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The Federal Reserve: Two Centuries of Lessons Learned

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Summit Series Forums 2017 The Federal Reserve: two centuries of lessons learned Bob Baur Executive Director & Chief Global Economist Principal Global Investors To see tomorrow… “The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.” -John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends 2 Agenda The Federal Reserve • How did it come about? – U.S. central bank history • What guides Fed policy? – Markets, economy, inflation, Taylor rule • Lessons learned – Brought “Great Moderation” – Then, more lessons • How to normalize policy? – Yet another lesson 3 Central banks always controversial “No business expansion in 40 years has died of old age. The Fed has murdered every one of them.” -Rudiger Dornbusch, MIT economics professor 1997 (paraphrasing) “The bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it.” -U.S. President Andrew Jackson, 1836 4 U.S. central banking A checkered history • First national currency 1775 • Bank of North America 1782 • First Bank of the United States 1791 to 1811 • No central bank 1811 to 1816 • Second Bank of the United States 1816 to 1836 – Panic of 1837 • Free banking era 1837 to 1913 – Lots of banks, few standards, many panics 5 U.S. central banking More checkered history • National banking 1863 to 1913 – System of national banks – High standards for bank reserves – Created national currency – Financed U.S. Civil War – Still, periodic liquidity crises • Panics: 1857, 1873, 1893, 1907 6 Then the Fed The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 • Conceived: Jekyll Island, Georgia 1910 • Key provisions – Board appointed by President – Decentralized over 12 Districts – Lender of last resort – Government issues money • No last resort lender 1930s • Low fixed rates to finance WWII • Fed independence 1951 7 8 Source: Federal Reserve Board; National Bureau of Economic Research; Principal Global Global Principal Investors. Research; Bureau National Federal of Economic Board; Source: Reserve Fed policy guide: guide: economy policy Fed Fed’s initial key policy policy rate key initial Fed’s 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 1914 1917 1920 1923 1926 1929 1932 1935 1938 1941 Fed discount rate RecessionsUS 1944 1947 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 Modern fed funds rate 20 18 16 14 US Recessions 12 Effective fed funds rate 10 8 6 4 2 0 Source: Federal Reserve Board; National Bureau of Economic Research; Principal Global Investors. 9 10 Source: Federal Reserve Board; National Bureau of Economic Research; Principal Global Global Principal Investors. Research; Bureau National Federal of Economic Board; Source: Reserve Policy guide: inflation Policy 10 12 14 16 18 20 -2 0 2 4 6 8 1954 1956 1958 YoY% Prices PCE Headline Effective Federal Funds Rate Recessions US 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Policy guide: stock market 15 S&P 500 index lhs 13 Fed discount rate rhs 11 9 7 5 3 19 1 1951.02 1953.02 1955.02 1957.02 1959.02 1961.02 1963.02 1965.02 1967.02 1969.02 1971.02 1973.02 1975.02 1977.02 1979.02 1981.02 Sources: Robert Shiller’s S&P 500 Index, Federal Reserve Board, Principal Global Investors. 11 Policy guide: stock market 14 S&P 500 index lhs Effective fed funds rate rhs 12 10 900 8 6 4 2 90 0 1982.07 1985.01 1987.07 1990.01 1992.07 1995.01 1997.07 2000.01 2002.07 2005.01 2007.07 2010.01 2012.07 2015.01 2017.07 Sources: Robert Shiller’s S&P 500 Index, Federal Reserve Board, Principal Global Investors. 12 What guides Fed policy? Signposts • Economic growth • Inflation • Stock market • Taylor Rule – Adherents: Volker, Greenspan – FFR = Inflation + neutral real rate + α(inflation gap) + β(output gap) • Fed reacts; doesn’t anticipate 13 Lessons learned • Solving one problem at a time – Liquidity panics 19th century • Frequent panics, recessions • National banking – Bank runs 1930s • Deposit insurance – Inflation 1970s • Focus on money supply • High real interest rates • Measure of success 14 15 Sources: Robert Shiller’s S&P 500 Index, Federal Reserve Board, Principal Global Global Federal Board, Investors. Reserve Principal Index, Shiller’s Robert S&P 500 Sources: The “Great “Great The Moderation” U.S. real gross gross real domestic product U.S. 16 10 12 14 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 US Recessions US 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 YoY% GDP Real 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 More lessons… To be learned • Greenspan: central bank put – High confidence creates more risk-taking • Insufficient oversight 2000s – Government-sponsored housing loans – High leverage – Dodd-Frank bill • Exchange rates fixed to U.S. dollar – Dollar-denominated loans 1990s – Global issues: late 2015, early 2016 