04/05/2023
Stocks retreated in March as investor confidence sank following a handful of major shakeups in the banking sector. These included the failures of Silicon Valley and Signature Banks, the hurried acquisition of Credit Suisse by its rival UBS, and the propping up of First Republic by 11 of America’s biggest banks.
Investors flocked to some of the world’s largest technology companies last month. The combined weighting of Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp in the S&P 500 has risen to 13.3%, representing an all-time high. As market conditions have driven the FAANG stocks down 21% from their August 2021 peak, the two tech giants have claimed a bigger piece of the index. Stocks finished in the green for the second-straight quarter due largely to bounce backs by Big Tech that saw the Nasdaq Composite soar nearly 17% since the New Year. The S&P 500 climbed 7% over the same period. Source: Nasdaq and Axios
Banking Woes Fan Investor Concern
Treasury Secretary Janice Yellen’s reassurances about the stability of the banking industry appear to have eased investor fears somewhat, though many were frustrated by the lack of clarity surrounding the Federal Reserve’s next move. Central Bank chair Jerome Powell and Ms. Yellen both stated their intent to improve regulation of the banking industry, but the Treasury Secretary in particular was noncommittal regarding the prospect of extending insurance on deposits. That lack of clarity dragged the shares of smaller banks downward, reflecting investors’ anxiety about what might happen next. Both Powell and Yellen acknowledged that more oversight is needed in light of recent events, though the Fed chair admitted the central bank’s supervisors had not been effective at preventing problems at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
Among the proposed changes were updating stress test models for lenders and giving additional authority to the Financial Stability Oversight Council. Still, Yellen’s reticence surrounding the adoption of universal deposit insurance without congressional approval seemed to negatively impact the market and revived fears that the government may be unsure of how to rebuild depositor confidence. Source: CNBC
Curbing Inflation Still a Priority for the Fed
The Fed intimated that it may finally stop raising rates but Powell didn’t rule out another rate increase or two. In fact, on March 22, the Federal Reserve moved forward with a quarter-point interest rate increase – the ninth straight one – even in the face of the recent banking chaos. This seemed to be a clear signal that, for now, dampening inflation remains more of a concern than the perceived stability of the banking sector. This latest hike pushes the Fed funds rate to the highest it’s been since May 2006. Still, while officials forecast one more rate increase this year, it’s anything but certain. Powell posited that the turmoil hitting lenders now is effectively substituting for additional rate increases.
The move seems to underscore Powell’s confidence in his strategy and his intent to stay the course. Many experts believe, as he does, that even though inflation has shown signs of slowing, there’s more work to be done before prices stabilize. The fight to tame inflation will likely continue to take precedence but may involve less aggressive measures than before, reflecting Powell’s concern about persistent tightness in the labor market and fears about an impending downturn. He indicated that the central bank isn’t done hiking rates and will continue to do so appropriately. Still, many experts worry that further increases in the cost of borrowing could contract the economy too much. Source: CNET
Will the Banking Crisis Cause a Recession?
As if rising interest rates, inflation, and round-after-round of tech layoffs weren’t enough, the bank industry’s recent woes have sent more shudders through an already-jittery US economy. The well-documented troubles of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank as well as several additional bank rescues triggered fears of a contagion that could engulf the economy. The University of Michigan’s closely watched index of consumer sentiment recently fell for the first time in months. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index is also down, according to the latest data. Does this mean the recession investors have been hearing about for a year is finally on the horizon? Wall Street has been debating the topic for months. While a strong labor market has helped the economy dodge the recession bullet so far, whether that continues remains to be seen, and consumer confidence has much to do with that. Source: CNBC. Additionally, the recent banking concerns may also add to recession fears as credit conditions are expected to tighten across regional and community banks. The silver lining here is that although tighter lending restrictions may cool the economy, it could also help the Fed in its fight against inflation, thereby putting the brakes on future rate hikes.
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