PA ANALYSIS: The US and UK are unconsciously ‘de-coupling’
The past week has been one of stark contrasts for the two sides of the ‘special relationship’ in economic terms.
The past week has been one of stark contrasts for the two sides of the ‘special relationship’ in economic terms.
The number of jobs created in the United States in October rose to 271,000 the Labor Department revealed today – far above the consensus forecast of 182,000- fuelling expectations of a December rate hike.
The Bank of England eschewed any great fireworks today, releasing the doves instead.
An upbeat Fed has caught markets by surprise, reinforcing the high probability of a rate hike in December, according to commentators.
Nobody on the planet knows when the Fed is going to put up interest rates but Amundi has a fixed income proposition that is ready whenever the balloon does go up.
Keeping interest rates as low as they are for as long as they have done is a policy error on the part of the Fed says M&G bond manager, Ben Lord.
The US economy seems to be treading water at best now, with the latest non-farm payroll data released by the Labor Department decidedly unimpressive.
US interest rates may still be below 1% in five years’ time, says Martin Currie’s Tom Walker, and equity investors should be happy with 5% annual returns.
If any further evidence was needed of the long term direction of travel for global financial markets, one need look no further than Aberdeen Asset Management’s announcement that it has been granted a business licence to operate in China.
In holding interest rates at rock bottom this week, the Federal Reserve has set a dangerous precedent which may come back to haunt it, and the global economy.
The Fed should not raise interest rates now, says Fidelity’s Eugene Philalithis, but when they do it could throw up compelling opportunities in unloved asset classes.
With the most anticipated interest rate decision of recent times imminent, it seems the Federal Reserve is firmly stuck between a rock and a hard place.