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Time, The Biggest Risk

If there is still no current or present indication of rising economic fortunes, and there isn’t, then the “reflation” idea turns instead to what might be different this time as compared to the others. In 2013 and 2014, it was QE3 and particularly the intended effects (open ended and faster paced, a bigger commitment by the Fed to purportedly do whatever it took) upon expectations that supposedly set it apart from the failures of QE’s 1 and 2. This time it is more fiscal than monetary, a potential difference that isn’t lost on “reflation” believers.

Oil WTI, May 2016 - February 2017

Oil WTI, May 2016 - February 2017

- Click to enlarge

There is every reason to suspect that a broad array of “stimulus” will be unleashed at some point, one that will include tax cuts corporate as well as personal income (rumored). The repeal of Obamacare is thought to be helpful in releasing the hiring impulse particularly for small businesses, and even Dodd-Frank’s impending removal could in theory restart bank leverage.

Oil Copper, 2015 - 2017

Oil Copper, 2015 - 2017

- Click to enlarge

Even if you believe that all those things together or separately will achieve the sought after “difference”, it is becoming clearer that they will be possibilities to watch in 2018 rather than 2017. The tax cut package which was promised in detail weeks ago is nowhere near ready for public evaluation (apparently). The repeal of Obamacare has been far from ideal so far, where even in friendly circles it is being described in terms once used for the passage of Obamacare itself. As to the last, Dodd-Frank, it may be the case that it doesn’t happen at all.

Here’s the latest indication Wall Street regulations won’t be gutted anytime soon: Republicans who write financial laws are starting to focus on other things.

 

The Senate Banking Committee, led by Mike Crapo, on Thursday is scheduled to consider a measure about publishing research on exchange-traded funds, and a collection of other narrow bills with bipartisan support.

 

In the House, the Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing about flood insurance, further stalling the rollout of Chairman Jeb Hensarling’s plan to eliminate laws enacted in response to the financial crisis of 2008.

 

Reality is setting in on Capitol Hill that rolling back the Dodd-Frank banking law won’t be quick or easy — even though it’s a priority for Republican President Donald Trump, who says the measure is hurting the economy. Bank stocks have rallied partly because investors expect change.

US Dollar / China Yuan, July 2016 - March 2017

US Dollar / China Yuan, July 2016 - March 2017

- Click to enlarge

All of these setbacks, and they are legitimate setbacks to a “reflation” regime predicated on little more than hope ,would be considerable pressure for any positive “reflation” trade. The action in oil prices the past week or so, for one, might be consistent with growing doubts about timing if not President’s Trump’s ability to ultimately get these done.

There starts the parade of correlations:

That being said, however, this turnaround possibly against “reflation” reflected primarily in the sudden downside to WTI might be explained better in more familiar terms. Just as oil and copper have dropped out of their extremely tight ranges, so too have a number of other prices and trading – starting with CNY.

Oil CNY JPY, Aug 2016 - March 2017

Oil CNY JPY, Aug 2016 - March 2017

- Click to enlarge

My favorite, for lack of a better word, is again JPY with CNY; once more they alternate to where the pain in one is the relief for the other. Right now, with CNY inching closer to its latest zero-hour, it is China taking the brunt (CNY down though the PBOC has expended great effort to keep it stable) where Japan is allowed the reprieve (JPY down in the direction BoJ wants it to go). This is the reverse, of course, from the middle of December through early February, where JPY was rising again (infuriating the BoJ) while CNY was, too (at the great effort of China’s central bank).

Again, even if you believe Trump is the game-changer (and I do not, expecting instead that these necessary improvements are only that, improvements), pushing the paradigm shift further into the future risks the intrusion of things that will not have changed by the time those policy alterations become viable.

Oil CNY Gold, Aug 2016 - March 2017

Oil CNY Gold, Aug 2016 - March 2017

- Click to enlarge

 

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Jeffrey P. Snider
Jeffrey P. Snider is the head of Global Investment Research of Alhambra Investment Partners (AIP). Jeffrey was 12 years at Atlantic Capital Management where he anticipated the financial crisis with critical research. His company is a global investment adviser, hence potential Swiss clients should not hesitate to contact AIP
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