Aquila Viewpoints

Market outlook | 1st quarter 2022

In 2022, economic growth is expected to slow slightly to around 3.9%.
The inflation problem will remain an issue in 2022. The high money growth rates of the last two years mean that the inflation potential is high, even if the central banks were to "tap" faster.
To break inflation expectations, the FED has announced it will "tapering" twice as fast, with the prospect of three rate hikes.
However, the FED will only be able to normalize its monetary policy tentatively. The financial markets will play a key role in determining the pace.
The USD yield curve implies a "policy error" by the FED. Investors assume that growth will come under pressure after a series of interest rate hikes and that policy will be reversed again in two to three years.
The stock markets are trending friendly, albeit with decreasing market breadth.
The gold price consolidates around the level of 1,800 US dollars.

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Market Outlook | 4th Quarter 2021

We are sticking to our forecast for global economic growth of around 5.0% for this year. However, the growth rate has already passed its peak. For 2022, we expect growth of 4.0%.
China is also facing weakening economic growth. Moreover, there are problems in the real estate sector.
The Biden Administration is having difficulty finding Congressional majorities for its ambitious $3,500 billion spending package.
The Fed wants to start reducing (“tapering”) its bond-buying programs in November.
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) member interest rate forecasts (the “dot plots“) are consistent with one rate hike next year followed by three rate hikes in each of the following two years.
The September FOMC monetary policy meeting and the indication that the Fed will begin tapering bond purchases later this year had only a marginal impact on the US dollar yield curve.
The quiet sideways trend in the US dollar continues.

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Market Outlook | 3rd Quarter 2021

We expect the global economy to grow around 5.0% in 2021.
Ultra-expansionary monetary policy had little or no inflationary effect during the periods of lockdown because of the collapse in the velocity of money circulation that was induced by those lockdowns.
Now, with the reopening of the economy, consumers can again spend on services like travel and hotels. This will tend to increase the velocity of money circulation, increasing the risks of inflation.
The Fed has adjusted its expectations for inflation and started to discuss “tapering”. The Federal Open Market Committee now projects the first rate hike in the next interest rate cycle as early as 2023 (instead of 2024 previously).
Stock markets are experiencing abrupt shifts in sentiment but remain resilient.
The September FOMC monetary policy meeting and the indication that the Fed will begin tapering bond purchases later this year had only a marginal impact on the US dollar yield curve.
Precious metals prices have corrected sharply as real yields have picked up. More details on our assessments in the new Aquila Viewpoint.

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Aquila Viewpoints

Market outlook | 1st quarter 2022

market news fallback

In 2022, economic growth is expected to slow slightly to around 3.9%.
The inflation problem will remain an issue in 2022. The high money growth rates of the last two years mean that the inflation potential is high, even if the central banks were to "tap" faster.
To break inflation expectations, the FED has announced it will "tapering" twice as fast, with the prospect of three rate hikes.
However, the FED will only be able to normalize its monetary policy tentatively. The financial markets will play a key role in determining the pace.
The USD yield curve implies a "policy error" by the FED. Investors assume that growth will come under pressure after a series of interest rate hikes and that policy will be reversed again in two to three years.
The stock markets are trending friendly, albeit with decreasing market breadth.
The gold price consolidates around the level of 1,800 US dollars.

Show publication
Aquila Viewpoints

Market Outlook | 4th Quarter 2021

market news fallback

We are sticking to our forecast for global economic growth of around 5.0% for this year. However, the growth rate has already passed its peak. For 2022, we expect growth of 4.0%.
China is also facing weakening economic growth. Moreover, there are problems in the real estate sector.
The Biden Administration is having difficulty finding Congressional majorities for its ambitious $3,500 billion spending package.
The Fed wants to start reducing (“tapering”) its bond-buying programs in November.
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) member interest rate forecasts (the “dot plots“) are consistent with one rate hike next year followed by three rate hikes in each of the following two years.
The September FOMC monetary policy meeting and the indication that the Fed will begin tapering bond purchases later this year had only a marginal impact on the US dollar yield curve.
The quiet sideways trend in the US dollar continues.

Show publication
Aquila Viewpoints

Market Outlook | 3rd Quarter 2021

market news fallback

We expect the global economy to grow around 5.0% in 2021.
Ultra-expansionary monetary policy had little or no inflationary effect during the periods of lockdown because of the collapse in the velocity of money circulation that was induced by those lockdowns.
Now, with the reopening of the economy, consumers can again spend on services like travel and hotels. This will tend to increase the velocity of money circulation, increasing the risks of inflation.
The Fed has adjusted its expectations for inflation and started to discuss “tapering”. The Federal Open Market Committee now projects the first rate hike in the next interest rate cycle as early as 2023 (instead of 2024 previously).
Stock markets are experiencing abrupt shifts in sentiment but remain resilient.
The September FOMC monetary policy meeting and the indication that the Fed will begin tapering bond purchases later this year had only a marginal impact on the US dollar yield curve.
Precious metals prices have corrected sharply as real yields have picked up. More details on our assessments in the new Aquila Viewpoint.

Show publication