This week's "Market's Weekly" focuses on the significant policy moves driving market action, particularly the passage of the "big, beautiful bill" in the House and the resurgence of tariffs under President Trump. The speaker, broadcasting from the Rebel Capitalist Conference in Orlando, emphasizes the shift in market sentiment regarding the growing fiscal deficit and its potential negative consequences.
The "big, beautiful bill," while expected to pass the House, is seen as a setback for fiscal discipline. Despite initial concerns about the deficit at the beginning of the year, the bill is poised to increase the fiscal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars. While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates are based on current law and assume the sunset of certain tax benefits, the speaker argues that, in reality, these benefits are often renewed, thus underestimating the bill's true impact.
The speaker points out that the bill includes additional tax cuts, particularly regarding depreciation for manufacturers building in America. This expands beyond typical bonus depreciation to include real property, potentially leading to a greater fiscal burden than initially projected.
However, the market's reaction to the bill is noteworthy. While historically, the speaker advocated for a "crash up" driven by fiscal deficits, the current context is different. Following the bill's passage and Moody's recent downgrade, bond yields rose, but unlike the past, the equity market and the dollar both sold off. This suggests that investors are increasingly worried about the long-term fiscal trajectory of the United States. This shift in market sentiment is a critical warning sign, suggesting a potential regime change in how the market treats fiscal expansion.
Beyond the US, global bond yields are also rising. While US Treasury yields exert upward pressure on global bond markets, other factors are at play. In Japan, persistent inflation above the 2% target is driving up Japanese Government Bond (JGB) yields. Fiscal concerns in Europe also contribute to the overall trend. Rising global bond yields generally present headwinds for equity markets.
The second major policy theme is the return of "tariff man." President Trump's tweet proposing a 50% tariff on European goods drew immediate market skepticism. Trump's previous negotiations with China have set a precedent, leading many to believe that he might cave under pressure.
While markets recovered from April losses, potentially emboldening Trump, the US negotiating position with Europe is different than it was with China. The Europeans seem particularly upset about auto tariffs, which are central to Trump's campaign promise to bring back manufacturing and secure the support of auto unions and blue-collar workers. Negotiating auto tariffs with Japan and Korea simultaneously makes it even more difficult for Trump to concede on this issue.
Europe has prepared counter-sanctions, adding further complexity to the situation. European policymakers, often lacking business experience, may approach the negotiations differently than Trump, potentially escalating the conflict.
Finally, the speaker highlights a provision in the upcoming bill called Section 899, which grants the US the power to levy taxes on foreign entities if it deems they are being treated unfairly. This provision, while strengthening the US's hand in future negotiations, could make the US a less attractive destination for foreign investors, creating uncertainty about potential tax burdens.
In conclusion, the "Market's Weekly" underscores the significance of policy decisions on market behavior. The combination of rising fiscal deficits, rising bond yields, and potential trade wars present a complex and potentially challenging environment for investors. The speaker expresses concern about escalating trade tensions and their impact on foreign investment, and believes that the administration seems emboldened to pursue these policies despite the potential for negative consequences. He advises keeping a close watch on these developments in the coming weeks.