Stocks sold off Monday as markets fretted over the lack of progress on stimulus and a rise in COVID-19 cases. In his podcast, Peter talked about the sell-off and the political dynamics driving the markets right now. He also drove down to a question nobody seems to want to grapple with: why are the markets and the economy so dependent on and desperate for stimulus?
When governments started locking down economies in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Reserve sprung into action. The central bank immediately cut interest rates to zero and launched what we’ve called “QE infinity.” Since then, the Fed has ballooned its balance sheet by nearly $3 trillion and increased the money supply at a record pace. Along the way, Powell and Company signaled they were surrendering to inflation, moving the inflation targeting goalposts to allow for the inevitable increases in consumer prices. Meanwhile, the federal government has run the national debt to over $27 trillion.
The question is how long can this go on?
Last week, we reported on the number of temporary layoffs that are turning into permanent job losses. Now Goldman Sachs is projecting even more permanent job losses coming down the pike as a wave of mergers, acquisitions and corporate takeovers sweeps through the economy.
Well-known management consultant Peter Drucker perfectly described the predicament faced by central bankers.
You can’t manage what you can’t measure.”
So why do we put so much faith in central bankers?
I spent a little time at Jekyll Island, Georgia, last weekend. I looked hard, but I didn’t find the mythical creature from Jekyll Island. From what I hear, it’s taken up permanent residence in Washington D.C. But I did locate its birthplace.
If you don’t get the reference, I’m referring to the Federal Reserve.
In response to any economic downturn, the Federal Reserve cranks up the money printing press. The reaction to the economic chaos caused by the government response to the coronavirus pandemic was no different. The Fed launched what many have called “QE infinity,” and has increased the money supply at a record pace. A lot of politicians and pundits see no problem with this approach. After all, “inflation” remains muted despite the money printing.
It’s true that by some measures, we haven’t seen the rising prices you would expect after injecting trillions of dollars created out of thin air into the economy. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t inflation. In fact, defined correctly, increasing the money supply is inflation. And with our without rising consumer prices, inflation has pernicious effects.
The economy has gone through the quickest and arguably the deepest collapse in history, but the stock market has been rallying. How can this be? In this episode of the Friday Gold Wrap podcast, host Mike Maharrey says look no further than the Federal Reserve. Despite the economic chaos, it has managed to blow up stock market bubble X.0 He also talks about a move China recently made that ups the ante in the “war on cash.”
US stock markets continued their inexplicable rally despite the economic destruction wrought by the coronavirus-induced shutdown. The S&P500 is only down about 3.5% on the year and the NASDAQ is actually up. As a result, a lot of investors seem to be getting out of safe havens, including gold. But in his podcast, Peter Schiff explains why selling gold is a mistake if you understand what’s really going on. In a nutshell, stocks are rising because the Fed is printing money. And no matter what the mainstream says, money printing matters.
In a speech at the Cambridge House Vancouver Resource Investment Conference back on Jan. 19, 2020, Peter Schiff said it was “game over” for the Federal Reserve. It’s interesting to look back at his remarks in context with what’s going on over at the central bank today. If it was game over then, where are we now?
On Friday afternoon, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell did a Q&A session with Princeton economist Alan Blinder. Powell admitted that the central bank had “crossed a lot of red lines,” but insisted he was comfortable with the actions given “this is that situation in which you do that, and you figure it out afterward.”
In his podcast, Peter Schiff called it the Nancy Pelosi version of monetary policy. “We need to print the money to see where it goes.”
