Market Commentary: New Support Package to Provide Assistance to Individuals, Businesses and More

New Support Package

The economic slowdown continues. Initial jobless claims climbed 885,000 last week. In the face of additional restrictions and heightened health risks, consumers have scaled back activity. Retail and food service sales dipped 1.1% last month (Figure 1).

Key Points for the Week

  • A new support package for the unemployed, airlines, and small businesses that includes direct payments to most individuals is expected to be signed into law this week.
  • Retail sales shrank last month, and weekly initial unemployment claims increased as the economic pause continues amid a COVID-19 surge.
  • U.S. pressure on Chinese companies is increasing with investment bans and tighter regulations on companies trading on U.S. exchanges.

In response to the weakness, a new support package is moving quickly through Congress. It will provide direct payments to many Americans and additional unemployment assistance. The bill includes support for small businesses, airlines, schools, and public transportation. Economic growth should also get a boost from the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a second COVID-19 vaccine.

Stocks moved higher last week. The S&P 500 added 1.3% and erased the previous week’s losses. The MSCI ACWI index rose 1.6%. The Bloomberg BarCap US Aggregate Bond Index dropped 0.1%.

The Federal Reserve met last week and left rates unchanged. It plans to continue buying government and mortgage bonds to keep long-term interest rates low. The Fed did grow more optimistic about the economy. Officials expect a shallower decline of 2.2% to 2.5% this year and a rebound between 3.7% and 5.0% next year. Rates are expected to remain low through at least 2023.

Figure 1

Increasing the Pressure

The increasingly confrontational relationship between the U.S. and China continues to move in the direction of more hostility. In response to a presidential executive order issued November 12, major indexes announced some Chinese companies will be removed from global benchmarks. Last week, President Trump signed a bill requiring Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges to be audited by U.S. auditors or face delisting.

The change in administrations seems unlikely to provide much relief. Large majorities in both parties have a negative view of China. The bill to require U.S. auditors of Chinese firms was passed on a voice vote in the House of Representatives and by unanimous consent in the Senate, indicating broad, bipartisan support.

The negative view stems from several key divergences in the U.S.-China relationship:

  • China has adopted a more aggressive foreign policy. The country’s national director of intelligence recently wrote, “Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically.”
  • Chinese companies are accused of engaging in economic espionage, in which they use intellectual property from U.S. firms to capture market share.
  • China is running a massive trade surplus with the U.S., which has grown as a side effect of COVID-19. The emphasis on goods over services has benefited Chinese manufacturers. Last month, the trade deficit with China increased 9%.
  • China promised to purchase more U.S. goods as part of a trade deal last year. According to Chad Bown at the Peterson Institute on Economics, it has only purchased 60% of the goal.
  • Persecution of the Uighur minority continues to draw criticism.

The failure to purchase goods is at least partly COVID-related. Other factors have also pushed the trade deficit higher. The lack of travel and strong lockdowns slowed Chinese purchases of goods and services. U.S. consumers were willing to spend their stimulus checks, and China benefited from its role as a key manufacturing hub for consumer and technology goods.

As we look forward to a post-COVID world, U.S.-Chinese relations will be an area we watch closely for potential risks. Last year, when a trade truce was reached, the relationship seemed to be getting better. COVID has undercut that momentum, and the U.S. political environment indicates the U.S.-China relationship will be a top risk for years to come.

Market Commentary: New Support Package to Provide Assistance to Individuals, Businesses and More
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