16 One more lesson… How to get back to normal policy? • Long-term rates approximate potential growth – Population growth: 0.5% to 0.75% – Productivity growth: 1.5% – Inflation: 2% – Normal yield: 3.5% to 4% – Upward pressure on long-term yields • Unintended impact of years of ultra-low rates… – Very high valuations – Hard to normalize 17 What can the Fed do? Difficult choices • How to normalize rates... – Without deflating stock markets • Can it be done? – Depends on low inflation – If long-term treasury yields stay at 2.25% • But, 4% nominal growth says yields must rise – Government bonds very expensive – Stocks, rates rise together for a while 18 The last investment cycle Boom: 1982-2000. Good growth, mild inflation; gain=1236%. 900 Start P/E=6-8 End P/E=29 Bust: 2001 – 2016. Deflation, Transition: 2016-?? financial crisis, fear, weak Stock prices ahead investment, wage stagnation, of earnings. political change 2008, 2016, 2017 P/E=23-24 13 years of no gain. 90 Sources: Robert Shiller’s S&P 500 Index, Principal Global Investors. 19 Possible outcomes Years of ultra-low rates pushed P/E to 23-24; earnings need time to catch up Transition: 2016-?? 600 Bust: 2001 - 2016 2000.03 2002.09 2005.03 2007.09 2010.03 2012.09 2015.03 2017.09 2020.03 2022.09 Sources: Robert Shiller’s S&P 500 Index, Principal Global Investors. 20 Roadmap If interest rates rise… • Robust financial returns may be hard to find – Government bonds expensive – Stocks, rates rise together for a while • Higher rates bring equity correction • Correction brings long rates down – No net progress in stock markets • Rally, correct, rally, correct • Where are the returns? 21 Fed policy Depends on inflation • Robust synchronized world expansion – Suggests upward pressure on inflation – Fed hikes in December – Gradually shrinks bond portfolio – Two hikes in 2018 – More hikes depend on stock market – ECB follows suit in January – BOJ raises ten-year yield target mid-2018 22 Longer-term roadmap Possible implications • Central banking, politics always intertwined • Economy may do better than financial markets – Central banks accommodate faster growth – No obvious excesses • Slow return to normal policy • Active managers outperform passive • Financial risks are in developing countries 23 Thank you Important Information Unless otherwise noted, the information in this document has been derived from sources believed to be accurate as of October 2017. Information derived from sources other than Principal Global Investors or its affiliates is believed to be reliable; however, we do not independently verify or guarantee its accuracy or validity. Past performance is not necessarily indicative or a guarantee of future performance and should not be relied upon to make an investment decision. The information in this document contains general information only on investment matters. It does not take account of any investor’s investment objectives, particular needs or financial situation and should not be construed as specific investment advice, an opinion or recommendation or be relied on in any way as a guarantee, promise, forecast or prediction of future events regarding a particular investment or the markets in general. All expressions of opinion and predictions in this document are subject to change without notice. Any reference to a specific investment or security does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold such investment or security, nor an indication that Principal Global Investors or its affiliates has recommended a specific security for any client account. Principal Financial Group, Inc., Its affiliates, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, disclaim any express or implied warranty of reliability or accuracy (including by reason of negligence) arising out of any for error or omission in this document or in the information or data provided in this document. Any representations, example, or data not specifically attributed to a third party herein, has been calculated by, and can be attributed to Principal Global Investors. Principal Global Investors disclaims any and all express or implied warranties of reliability or accuracy arising out of any for error or omission attributable to any third party representation, example, or data provided herein. All figures shown in this document are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Indices are unmanaged and do not take into account fees, expenses and transaction costs and not available for direct investment. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. ©2017 Principal Financial Services, Inc. Principal, Principal and symbol design and Principal Financial Group are registered trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company. Principal Global Investors leads global asset management at Principal® 25.
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