Solid signals the debt ceiling is going to be a problem, and might be a catalyst (not they catalyst) behind today's risk market selloff.
Yes, it eventually gets resolved but the fear it will be messy and chaotic this time around.
A thread to explain.
1/6
First, their is 1.3 trillion in Fed reverse repo (RRP). The Fed is offering 5 basis points in this RRP facility
Their is no reason for a T-Bill to have a yield above the 5 bps RRP rate.
2/6
Here is the bill curve out the next 9 mos and the Oct 18 date that the govt runs out of money.
The only bill yield yields above 5 bps is from Oct 19 to Oct 28.
By trading above the RRP rate after Oct 18 signals the debt ceiling is going to be a problem in this time period.
3/6
The betting markets have a contract with an Oct 15 date. It is essentially 50/50 it will be raised before this date.
This signals no early deal. So, even if a deal gets done in time to avoid a mess, it is going down to the wire.
4/6
Now for the political part to ask why this is happening.
The Ds are the majority of the House, Senate and Presidency. They do not need R votes.
But hiking the debt ceiling is deeply unpopular and they want cover from the Rs. They are not getting it.
5/6
Biden is deeply unpopular and it just gets worse everyday. See the orange line, new highs in "disapprove" regularly.
Does Biden lack the stature IN HIS OWN PARTY to cut a deal between his progressives and moderates? He would if he was at 55% appr.
6/6
Bonus
All the Wall Street strategists are in universal agreement this is a bunch of nothing and will get resolved without drama.
This last time they we this sure about something was Feb 2020 with they all concluded CV19 was temporary and not important.
You have been warned!
Can/should the Fed buy T-Bills and stop a mess with the debt ceiling?
Buying bills or any kind of "support" for the Treasury market is taking a side in an intensely political fight.
1/2
Powell is fond of saying that congress does the will of the American People. The Fed job is to respond, not take sides.
And for the Fed to get involved would be especially political given they all but signaled they are going to start tapering at the Nov 3rd FOMC meeting.
2/2
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It's not what a default means for China. Rather it's what happened to China to cause a default.
Start with this chart. Economists are hacking China growth forecasts, and the downgrades are accelerating.
1/5
These downgrades are consistent with the Economic Strength Indices (ESI) compiled by our colleagues at @DataArbor . They measure incoming economic data versus its 1-year average.
China’s ESI has been falling and recently turned negative.
2/5
Currently, China (orange) is the only large economy with an ESI below zero.
While his appr rating might be bottoming (Gallup today at 43%, so we'll see), his disappr keeps making new highs.
In a polarized world where the vast majority will never chg their opinion (either way), this is a big move and only about 2% higher than Trump on election day.
2/4
Rs are saying "Ds, you do it"
Biden is going have to use his political capital to get Ds to pass spending/debt ceiling.
Again, see Biden's approval/disapproval chart above ... what political capital? It seems to be disappearing by the day.
Gensler is a career bureaucrat, nothing more, nothing less.
That means he gets important positions of power and he gets to be in the room when the policy is formulated, and offer his opinion, and it will be seriously considered.
2/3
But when the policy is made (read: Yellen decides) Gensler is to prostitute to the full force of his office/reputation to sell it. And sell it like he means it!
Otherwise, they will find another bureaucrat and he can go back to MIT.
The democrats have the presidency and the majority in the House and the tie-breaking vote in the Senate (50/50, VP breaks ties).
They do not need a single republican vote to raise the debt ceiling.
2/6
So what is Yellen worrying about?
Could it be that Biden is losing political cloud?
As this chart shows, and I have mentioned in previous tweets, we are a very polarized country. No one ever changes their opinion (for or against). So a move of this size is significant. 3/6