibrated signs of recovery in the past few months, even as some sectors evince tepidity. GDP growth for Q printed at an eight-quarter high 2.9% QoQ (ann.), with a strong turnaround in inventory investment and exports. On the inflation front, CPI inflation inched up to a nearly one-year high of 1.5% YoY in September from 1.3% YoY in the previous month, while core inflation dipped mildly. PCE inflation (the Fed s preferred inflation gauge) also saw an uptick to 1.2% in September from 1.0% in August. On the flip side, nonfarm payrolls rose by 156K in September, as compared to a higher gain of 167K jobs in August, while the consumer confidence index dropped to 98.6 in October from in September. In light of these mixed data trends, we believe that the monetary tightening cycle will be gradual. Fed notes continued pickup in economic activity in the US economy The policy statement in its assessment of economic activity, cited that the labor market has continued to strengthen and growth of economic activity has picked up from the modest pace seen in the first half of this year. This is in tandem with the uptick in GDP growth seen in Q The FOMC also noted that job gains have been solid (despite the lower NFP print for September as compared to August), although the unemployment rate is little changed in recent months.

2 Market implication: Short term uncertainty likely to persist Markets are in a risk aversion mode and the trend is likely to persist as the focus shifts to the outcome of the US Presidential election. US 10 year bond yield slid through the day and the direction persisted after the announcement, reflecting the safe have demand for Treasuries. This trend is reflected in the overnight movement in gold prices as well. Risk off scenario was reflected on account of a sell off across equities and crude prices. In the currency market the trend was mixed. While the Dollar index strengthened vis-à-vis the Euro and British Pound, it weakened against the Yen. Increased likelihood of policy action in December 2016 Global market volatility has deterred policy move since the start of 2016 with uncertainties stemming from Brexit and the upcoming US Presidential elections, as well as mixed economic data prints. However, given the relatively healthier performance of the US economy on several data fronts including GDP growth in recent months, the Fed could be expected to tighten monetary policy soon. Additionally, as uncertainty stemming from the US elections will resolve next week, a rate hike seems imminent. We maintain our view of a high probability of a policy move in December This is in line with markets, wherein the market implied probability of a December rate hike is ~78%. Focus is now likely to shift to the non-farm payrolls (NFP) data print for October (due Friday), as well as the CPI and PCE inflation prints for the just-concluded month for cues on the health of the US economy. Markets currently expect NFP to come in at 175K in October vs. jobs addition of 156K in September. 2

3 Annexure FOMC statement comparison: In comparison to the previous statement, the Fed commentary has been slightly on the hawkish side. The key driver for this assessment is the shift in stance on inflation. Growth FOMC statement comparison September 21st 2016 November 2nd 2016 Our assessment The labor market has continued to The labor market has continued to strengthen and growth of economic activity strengthen and growth of economic activity has picked up from the modest pace seen has picked up from the modest pace seen Neutral in the first half of this year in the first half of this year. Labour market Although the unemployment rate is little changed in recent months, job gains have been solid, on average. Although the unemployment rate is little changed in recent months, job gains have been solid. Neutral Other sectors Inflation Risk to the outlook On Fed funds rate Voting against the proposal Household spending has been growing strongly but business fixed investment has remained soft. Inflation has continued to run below the Committee's 2 percent longer-run objective, partly reflecting earlier declines in energy prices and in prices of non-energy imports. Market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low; most surveybased measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed, on balance, in recent months. Inflation is expected to remain low in the near term, in part because of earlier declines in energy prices, but to rise to 2 percent over the medium term as the transitory effects of past declines in energy and import prices dissipate and the labor market strengthens further. Near-term risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced. The Committee continues to closely monitor inflation indicators and global economic and financial developments The case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened, but decided, for the time being, to wait for further evidence of continued progress Esther L. George, Loretta J. Mester, and Eric Rosengren, preferred to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 1/2 to 3/4 percent Household spending has been rising moderately but business fixed investment has remained soft. Inflation has increased somewhat since earlier this year but is still below the Committee s 2 percent longer-run objective, partly reflecting earlier declines in energy prices and in prices of nonenergy imports. Market-based measures of inflation compensation have moved up but remain low; most survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed, on balance, Inflation is expected to rise to 2 percent over the medium term as the transitory effects of past declines in energy and import prices dissipate and the labor market strengthens further. Near-term risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced. The Committee continues to closely monitor inflation indicators and global economic and financial developments. The case for an increase in the federal funds rate has continued to strengthen but decided, for the time being, to wait for some further evidence of continued progress Esther L. George and Loretta J. Mester, preferred to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 1/2 to 3/4 percent Slightly Dovish Hawkish Hawkish Slightly Hawkish ICICI Bank: ICICI Bank Towers, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai Phone: (+91-22)

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