Daily: Easy money shifts private portfolio preferences and increases risk-taking

For most market watchers, it shouldn’t be a surprise that easy money has an (intended) effect on markets in increasing risk appetite as ‘risk-free’ returns diminish. This cycle is no different. A number of today’s articles point to a resurgence in risk amid a global economy awash in money that has brought risk-free rates down to negative territory.

Rather than perceive this dichotomy as some sort of market anomaly, we should look at it as the suppression of real returns which it is. Central banks globally are engaged in extreme levels of financial suppression to re-animate animal spirits and get credit flowing so that we can resume business as usual. These actions have impacted credit markets and boosted asset prices. For example, in the US, the housing market is clearly in a cyclical recovery now. The commercial real estate market is entering frothy territory as evidenced by the Bloomberg post below. Investors are piling into CMBS because investors are "seeking high yields amid record-low interest rates." It won’t end well in US CMBS or anywhere else where excessive risk taking is occurring, the JPMorgan Chase London whale trades as a prime example.

There is no free money here. The Fed and other central banks are basically redistributing wealth by suppressing returns in fixed income assets and while this seems all fine and well given the economic malaise, it is having a negative impact on asset and capital allocation which will be found out in the next downturn. The better solution would be a recognition and writedown of bad debts as the ECB has begun advocating with private sector participation in bank restructuring in the euro zone.

But the market wants more easing. It’s begging for it and Bernanke has not delivered…yet. In the meantime, expect bond yields to maintain their low rates to reflect economic distress, while risk assets are artificially inflated as easy money shifts private portfolio preferences and increases risk.

The “Central Banks’ Central Bank” Slams the Federal Reserve | The Big Picture

Taiwan 10-Year Bond Yield Near Record Low on Easing Speculation – Bloomberg

Just Released: Housing Checkup–Has the Market Finally Bottomed Out? – Liberty Street Economics

CMBS Leverage Most Since ’07 as Standards Loosen: Credit Markets – Bloomberg

Ben Bernanke’s speech: in full – Telegraph

Demand for Treasuries hits record levels – FT.com

The World Is Experiencing The Opposite Of A Sovereign Debt Crisis – Business Insider

Depósitos: el producto preferido en tiempos de crisis – Libre Mercado

That’s it. Here are the links.

Europe

BBC News – Second home owners in France face tax

A eurocrisis solution – a German exit – FT.com

The ECB’s Swedish plan | | MacroBusiness

Italy’s Political Risk « naked capitalism

 

 

Banks

HSBC ‘sorry’ for aiding Mexican drugs lords, rogue states and terrorists | Business | The Guardian

HSBC, Libor and the cynical ethos of international banking | Charles Geisst | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

HSBC boss quits for failing to stop money laundering – Telegraph

Introducing a Series on the Evolution of Banks and Financial Intermediation – Liberty Street Economics

The Rise of the Originate-to-Distribute Model and the Role of Banks in Financial Intermediation – Liberty Street Economics

Technology

Google’s Marissa Mayer has her work cut out at Yahoo! – Telegraph

So Marissa Mayer will be skipping maternity leave – how very American | Life and style | The Guardian

U.S. Venture Capital Has Its Biggest Quarter Since Dot-Com Days – Liz Gannes – News – AllThingsD

Marc Andreessen Says Now’s the Time to Build Companies Like It’s 1999 – Arik Hesseldahl – News – AllThingsD

China

Dealing with a Double Whammy – Caixin Online

Inside Canada, China Asserts Itself – WSJ.com

China Echoes 2009 Stimulus Planned Railway Spending Boost – Bloomberg

 

Other links

Exploitation, Crony Capitalism, and the State | Bleeding Heart Libertarians

Guardian to cut staff as losses widen – Telegraph

Guardian and Observer report losses of £44.2m | Media | guardian.co.uk

Bill Ackman’s P&G Stake: He Should Stop Trying to Run Companies, Says Howard Davidowitz | Daily Ticker – Yahoo! Finance

The Sucking Sound of Air Leaving the Economy « naked capitalism

How the Republican party can win in November – FT.com

financial newsinterest ratesmonetary policyprivate portfolio preferencesrisk