Monday September 16, 2013 08:51
The Federal Reserve is no longer the knight in shining armor riding into rescue the U.S. economy from the brink of Depression after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It's a central bank on the verge of changing leadership. It is also a central bank still grappling with a slow-growth economy despite the vast, unconventional and innovative monetary policy the Fed has tried in recent years.
More importantly, it's also a central bank that has communicated its intention to begin scaling back on its asset purchases this year. The Fed will likely keep its promises.
But, that doesn't mean the economy actually warrants tapering at this time.
Heading into this week's U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the tapering expectations remain high. Many analysts expect the Federal Reserve to begin to trim back its $85 billion per month bond buying program, while a few still make a case for waiting until later in the year.
The Fed may begin cutting back on its asset purchase program this week. But, if they do, it will only be a token tapering -- perhaps a cutback by $10 billion per month in Treasurys and another $10 billion in mortgage backed securities. If that occurs, it will merely be a gesture to maintain the Fed's credibility in the financial markets in the wake of its widely broadcasted start to tapering this year.
More significantly, the question becomes will early pullback of accommodative monetary policy deter growth? Borrowing costs could increase as long term Treasury bond prices continue their recent downward path and interest rates push higher and business confidence could weaken.
There still is a possibility the Fed won't begin tapering at this meeting. Five years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global financial crisis of 2008, the U.S. economy is still struggling. Yes, we've got positive growth, but the recovery in recent years has been nothing like other post-War recovery periods. Growth remains sluggish and challenged and unemployment remains high. Yes, the overall unemployment rate has come down, but economists say that is in large part due to job seekers giving up and no longer looking for work.
Recent data inject even more uncertainty into the overall economic outlook. Home sales have fallen recently, as buyers react to the rising rate environment and also to the increase in home prices. The labor market remains unhealthy and higher gas prices at the pump leave consumers with fewer discretionary dollars in their pocket.
Meanwhile, the fiscal mess is just begin to heat up in Washington D.C. with the end of the continuing resolution arriving shortly at the end of the September (the provision that sustains government funding) and the upcoming debt ceiling limit, which will also hit later this fall. The entrenched political squabbling is unlikely to lead to quick compromise, which in turn weighs on consumer confidence and spending, as well as business investment and new job creation.
Yes, the Fed may begin its tapering program this week. But, maybe it won't. A "relief" rally in gold would most likely ensue on an announcement of no tapering at this time.
But, even if a modest cutback does emerge—it won't be because of a strong and solid economic outlook—it will be because the Fed has broadcast its intentions to begin tapering this year and there is a schedule to keep. There are plenty of hurdles and black clouds on the horizon ahead. Geopolitical uncertainty, sluggish labor market, fiscal fighting and a stock market that remains jittery, vulnerable to a rising rate environment and the sheer length of its current bull run.
Last week's action in gold did some damage to the near term technical outlook. The market fell below its 20-day and 40-day moving averages and it broke under a rising bull trendline from the late June low. But, daily momentum (measured by the nine-day relative strength index) has already hit oversold territory. Comex December gold is coming into support from the Aug. 7 low at $1,271.80 this week. That level could offer support short-term. If Dec gold can stabilize and hold that floor it would provide a base for a new rally ahead.
Action will be Fed dependent this week—but either outcome could provide impetus for gold to move higher.
Look for a relief rally on no tapering. But, there is also the possibility of a "sell the news, buy the fact" type of strength if the Fed does offer up a token tapering—because the tapering will just be a token, not based on a strong booming economy.
By Kira Brecht, Kitco.com