ECB August Meeting

Not to forget this is the just the beginning of ‘doing what it takes’ to sustain the euro, and make it ‘safe’ for investors.

That’s all inclusive, though not necessarily immediate.

And ‘anchoring’ the short end ‘automatically’ goes a very long way towards anchoring the long end with regard to risk premium.


Karim writes:

Draghi announced significant philosophical changes today. The key announcements were:

  • The ECB was ready to renounce seniority on its bond purchases.
  • The size of future purchases was open-ended: ‘size adequate to reach its objectives’.
  • Future purchases may not be sterilized, as they have been with the SMP so far.
  • Purchases would be front-end focused as that ‘falls squarely in line with monetary policy instruments’. A key instrument is obviously the LTROs. So would imagine purchases would be 3yrs and in on the curve.

The adherence of governments to their commitments and the fulfilment by the EFSF/ESM of their role are necessary conditions [for some action on the ECB side]. The Governing Council, within its mandate to maintain price stability over the medium term and in observance of its independence in determining monetary policy, may undertake outright open market operations of a size adequate to reach its objective. In this context, the concerns of private investors about seniority will be addressed.

Other news was that:

  • As in the excerpt above, purchases would be subject to strict conditionality via the EFSF (i.e., Spain has to accept a Memorandum of Understanding). Fiscal consolidation and structural reform were listed as the key conditions.
  • He threw cold water on the ESM getting a banking license, saying he was ‘surprised by the attention this has received’.
  • Logistics and objectives on bond purchases were TBD by a committee.
  • Further non-standard measures were forthcoming.
  • Rate cuts were discussed but unanimously voted down; as for a negative depo rate he said ‘we are in unchartered waters’, implying the hurdle may be high.

Relative to levels before Draghi’s London speech last week, Spanish 2y yields are 200bps lower, and 10yr yields are 50bps lower.

Quick update

A few more modest ‘green shoots’ including US personal income up .5, a few more jobs, houses and cars looking reasonable firm, etc. and markets starting to ‘undiscount’ a US recession.

Govt deficits remain plenty high to support income/sales/employment at current (depressed) levels and promote modest growth. Just as in the prior two double dip panics of the last several years, markets and the mainstream tend to give little if any weight to the notion that large deficits support aggregate demand. (Interesting how ideology seems to be adversely influencing their forecasting.)

So right now I see no fundamental reason for a meaningful drop in aggregate demand, apart from a politically driven external shock of some sort from Europe or maybe Iran, where there have been a few too many very recent noises regarding an Israeli attack for comfort.

Swiss Manufacturing Slump Unexpectedly Eases on Output Gain

By Simone Meier and Klaus Wille

August 2 (Bloomberg) — Swiss manufacturing contracted at a slower pace in July than in the previous month as companies stepped up production, suggesting that the economy is weathering Europe’s deepening slump.


The procure.ch Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 48.6 from 48.1 in June, when adjusted for seasonal swings, Credit Suisse Group AG said in an e-mailed statement today. That’s the highest since March. A reading below 50 indicates contraction.

Marginal rise in construction output, but new orders continue to decline during July

August 2 (Markit) — At 50.9 in July, up from 48.2, the Markit/CIPS Construction PMI rebounded slightly from June’s two-and-a-half year low. However, the latest reading was well below the long-run series average (54.2). Growth was largely confined to the commercial sub-sector in July, as house building and civil engineering activity continued to decline. July data indicated a further reduction in new work received by construction companies. Although the rate of decline eased over the month, it was still the second-fastest since January 2010. Survey respondents widely cited a lack of new opportunities to tender and a general weakness in underlying market demand.

Sweden Krona Jumps as Rate Cut Calls Fade on Accelerating Growth

By Stephen Treloar and Johan Carlstrom

August 1 (Bloomberg) — Sweden’s krona surged, posting the biggest gains of all major currencies, after a report showed manufacturing unexpectedly expanded, damping speculation the Riksbank will cut interest rates at its meeting next month.

The krona rose as much as 0.8 percent to 8.2979 per euro, the highest since Sept. 11, 2000, and was up 0.5 percent at 8.3217 as of 1:15 p.m. in Stockholm. It surged almost 0.9 percent against the dollar to 6.7411, a three-month high. It gained against all 16 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

An index based on responses from purchasing managers rose to a seasonally adjusted 50.6 in July from 48.4 the previous month, Stockholm-based Swedbank AB said today. A reading above 50 signals an expansion. It was estimated to drop to 47.7, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

“Following the surprisingly strong GDP number Monday this gives further ammunition for unchanged Riksbank rates at the September meeting and lends additional support to krona appreciation,” said Claes Maahlen, head of trading strategy at Svenska Handelsbanken AB in Stockholm, in a note today.

Sweden has been able to avoid a recession this year as companies such as retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB and Sandvik AB have benefitted from demand outside Europe and as the central bank cut interest rates. The economy expanded 1.4 percent in the second quarter as increased exports of services offset a decline in the export of goods. Consumer spending also rose.

The yield on Sweden’s two-year notes increased three basis points to 0.9 percent.