RESEARCH
US Economics & Rates Strategy | June 25, 2009
PLEASE SEE ANALYST CERTIFICATIONS AND IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES STARTING AFTER PAGE 42
Forecasts and Summary of Views 2Data Review and Preview 7Trade Recommendations 38Bond Yield Forecasts 40 Economics
Dean Maki+1 212 526 1731dean.maki@barcap.com
Interest Rates Strategy
Ajay Rajadhyaksha+1 212 412 7669ajay.rajadhyaksha@barcap.com
MARKET STRATEGY AMERICAS
Still filling the punchbowl, but not making itbigger
Economics
Outlook 3
We have revised up our H2 09 GDP forecast based on the anticipated effects of the “cashfor clunkers” legislation. The Fed is less worried about deflation and did not expand itsasset purchase plan, but continues to fill the punchbowl by sticking to this plan.
Revving up production 5
Motor vehicle output looks set to jump higher in the second half of the year. This hasled us to revise up our forecast for GDP growth over the next two quarters.
Rates strategy
Overview: A continued normalisation trade 9
Rates should drift higher in most developed markets in the second half of 2009, drivenby supply pressures and further normalisation.
Treasuries: Status quo in foreign demand is not enough 17
US Treasury purchases by foreign accounts have been steady, but bill holdings haverisen and buying has not kept up with supply. Slowing reserve growth anddiversification away from the US would continue to be a risk to higher yields.
Inflation-linked markets: Put oil risk in check with oil puts 20
Front-end breakevens still have downside risk from a sharp energy decline. Werecommend long front-end breakevens with out-of-the-money puts on crude futures.
Agencies: MBS vs. callables revisited 23
We find MBS are generally cheap versus callables. This reflects adjustments toprepayment models, which now generally overstate the callability of the MBS universe.
Swaps: Front-end Eurodollars – More room to go 27
Front-end Eurodollar contracts offer value, as they are still pricing in the Fed to beginhiking too soon and the L-OIS basis to widen. We disagree with both.
Futures: Alternatives to long ED: Limited loss trades 30
We recommend call flys and bullish spreads struck in a range between 99.25 to 99.50strikes: they offer a good risk-reward profile and are protected by rate-vol directionality.
Volatility: Sell vol on short rates 33
Vol on short rates is still high. Sell low strike straddles on 3m*2y and 0EU9 straddles at98.375. Alternatively, we recommend a regression-weighted vol fly.
Money markets: Changing Regulation D 35
In early July, the Federal Reserve will amend the rule governing the payment of interest onreserves to close a few loopholes and smooth over troubled relationships between banks.
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