The Daily Spark

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  • The housing market has started to recover, and this is a problem for the Fed because more demand for housing will boost home prices and rents, and with housing having a weight of 40% in the CPI, this will make it more difficult to get inflation down from currently 5% to the Fed’s 2% inflation target.

    Source: NAR, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Bank Credit Conditions at 2008 Levels

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Survey for Q2 was done in April after SVB but before First Republic Bank, and it shows an ongoing tightening in credit conditions across all types of lending.

    Specifically, the survey asks banks if they have tightened lending standards for firms and households relative to last quarter, and across all indicators for demand for loans and supply of loans, we are now at or close to 2008 levels, see charts below.

    In addition, the first sentence in the notes to the Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Survey shows that it only covers large banks out of the roughly 4,000 banks in the US, so credit conditions in small and medium-sized banks are likely tightening even more than seen in the charts below.

    The bottom line for markets is that with inflation still at 5%, well above the FOMC’s 2% inflation target, and the Fed not cutting rates anytime soon, credit conditions will continue to tighten, and as a result, a recession is coming that could be deeper or longer than the consensus currently expects.

    Source: FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: University of Michigan, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • There is an ongoing banking crisis, the consensus expects a recession, and a default cycle has started. But markets are pricing that this will only have a mild negative impact on lower-rated credits and small and medium-sized companies. Our monthly credit market outlook is available here.

    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: ICE BofA, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: ICE BofA, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: ICE BofA, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Moody’s Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Pitchbook LCD, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Pitchbook LCD, Apollo Chief Economist. Note: A covenant-lite loan is a type of financing with fewer restrictions on the borrower and fewer protections for the lender, often used in leveraged buyouts. Data as of 31st March 2023.
    Source: SIFMA, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Pitchbook LCD, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Pitchbook LCD, Apollo Chief Economist
    Source: Pitchbook LCD, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Gradual Labor Market Slowdown Continues

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The labor market continues to soften, but the speed of the cooling is slower than expected, driven by increased labor force participation and higher immigration, see chart below and our chart book available here.

    Source: BLS, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Outlook for Regional Banks

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Bank credit conditions are tightening, and the negative impact on the economy from the ongoing banking crisis is going to be significant because small banks account for 30% of assets in the banking sector and 40% of lending, and small banks are facing three headwinds from 1) higher funding costs, 2) lower asset prices because of higher interest rates, and 3) more regulatory scrutiny. Our banking sector outlook is available here, key charts inserted below.

    Less than 1% of bank accounts have a balance higher than $250k
    Source: FDIC, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    40% of small firms have applied for financing in the past 12 months
    Source: Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve, Apollo Chief Economist. Note: 2022 survey, prior to 12 months of survey year
    Banks are the most important source of financing for small businesses
    Source: 2021 Annual Business Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, Apollo Chief Economist
    Purpose of seeking financing for small businesses
    Source: Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve, Apollo Chief Economist. Note: 2022 survey, prior to 12 months of survey year
    The share of bank deposits paying zero interest rate is declining
    Source: FDIC, Apollo Chief Economist
    Small banks lend to small businesses
    Source: FDIC, Apollo Chief Economist. Data as of Q3 2022
    Where are the problems in CRE?
    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Small banks account for almost 70% of all commercial real estate loads outstanding
    Source: Federal Reserve Board, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    Loan growth expected to fall
    Source: NFIB, FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Outlook for 10s

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The arguments for long rates moving higher are sticky inflation, QT, debt ceiling, and Japan exiting yield curve control.

    The arguments for long rates moving lower are lagged effects of Fed hikes, the ongoing banking crisis dragging down growth, and that the Fed is done raising rates.

    Incoming information on any of these fronts will continue to keep fixed income volatility elevated.

    Arguments for long-term interest rates going up or down
    Source: Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • What Is Back to Normal After Covid?

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Our chart book looks at investable themes in a post-covid world.

    What is back to normal after covid?
    Thematic credit investing: What is back to normal after covid?

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Small Banks Lend to Small Businesses

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Small and medium-sized businesses have been underperforming in the stock market since the SVB collapse, suggesting investors are worried about the negative impact of the ongoing credit crunch on middle market companies, see chart below.

    Banking crisis having negative impact on small and medium-sized companies
    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Comparing NYC and SF

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    New York City subway use is at 70% of 2019 levels, and San Francisco is at 47%, see chart below.

    Subway ridership: NY ahead of San Francisco
    Source: BART, MTA, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Change in 3-month CD Rates, by Bank Size

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Since SVB collapsed, the interest rate on a 3-month CD has increased at small banks and declined at large banks, see chart below.

    After SVB: Change in 3-month CD rates at US banks, by size of bank
    Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, for a $10K 3-month CD, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


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