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Federal Chairman Jerome Powell on 0.25% interest rate cuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba0iZsXku9c

Overview

- Outlook for the US economy is favorable but

core inflation is only at 1.6% instead of 2%
- cutting interest rate by 0.25% from 2.5% to 2.25%

- insurance against downside risk

global growth is slowing
- trade policy tension is a new stimulus to the equation and it is a concern

- key objectives

strong job economy
- 2% inflation rate

- adopt an iterative approach by observing how economy reacts to policy changes

Key areas of concern

global growth slow down

- US core inflation rate is at 1.6% - excludes food and energy inflation which are cyclical

US GDP sustained

- US manufacturing declined in 2019Q1 and 2019Q2
- US business fixed investment slowed in 2019Q1 and fell in 2019Q2

companies uncertain about investment spending
- not seeing additional demand for products

- June US job growth slowed in 2019Q2
- disinflation rates observed in other countries

manufacturing in rural China and the EU are slowing

highly leverage business sector within the US

- Business borrowings are excessive
- loans have moved off balance sheet of banks to market based vehicles

Positive signals of sustained US economy

- rising household income drives confidence
- no booming sectors observed hence no concerns for busts

Federal Reserves framework for monitoring risks

- Excessive leverage in the Financial sector
- Excessive asset valuations
- Excessive debt loads in households and business
- Funding risks that could result in sudden shortfall of liquidity

Structure of the US economy

- US capital requirements within banks are at 2X of what is required to tide through tough times
- Allocations

70% consumer
- 30% investments and manufacturing

not growing
- remains healthy

Related references

- [Federal Reserve risk monitoring framework](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20181128a.htm)
- [Leading and lagging economic indicators - *The Bank Credit Analysis Handbook* by Jonathan Golin and Philippe Delhaise ](https://garyteh.com/2019/07/book-summary-the-bank-credit-analysis-handbook-by-jonathan-golin-and-philippe-delhaise/)
- [The supply chain - *The Wealth of Nations* by Adam Smith](https://garyteh.com/2019/06/the-book-summary-wealth-of-nations/)