Monday, August 06, 2007 12:45:00 PM
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Growing evidence of a credit crunch and increased market volatility has many traders preparing for a cut in the federal funds rate some time in 2007, although economists say the Fed will not ease rates when it meets tomorrow, and could wait for several months before taking any action, if it does at all.
Economists acknowledge that pressure is growing on the Fed to react to a market that is being rocked by plummeting asset-based securities, reduced access to credit, and the likelihood of reduced consumer spending due to shrinking home values. Nonetheless, they expect the Federal Open Market Committee to keep the federal funds rate at 5.25 pct at its meeting tomorrow.
Still, speculation that the Fed could lower rates in the near future is rampant in light of past instances of it easing in order to maintain market stability.
BMO Capital Markets Deputy Chief Economist Douglas Porter said this is a 'Pavlovian reaction' to the so-called Greenspan Put, when the former Fed chairman intervened to counter financial stress.
A key question seems to be when the Fed might decide to move, and the answer will likely depend on several factors.
Ethan Harris of Lehman Brothers says there are three reasons for the Fed to wait, including that the credit crunch is, at least so far, relatively contained. 'While it has been a painful period, in the past the Fed has waited for more convincing evidence of market dislocation before acting,' he said.
Continued outlooks for solid economic growth and a preference to have the markets sort out problems related to the subprime sector are other reasons to hold for now, he said.
Diane Swonk of Mesirow Financial said news of tightening lending standards is likely to get the Fed's attention. However, she said it is far too early for the Fed to hint at a rate cut until more is known about how the markets handle this new reality. The Fed tomorrow should be 'a little bit more neutral on bias, but there's no need to signal it's going to ease.'
Others think the writing is already on the wall, and that it is only a matter of time before the Greenspan Put becomes the Bernanke Bailout.
'The Fed is bound to ease money - cut the funds rate and inject liquidity - in the face of a threatening breakdown of orderly functioning of the financial system,' said Neal Soss of Credit Suisse.
And some go even further by predicting specific action later this fall.
'[We] believe that the FOMC might use the September 18 meeting announcement to alert market participants to the increased likelihood of an October 31 cut in the federal funds rate of 25 basis points,' said Paul Kasriel of Northern Trust.
Regarding the Fed's overall policy statement, most predict no meaningful change tomorrow aside from the likelihood that the the central bank will take note of uncertainty in financial markets.
Stephen Gallagher of Societe Generale said the Fed 'needs to remain focused on the economy', and will likely reiterate its expectation of moderate growth despite housing adjustments, and note that inflation is still the predominant risk.
Peter Kretzmer of Bank of America says the tight US labor market is a main reason for the Fed's continued interest in inflation, and 'remains central to the Fed's assessments.'
Still, some say the Fed could note that inflation pressures have slackened. 'We believe the Fed will note that inflation pressures have eased somewhat since the last meeting ... and at least shift to a symmetric bias where growth and inflation risks are roughly balanced,' said David Rosenberg at Merrill Lynch.