Liquidity Insights Overview | J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Liquidity Insights

Discover our vast array of liquidity insights covering global investment news and trends that may impact your cash portfolios

LATEST LIQUIDITY COMMENTARY

Inflation in Asia Pacific - A different phenomenon

Rising inflation concerns are amplifying developed market rate hike expectations; in contrast APAC central banks have benefitted from more muted CPI. The rationale for this difference has important implications for investors.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Crisis of Confidence

During October, the yield on the RBA’s yield curve control (YCC) target reference bond spiraled upwards and closed at 0.775%, well beyond the central bank’s 0.10% target. This was an unexpected reversal for a bond which was historically very stable with minimal central bank interventions, since the RBA first introduced the YCC program in March 2020.

MAS policy decision - a hawkish normalization

At its semi-annual monetary policy meeting, the Monetary Authority of Singapore surprised the market by raising slightly the slope of the S$NEER policy band, from zero percent previously.

RBA Tentative Tapering

The RBA announced its first tentative step towards tapering and eventual policy normalization.

PBOC latest deposit price reform – limited implications for cash investors

In June 2021, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced changes to commercial banks’ mechanism for setting the time deposit ceiling from a multiplier method to a basis points method.

PBoC RRR Cut - A dovish policy signal

On 9 July 2021, the PBoC announced a 50bps RRR cut that will reduce bank funding costs and unleash a substantial quantity of liquidity support. The size of the rate cut surprised the market and confirmed the authority’s dovish pivot.

Monetary Authority of Singapore – Cautious optimism as recovery continues

At their latest semi-annual policy meeting, the MAS' comments was modestly upbeat and the central bank revised up their headline inflation target - both of which could have implications for SGD cash investments.

Hong Kong Budget 2011/22 - Is the glass half full or half empty

Hong Kong's 2021-22 budget was announced recently. Although there were a few specific implications for short-term interest rates, the budget and the government’s economic plans will have significant longer term implications for HKD cash investors.

RBA Divergent Difficulties

Cash investing remains extremely challenging with institutional investors trapped between an extremely dovish Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and markets pricing in inflation and steepening yield curves.

Chinese taper tantrum

The surprise withdrawal of liquidity by the People’s Bank of China in the last week of January triggered a spike in short-term interest rates. Aidan Shevlin, International Head of Liquidity Fund Management, shared his perspectives on China’s monetary policy.

China’s onshore corporate bond market – understanding recent market volatility

China’s bond market has seen an unusual wave of defaults over the past month – triggering a jump in credit spreads and raising investor concerns. Find out the implications to cash investments and why independent credit research remains important.

RBA's further rate cuts - when low is not low enough

The RBA cut base rates and announced the introduction a traditional quantitative easing program “to support job creation and the recovery of the Australian economy from the pandemic”. This was by far the most wide-ranging monetary policy actions by the RBA – with significant implications for the AUD interest rates and investors.

HIBOR – History does not necessarily repeat itself

Escalating political and trade tensions, strong international demand for HKD and increasing connection with China, have weakened the Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) – with significant implications for HKD cash investors.

Singapore Dollar – no longer defying gravity: Implications for cash investors

The Covid-19 outbreak has accentuated the negative implications for international trade, as well as domestic productivity and tourism in Singapore.

Implications of COVID-19 outbreak for short term interest rates

The recent coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China has increased investors’ trepidation and financial market uncertainty.

Defining cash for Australian investors

After a prolonged record low, forwards market now see a 50/50 chance of a cut in the overnight cash rate during 2019. However, a weaker housing market and softer consumer demand lower the probability of a RBA’s rate hike.