TIM HEXT: Inflation will test Fed’s patience, but RBA has cards up its sleeve | Pendal Group
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TIM HEXT: Inflation will test Fed’s patience, but RBA has cards up its sleeve

US rates are heading for 4% after inflation remained high in August. But the RBA may have more patience. Pendal’s TIM HEXT explains why

ALONG with many other observers, we expected US inflation to moderate more than it did in August.

Headline CPI came in overnight at 0.1% (8.3% annual) and underlying at 0.6% (6.3% annual).

A new group of unrelated components (including vehicle repair, dental charges and tobacco) showed fresh signs of inflation, pushing the rate positive for the month.

We still expect goods deflation in the months ahead. Oil prices and most other commodities are weak.

But US wage growth is spreading inflation wider into services. Services inflation is now the battleground and labour supply lines are normalising far slower than goods.

What little patience the US Federal Reserve may have had is running out.

Fed funds now seem destined for 4% or higher. As little as six weeks ago the market was expecting terminal rates closer to 3%.

RBA may be more patient

As always, Australian bonds will follow the US. But the RBA seems prepared to show a bit more patience.

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Pendal’s Income and Fixed Interest funds

This is due to a number of factors — but the two main ones are wages and our floating rate mortgage market.

The NAB business survey showed that rate hikes are yet to have any impact.

This is not surprising as the economy is now almost fully open, many have pent-up savings to spend and fixed rates are protecting 40 per cent of mortgage holders.

The RBA remain on course for 3% cash rates by year end (either 2.85% or 3.1%).

It will likely rely on the fixed rate mortgage cliff and immigration to do the heavy lifting to combat inflation in 2023.

Bond markets are caught in the loop of pushing rates up with the Fed but also with one eye on increasing recession risks.

Flatter curves seems to be the favoured way of reconciling these two outcomes.

Credit and equity markets were hit by the high inflation numbers, but for now look to be range-trading rather than breaking down.

The only certainty for now is volatility is here for a while yet.


About Tim Hext and Pendal’s Income & Fixed Interest boutique

Tim Hext is a Pendal portfolio manager and head of government bond strategies in our Income and Fixed Interest team.

Tim has extensive experience in banking, financial markets and funding including senior positions with NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp), Westpac Treasury, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Deutsche Bank, Bain & Co and Swiss Bank Corporation.

Pendal’s Income and Fixed Interest boutique is one of the most experienced and well-regarded fixed income teams in Australia.

The team won Lonsec’s Active Fixed Income Fund of the Year award in 2021 and Zenith’s Australian Fixed Interest award in 2020.

Find out more about Pendal’s fixed interest strategies here


About Pendal Group

Pendal is a global investment management business focused on delivering superior investment returns for our clients through active management.

In 2023, Pendal became part of Perpetual Limited (ASX:PPT), bringing together two of Australia’s most respected active asset management brands to create a global leader in multi-boutique asset management with autonomous, world-class investment capabilities and a growing leadership position in ESG.

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