The hottest Interest Rates Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics
Stay-At-Home Macro (SAHM) β€’ 648 implied HN points β€’ 21 Mar 23
  1. The Fed faces a tough decision on interest rates amidst banking turmoil and high inflation.
  2. Regardless of the rate decision, the Fed will signal that inflation is too high and more rate increases may be needed.
  3. There are signals that inflation may turn down notably by summer, with relief coming in several areas.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 110 implied HN points β€’ 14 Dec 23
  1. The Federal Reserve is expected to announce multiple rate cuts in 2024.
  2. Goldman Sachs economists predict three consecutive 25 basis points cuts in March, May, and June.
  3. Market participants are pricing in rate cuts that will bring the Fed Funds target range down to 4.50% to 4.75% by June 2024.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
Market Sentiment β€’ 432 implied HN points β€’ 02 Apr 23
  1. Leverage in bond investments can work well but also lead to significant losses if market conditions change rapidly.
  2. Bond prices are impacted by interest rate movements, where older bonds may lose value with rate hikes.
  3. The choice between individual bonds and bond ETFs depends on factors like diversification needs, fees, and level of investment sophistication.
O Observador de Corcyra β€’ 412 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 23
  1. The US monetary policy has been restrictive with significant impact on the economy and financial conditions.
  2. There are debates on whether the current monetary policy pace is appropriate or if adjustments should be made.
  3. Models and projections show the complexity of predicting inflation and the impact on future monetary policy decisions.
The Dollar Endgame β€’ 239 implied HN points β€’ 13 Aug 23
  1. The Bank of Japan's shift in monetary policy caused chaos in FX and stock markets. The volatility in bond markets led to unscheduled bond-buying operations.
  2. Yield Curve Control aims to keep bond yields in a tight range to suppress yields and maintain accommodative monetary policy. This strategy becomes crucial in Japan with high government debt.
  3. The BoJ is strategically intervening in bond rates, pushing them back down whenever they approach a certain threshold. They aim to maintain confusion and market control.
Global Markets Investor β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 14 Dec 23
  1. The market rallied significantly after the Federal Reserve made unexpected decisions, like not pushing back against expected interest rate cuts and adjusting interest rate forecasts significantly.
  2. Investors were surprised by the Fed's dovish shift towards easing and the embrace of soft landing strategies, which resulted in market excitement and continued rallies in stocks and bonds.
  3. While the market is currently optimistic due to the Fed's stance, there are warnings about potential overbought conditions and the need to watch out for sharp corrections.
Geopolitical Economy Report β€’ 358 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 23
  1. Economist Michael Hudson discussed the collapse of US banks, noting similarities to the 2008 financial crisis and the reliance on government bailouts.
  2. The Federal Reserve's handling of interest rates and bailouts in response to bank collapses indicates systemic issues in the financial sector.
  3. Derivatives, specifically highly leveraged bets, are looming as a significant risk for the banking sector and could trigger the next big crash.
Global Markets Investor β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 17 Dec 23
  1. Soft landing in the US economy refers to a scenario where interest rates increase without causing a recession. Achieving a soft landing is challenging due to the unpredictable effects of rising rates.
  2. Current economic indicators suggest a potential slowdown, with data like US bank lending growth declining and bankruptcy filings increasing. These factors could lead to significant economic problems if extended.
  3. Consumer spending in the US may face limitations, as issues like high credit card debt and rising delinquencies pose risks. The Federal Reserve's actions regarding interest rates could impact future economic outcomes.
Modern Value Investing β€’ 294 implied HN points β€’ 21 Apr 23
  1. German residential real estate stocks offer 200% upside based on their NAV
  2. Potential for German residential real estate stocks to re-establish dividends at 3-4%, translating to a 200% near term upside
  3. Investing in German residential real estate offers a long-term opportunity with potential returns of 5-6x over 10 years
Arpitrage β€’ 261 implied HN points β€’ 22 May 23
  1. Commercial real estate faces challenges with rising costs and falling revenue, impacting banks.
  2. Investors should be cautious due to declining equity valuations in office REITs and CMBX market trends.
  3. Smaller banks are more exposed to commercial real estate loans, potentially facing risks in a challenging market.
The Sunday Morning Post β€’ 117 implied HN points β€’ 24 Sep 23
  1. Banks are tightening lending standards due to economic uncertainty and risk concerns
  2. Banks are responding by decreasing loan-to-value ratios, adding interest rate premiums, and shortening loan maturities
  3. Borrowing money from banks will become tougher in the coming months due to higher interest rates and stricter underwriting standards
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 105 implied HN points β€’ 05 Oct 23
  1. Forward interest rates are mainly driven by changing economic productivity and sentiment, with the Fed playing a secondary role.
  2. Market sentiment about real future economic activity has a significant impact on interest rates.
  3. Most of the changes in long-term bond yields since 1989 have occurred during Federal Open Market Committee meetings.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 126 implied HN points β€’ 25 Aug 23
  1. Powell's approach to monetary policy is based on conventional models, which may not fully address current economic issues.
  2. There is a concern that inflation is settling above the 2% target due to trends in goods and services.
  3. Housing supply issues contribute to 'inflation' and can be misleading when analyzing monetary policy impacts.
The People's Economist with Anthony Chan β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
  1. Consumers in the U.S. are feeling pessimistic despite strong economic indicators like GDP growth, low unemployment rates, and declining Misery Index, mainly due to concerns about inflation viewed as a severe economic hardship.
