Cross-Asset Liquidity Strategist, CrossBorder Capital

Michael J. Howell

Cross-Asset Liquidity Strategist

Implementing Research Using Alt Data & AI

CrossBorder Capital

CrossBorder Capital is a London-based independent investment advisory firm. Founded in 1996, it exploits a gap in the investment arena by focusing on Central bank liquidity. 

It specialises in the monitoring and analysis of global liquidity flows - an important determinant of asset prices, from currencies through to bonds, equities and real estate.

CrossBorder Capital implements its investment strategy and currently manages over US$ 350m.


Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Markets are often driven by liquidity. 2022 has seen a collapse in Global Liquidity, but there are signs that the cycle could turn higher in 2023?</li>
<li>We evidence 5 reasons for optimism, including positive signs from the US Fed and China's PBoC; a US$ peak and rising market depth in the US Treasury market</li>
<li>We expect interest rates to stay higher for longer, but predict liquidity will be reinjected. It is not ‘Risk On’ yet, but it may be the end of ‘Risk Off’ 
</li>
</ul>


Markets are often driven by liquidity. 2022 has seen a collapse in Global Liquidity, but there are signs that the cycle could turn higher in 2023?
We evidence 5 reasons for optimism, including positive signs from the US Fed and China's PBoC; a US$ peak and rising market depth in the US Treasury market
We expect interest rates to stay higher for longer, but predict liquidity will be reinjected. It is not ‘Risk On’ yet, but it may be the end of ‘Risk Off’ 



<ul>
<li>Dominance of retail investors in US equity market may explain disparity between data on investor positioning and more negative sentiment surveys</li>
<li>Households’ equity positions can be shown to be directly related to the US unemployment rate, and it reactive than anticipatory</li>
<li>With unemployment set to test 6% of workforce, equities will continue to sell-off. Yet, this looks like the final down-leg of this bear market</li>
</ul>


Dominance of retail investors in US equity market may explain disparity between data on investor positioning and more negative sentiment surveys
Households’ equity positions can be shown to be directly related to the US unemployment rate, and it reactive than anticipatory
With unemployment set to test 6% of workforce, equities will continue to sell-off. Yet, this looks like the final down-leg of this bear market


The Final Bear Phase: America’s Retail Investors Are Only Just Starting To Panic

<ul>
<li>Chairman Powell’s short and direct Jackson Hole speech emphasized the need to conquer inflation and (unusually) warned us to expect some economic pain</li>
<li>US monetary tightening is being front-end loaded. The Fed sees QT/QE operating like an ‘air conditioning unit’ whirring in the background. But we see QT as a wrecking ball
</li>
<li>Too much liquidity is being sucked out of financial markets by Central Banks. Among other things it may trigger Euro instability? Will this force a policy pivot sometime in 2023?</li>
</ul>


Chairman Powell’s short and direct Jackson Hole speech emphasized the need to conquer inflation and (unusually) warned us to expect some economic pain
US monetary tightening is being front-end loaded. The Fed sees QT/QE operating like an ‘air conditioning unit’ whirring in the background. But we see QT as a wrecking ball

Too much liquidity is being sucked out of financial markets by Central Banks. Among other things it may trigger Euro instability? Will this force a policy pivot sometime in 2023?


Post-Jackson Hole: Don’t Fight The Fed… Euro Collapse Threatened?

<ul>
<li>Bear market results from sharp monetary squeeze as Central Bank liquidity withdrawn, led by Fed. More pain to come. Recession is here 
</li>
<li>
 US Federal Reserve is driving markets lower and USD up. QT has officially started, but Fed has in fact been secretly tightening liquidity for months</li>
<li>Effective Fed balance sheet likely to contract by US$2 trillion under QT plans, but policy error could easily force a bigger US$3 trillion correction. Wall Street at risk. 
</li>
</ul>


Bear market results from sharp monetary squeeze as Central Bank liquidity withdrawn, led by Fed. More pain to come. Recession is here 


 US Federal Reserve is driving markets lower and USD up. QT has officially started, but Fed has in fact been secretly tightening liquidity for months
Effective Fed balance sheet likely to contract by US$2 trillion under QT plans, but policy error could easily force a bigger US$3 trillion correction. Wall Street at risk. 



Recession Is Here! SPX(S&P500) Still Set to Test 3200.Last Week’s US Fed Move Makes This More Likely

<ul>
<li>
Global Liquidity is skidding and forcing risk asset prices lower</li>
<li>70% of World's Central Banks are now running 'tight' monetary policies</li>
<li>
Bond markets may have called this right. Viz the collapse in term premia</li>
</ul>



Global Liquidity is skidding and forcing risk asset prices lower
70% of World's Central Banks are now running 'tight' monetary policies

Bond markets may have called this right. Viz the collapse in term premia


United States

The MSCI World Index is a free-float weighted equity index. It was developed with a base value of 100 as of December 31, 1969. MXWO includes developed world markets, and does not include emerging markets. MXWD includes both emerging and developed markets.

MSCI World Index (MXWO INDEX)

Five Reasons For Optimism In 2023?

We evidence 5 reasons for optimism in 2023. Interest rates could stay higher for longer, but we predict liquidity will be reinjected. It is not...

Michael J. Howell

The Final Bear Phase: America’s Retail Investors Are Only Just Starting To Panic

Dominance of retail investors in US equity market is related to the US unemployment rate. With this set to test 6%, equities will continue to sell...

Michael J. Howell

Post-Jackson Hole: Don’t Fight The Fed… Euro Collapse Threatened?

Post-Jackson Hole, US policy is front-ended loaded. Fed B/S reduction or QT is asymmetric and non-linear in its effects. It will cause funding...

Michael J. Howell

Recession Is Here! SPX(S&P500) Still Set to Test 3200.Last Week’s US Fed Move Makes This More Likely

World recession Is here. SPX(S&P500) set to test index 3200.Last week’s US Fed move makes this more likely. They pulled another US$105 billion from...

Michael J. Howell

Why Are World Markets Falling?

Weak Global Liquidity is pulling down World stock markets. More tightening looks set to come. Bonds have been warning of coming problems for months.

Michael J. Howell