The big banks are 'baking in' a rate cut
You are missing trading opportunities:
- Free trading apps
- Over 8,000 signals for copying
- Economic news for exploring financial markets
Registration
Log in
You agree to website policy and terms of use
If you do not have an account, please register
The big banks are already reflecting a rate cut.
Banking shares tumbled in the past few days along with the rest of global markets following Britain's vote to leave the European Union last Thursday.
Among investors' concerns are the impact that the tedious process of leaving the EU would have on banks' trading businesses.
Also, continued market volatility could mean the Federal Reserve is more reluctant to raise rates, and banks theoretically fare better when interest rates are higher.
In a note Tuesday, Morgan Stanley equity analyst Betsy Graseck said the drop in bank stocks has already baked in a cut in rates.
As investors flocked to Treasurys during the market volatility, yields fell, as they do when bond prices rise. The yield on the overnight portion of the yield curve fell five basis points from the pre-Brexit close on Thursday, while the benchmark 10-year yield declined 28 basis points.
"If this was all the rate pressure we got, large-cap bank EPS would be down 1-6%," Graseck and team wrote. "But LC bank stocks are down a larger 6-16% since Thursday, June 23 close."
They added:
"We believe bank stocks are already pricing pricing in a front-end rate cut. This is a more negative outlook than the forward curve is baking in. If the Fed cuts overnight rates 25bps, we estimate EPS would be down a larger 2-8% (assuming banks offset with expense cuts), and 2-20% (if all drops to the bottom line), more in-line with LC bank stock declines over the past 3 days."
read more