  2. Recent data suggests that Americans usually lag in incorporating the effects of inflation, with sentiment influenced by inflation readings observed 6 to 12 months prior, leading to a risk-averse approach among consumers.
  3. Consumer dissatisfaction might also stem from the rising prices of dining out compared to cooking at home, affecting restaurant spending and consumer sentiment.
Modern Value Investing β€’ 117 implied HN points β€’ 01 Aug 23
  1. Portfolio is up 150% YTD, driven by investments in Meta Platforms and highly shorted stocks like Upstart and Opendoor.
  2. Author is getting more cautious due to rising inflation and interest rates, and has diversified investments.
  3. Author has built a 7% position in long-term treasuries as a partial hedge against market turmoil.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 63 implied HN points β€’ 17 Oct 23
  1. The Fed's impact on interest rates may not be as significant as perceived, with most rate changes occurring outside of Fed meetings.
  2. Changes in long-term interest rates are likely not correlated with new information from Fed meetings.
  3. Interest rate changes during Fed meetings appear independent of changes outside of meetings, indicating that market expectations are already adjusted before meetings.
The Sunday Morning Post β€’ 78 implied HN points β€’ 17 Sep 23
  1. Total credit card debt in the US surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in history, with high interest rates reaching an average of 20.68% in May 2023.
  2. Credit card delinquencies hit an 11-year high in the second quarter of 2023, with 2.77% of all credit card payments being missed.
  3. Delinquency rates for home mortgages and commercial loans are remarkably low, contrasting sharply with the concerning trend of rising credit card debt and delinquencies.
Modern Value Investing β€’ 98 implied HN points β€’ 06 Aug 23
  1. Inflation measures are flawed, leading to skepticism about high interest rates, causing uncertainty for the US economy.
  2. The current rate hike cycle is more aggressive than previous cycles, potentially risking a recession in 2024.
  3. Challenges in real estate, student loan debts, and credit card debts, along with aggressive hiring, may indicate shaky ground for the US economy.
David’s Substack β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 16 Nov 23
  1. Interest rates in lending protocols are usually quoted as annualized percentage rate (APR) or yield (APY).
  2. Different pricing mechanisms in lending protocols include orderbook pricing, utilization-based pricing, auctions, and manual/governance-led pricing.
  3. Protocols like Ajna and Tazz introduce innovative ways to set interest rates without relying on oracles, enabling unique functionalities.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 63 implied HN points β€’ 08 Sep 23
  1. Market prices aren't changing due to temporary factors, leading builders to use rate buydowns instead.
  2. Builders are using rate buydowns to close the gap between mortgage rates and other interest rates in the current market.
  3. The unique market conditions make rate buydowns a strategic tool for builders, influencing the mortgage market stability.
The Last Bear Standing β€’ 133 implied HN points β€’ 03 Mar 23
  1. The Dot Plot is the Fed's way of showing where they think interest rates will go in the future.
  2. Yield Curve Control is when central banks adjust short-term and long-term rates to tackle inflation and maintain financial stability.
  3. The Fed's Dilemma involves trying to raise rates to tackle inflation while avoiding destabilizing long-duration assets and maintaining financial stability.
Informer β€’ 98 implied HN points β€’ 14 May 23
  1. Milton Friedman's ideas changed economics by challenging the Phillips curve trade-off between inflation and unemployment.
  2. James Tobin provided an alternative theory of inflation focusing on demand shifts between sectors.
  3. Progressives didn't fully embrace Tobin's theory, leading to disagreements on tackling inflation and interest rates.
Modern Value Investing β€’ 98 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 23
  1. US banks are facing increased risks of deposit outflows due to systemic vulnerabilities in the banking system.
  2. Unattractive interest rates on deposits compared to treasuries have left US banks trapped without sacrificing profitability.
  3. The FED must act quickly by reducing interest rates to stabilize the banking system and prevent further harm to the economy.
The Sunday Morning Post β€’ 78 implied HN points β€’ 04 Jun 23
  1. Inflation is causing consumers to shift spending towards necessary goods and services like food and healthcare.
  2. Americans are turning to credit cards to bridge the gap between rising prices and stagnant wages.
  3. High collective credit card debt and increasing delinquency rates could pose a significant threat to the overall economy.
Klement on Investing β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
  1. Japan manages extremely high debt levels through financial repression techniques, like central banks purchasing government debt and influencing bond yields.
  2. The duration mismatch between government assets and liabilities incentivizes keeping interest rates low for financial stability.
  3. Artificially low long-term bond yields in Japan lead to wealth redistribution towards older, wealthier households, potentially causing social tension.
Apricitas Economics β€’ 31 implied HN points β€’ 21 Sep 23
  1. The Fed is projecting a softer landing without the need for a recession to control inflation.
  2. There is less uncertainty in FOMC forecasts, and they anticipate higher GDP growth and slightly higher inflation.
  3. There are disagreements within the FOMC on the duration and extent of keeping interest rates high, with some seeing rates potentially staying permanently higher.
Apricitas Economics β€’ 57 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 23
  1. The Federal Reserve lent over $300B in emergency funds to American banks to stabilize the financial system.
  2. Most of the emergency lending was short-term, with a majority of the funds coming from the discount window.
  3. Reforms to the discount window have helped reduce stigma around borrowing from the Fed during financial crises.