Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dashboard
Spring, 2013
info@iharborcap.com www.iharborcap.com
Collecting and processing the vast amount of relevant data that determine global trends is the great challenge of executing a global allocation (macro) strategy. In order to produce high quality returns, an investment team needs an established procedure for collecting data, converting it into information, and then forming investment themes based on that information. Our economic databaseDashboardconsists of twenty countries and another twenty individual global economic data series. Dashboard is the foundation of our primary research effort and a key input in our investment process. Our senior markets analyst, Eva Yun, manages this process and has an important role in ensuring procedural consistency and discipline in idea generation. In Open MarketDashboard, we will present regular snapshots of the trends on which we are focusing. This series will complement our other research efforts by providing investors with a short-form summary of themes and ideas that will impact global investment trends over time.
100
5%
90
-5%
80 Jan-05
Source: Federal Reserve Notes: 1Q13 saw largest nominal quarterly increase in IP since end 1999. Automotive products a big contributor as well as utilities on unseasonably cold March. Utilities should unwind in April, leaving room for IP to print lower. Real shipments are already steadily lower and worrisome.
Source: Federal Reserve Notes: IP currently expanding at steady pace.suggesting US GDP 2.5%-3.0%. Auto production up 10.2% over past yearrising steadily after reaching 5-year high in 2012
Percent 120%
Billion $ 0
Percent 60%
80%
40%
0% -60 -40%
0%
-20%
-40%
Source: Federal Reserve Notes: but autos gains are slowing. Med&Hvy assemblies are negative , but decline is slowing. Feb Class 8 net orders best YoY print since 2011 but still neg.
Source: Federal Reserve Notes: USD 2% lower from mid 2012 highs supporting exports. Weaker EUR could crimp.
Percent 20%
Index Value 80
460
10%
70
30
-30%
Source: US Census Bureau Notes: Despite decent headline IP, manufacturing telling a different story. Shipments at 3 yr lows. While only 12% of GDP, mftr accounts for most of economys cyclical variation.meaning changes track very closely with changes in overall economy.
Source: Institute of Supply Management Notes: For now, PMI survey still suggests growth at slower pace. With slower China and Europe, unclear how long sentiment can remain firmish. Jan-Mar PMI corresponds to 3.3% GDP, Mar PMI corresponds to 2.8% increase according to ISM. The 50 level generally indicates that manufacturing is expanding, while 42.2 level generally indicates overall economy is expanding.
Index Value 80
Billion $ 500
460 10%
70
60 420 0% 50 380 -10% 40 -20% 340 -30% 300 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 -40% 30
Source: US Census Bureau Notes: New orders printed negative in Jan before marginal pop higher in Feb. Orders suggest softer final demand into 2Q13.
Source: Institute of Supply Management Notes: 52.2 is the new orders level of growth/nogrowth for mftr orders.
10%
-10%
-20%
Source: US Census Bureau Notes: Durables demand slumped in March by most in 7 months. Federal budget cuts and slow external growth having an impact.
Source: US Census Bureau Notes: Business investment worrisomeIT is collapsing. No surprise Blackstone pulled its Dell bid.
Index Value 60
Mftr Inventories - Real % YoY Durables Inventories - Real % YoY 30 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09
Jan-11
Jan-13
Source: Institute of Supply Management Notes: 42.7 level is consistent with BEA overall mftr inventory growthso while not contracting, pace of expansion is slowing. On the other hand, 1Q GDP shows fairly health inventory add.
50
-5%
-10% 35 -15%
Mftr PMI Employment
Manufacturing Payrolls % YoY -20% Durables Payrolls % YoY Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13
Jan-05
Source: Institute of Supply Management Notes: ISM employment has strong correlation with BLS unemployment rate.index value above 50.5 is consistent with BLS growth.
Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics Notes: Rate of mftr job growth has been slowing for last 12 months. While still positive, weak external demand and budget cuts will have impact.
Percent 10%
Percent 4.0%
5%
3.5%
0%
3.0%
Jan-11
Jan-13
Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics Notes: Slower mftr job gains and very soft hours suggest slower overall economic activity in 2013.