On their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday (7-26-17), Janet Yellen chief of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and committee announced unsurprisingly, no rate increase. The committee also announced they would be shrinking the balance sheet soon.
Shrinking the balance sheet? huh…
Alan Greenspan (Former, former FOMC chair Yellen-Ben Bernanke- Alan Greenspan) made it clear if you understood what he said, he did not do his job … that language continues today!
Here is a preview graph of the FOMC “Balance Sheet”…
Next week we will explain what shrinking the balance sheet means… in English..hah
Ahhh…but that is next week … today is a Friday and we are still working remotely from afar … (Technology is treating us well!)
Enjoy your Friday and your weekend!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
Analyzing the Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet … Interesting Analysis of MBS … Big Purchases … Big Sales
As mentioned Friday, there were a lot of words dictated, typed and researched over the weekend in preparation for the Q 4 Newsletter.
During some of the research, a stumble on to the follow chart occurred. Being totally unrelated to our Newsletter information, but very eye catching and interesting, a share was in order!
From our Friends at JPMorgan and their Market Insights Slide deck:
What is most striking to the eye, or at least our eyes, is the disproportionate amount of MBS (Mortgage Back Securities – think packs of Mortgages) the Federal Reserve purchased during this latest round of asset purchases.
This month the Federal Reserve has stated they are now pushing 97 Billion dollars of these assets back into the market, up from a prior mentioned 40 Billion monthly sale.
This may be a reason that Current Mortgage Rates are by almost any measure WAY to high, compared to their historical normal spreads between other similar assets.
Bottom line, the Federal Reserve likely over pushed rates low and they may be doing just the opposite now.
Just as eventually the sugar wears out, so will the salt of higher rates!
Have a Great “Had to Share a Neat Fed Chart” Day!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
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Posted in General Financial Planning, Interest Rates, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments
Tagged Balance Sheet, FOMC, Interest Rates, MBS, Mortgage Backed Securities