What the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Means for Asian Bonds
Concerns about the spread of coronavirus and the repercussions it will have on the global economy are growing. Investors are eyeing developments with caution as authorities respond to the outbreak. While the virus is currently front of mind, another critical event this year has major market implications: the U.S. presidential election. Therefore, we thought it timely to look at the potential election outcomes and what they mean for the Asian bond market.
The Presidential Race
The U.S. presidential race has kicked off, with Joe Biden emerging as the front-runner to become the Democratic challenger to Republican President Trump.
What would a win for either side mean for the U.S. economy? In summary, Trump has pursued sizable tax cuts, introduced deregulation, proposed a reorganisation of healthcare protection, reshaped immigration and increased military spending. In doing so, he has overseen a 61% rise in the Dow Jones Industrial Average since his election1. However, the price for this market surge has been an increase in volatility that has, in part, been driven by the trade conflict with China and amplified by the outbreak of the coronavirus in recent months, which is fast eroding the stock market gains since Trump came into office in 2017. A second term for Trump could see further friction with China, which may lead to additional bouts of market uncertainty.
The leading Democratic contenders are variously proposing universal health care to even out wealth distribution, a rise in the minimum wage, higher taxes for the wealthy and a roll-back of corporate tax cuts. And while Trump’s tax cuts boosted stock markets, in this context, it could be suggested that a Democratic win may impact growth.
The Fed’s Fight for Independence
In terms of the potential effect on Asia and the emerging markets, one of the most significant factors will be the future direction of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) policy. President Trump has repeatedly expressed his disappointment with the Fed’s interest rate policy, which has included nine rate hikes from 2015-2018 – three of which were reversed last year. What’s more, he has blamed the central bank for preventing the U.S. economy from reaching the 4% growth that he had promised.
The market’s eyebrows were therefore raised when Trump recently nominated Judy Shelton for the Fed’s Board of Governors, which is a position with notable influence over interest rate policy. Shelton, who has previously questioned the need for an independent Fed, is seen by some as a potential successor-in-waiting to Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Interestingly, she also appears to have experienced a damascene moment; in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis, she challenged the effectiveness of ultra-low interest rates. Fast forward to 2020, she now supports the policy as a way to boost growth.
Declining Global Rates Spark a Renewed Search for Yield
The Fed has cut rates to nearly zero in emergency action, attempting to avoid a coronavirus-fuelled recession. This was the second surprise rate cut within 13 days (on 3 March and 16 March 2020) after the most recent unscheduled emergency rate cut in 2008 and also marked the biggest one-time cut since then.
This scenario bodes well for a continued accommodative stance from the Fed, which has been supportive for Asian bonds. Other developed market central banks have also started to cut interests rates in response to worsening economic outlook.
At the same time, it would also encourage a dovish interest rate environment to persist in Asia, providing further support for the asset class. This year, central banks in the region have been quick to react to global uncertainties, with Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines cutting rates and China lowering rates through a variety of liquidity funding facilities to banks, while central banks in Singapore and Indonesia have provided accommodative forward guidance. This accommodative stance is augmented by large and decisive fiscal stimulus packages announced by many Asian governments to ward off negative impacts to economic growth from the coronavirus outbreak especially that the World Health Organisation finally declared it a pandemic.
Subsequently, the expectation of lower global rates will spark a renewed search for more attractive yields elsewhere. Although local currency bond yields across Asia are expected to decline given looser monetary policies adopted by the central banks in the region, Asia remains at the fore with opportunities for a yield pickup. At the same time, fundamentals across the region are relatively more stable than other key emerging markets.
It’s still early days. With the Democratic nominee still to be decided we do not know the degree of policy change that will emerge. For now, at least, the Fed remains free from direct government interference. And with declining global rates in the foreseeable future, the backdrop looks supportive for Asian bonds, though we may see some near term volatility in Asian currencies.
Written by Kheng Siang Ng
Asia Pacific Head of Fixed Income, State Street Global Advisors
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