Topics discussed in this podcast include: running money at Bridgewater, global macro investing, labor market analysis, why hedge funds are typically bearish, the impact of inflation on productivity and investment, the relationship between wages and productivity, analyzing labor market data, driving experiences on Midwest highways, the connection between consumer spending and income growth, demographic factors affecting bond yields, fees and costs in accessing alternative investment funds, the benefits of a systematic approach, and podcast and basketball recommendations.
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Quick takeaways
Wage growth outpacing productivity leads to elevated inflation, causing volatility in investments.
NFIB data highlights the positive outcomes for small businesses and their contribution to the US economy.
Increased fiscal stimulus can further heat up the economy and boost inflationary pressures.
Rising inflation expectations and persistent inflation could lead to higher bond yields, posing a risk to the overall market.
Deep dives
Persistent wage growth and its impact on inflation
Wage growth continues to outpace productivity growth, resulting in elevated inflation. The Fed targets 2% inflation, so anything above that could lead to volatility and uncertainty in the investment landscape. Wage growth data shows a 5-6% increase among those with a high propensity to spend, which is too high for inflation to durably fall to target levels.
The disconnect between soft data and hard data
While economists and coastal finance individuals perceive inflation as a significant concern, hard data from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows continued positive outcomes for small businesses. This highlights the strength of middle American Main Street, which consists of small businesses that contribute significantly to the US economy.
The impact of fiscal stimulus on the economy
Fiscal stimulus, such as increased government spending on infrastructure, has been inflationary due to tight labor markets and increased investment. With a strong economy and a tight labor market, such stimulus measures can further heat up the economy and boost inflationary pressures.
The role of bond markets and inflation expectations
The bond market appears relatively unaffected by rising inflation expectations, as it anticipates a return to 2% inflation. However, increased fiscal spending and persistent inflation could lead to rising bond yields, posing a risk to the overall market.
Importance of Structural Inflation Pressures
The podcast episode discusses the importance of structural inflation pressures, which are connected to the disparity between wages and productivity. Despite monetary policy attempts, these structural issues have not been fully resolved, leading to inflationary trends in various areas of the economy.
The Market's Pricing and Predictions
The podcast analyzes the market's pricing and predictions for future economic growth and interest rate cuts. It highlights the inconsistency between the optimistic expectations of 12% earnings growth and five rate cuts in 2024. The bond market's prediction of rate cuts and the stock market's expectation of a soft landing are conflicting. The discussion suggests that one or both of these predictions are likely to be incorrect.
The Challenges and Potential of Liquid Alts
The podcast explores the challenges and potential of liquid alternatives, such as ETFs. It highlights the problems with high fees and underperformance in the alternative investment industry. The guest from Unlimited, a company offering lower-fee ETFs that aim to replicate the gross returns of hedge funds, discusses the benefits of their approach in providing investors access to alternatives at a lower cost.
On episode 105 of The Compound and Friends, Michael Batnick and Downtown Josh Brown are joined by Bob Elliott to discuss: Bob's time running money at Bridgewater, CPI, global macro, the labor market, why hedge funds are typically bearish, and much more!
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