“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority”
~ Kenneth Blanchard
I’ve been digging back into my old school leadership quotes as of late, because that’s where I think this country will ultimately go to find her moral compass. Some of you will remember Ken Blanchard’s “One Minute Manager” which sold over 13 million copies and was reproduced in 37 different languages. Leadership at its deepest simplicity bears no religion or language. It is principles based.
The ability to influence and empower change is not going to be found in the current strata of American economic “authority.” While the world’s financial community continues to evolve, countries are picking the “best of” American financial principles and intertwining them with their own. China has no bid for Chris Cox and the USA’s current form of the SEC, but they are looking to influence the world with their agreement that Greenspan can indeed go global.
I am at my house in Canada this morning. When I woke up to go through the daily data point grind, all was quiet - snowflakes were falling… and as I was going through my Asian economic news, all of a sudden I heard the jingle of free money reindeer bells – I thought, wow… this is weird… could I have the date wrong? Could Christmas come early? No silly hockey boy – have another cup of coffee… them reindeer bells are Chinese, and they are cutting interest rates again this morning!
What’s most interesting to me about the Chinese proactively managing their economic system this way is the TIMING. Not only do they have the luxurious Santa sleigh seating associated with a velvet balance sheet, but unlike the Americans, they waited to use it. When I woke up this morning, the Chinese hadn’t cut interest rates yet – they waited until the manic media machine could flash it across their CNBC screens as “breaking news.” They also waited for a rare down day in the local stock market, and then cut rates, proactively, AFTER the close.
Say what you will about the Chinese making up their numbers – Madoff reminds us all that Americans make them up too. The Chinese are doing a masterful job here with doing what they can with what they have. Remember, “the key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority,” and the balance of power in global economic influence continues to shift. These Chinese open market exercises look far more capitalistic than they do communist.
Not only did the Chinese wait for their domestic market to put in a -1.5% down day in Shanghai, they waited for the Japanese to swallow their own export tongue. Japan reported a November export number that was… well… their worst monthly number EVER! Japanese exports took a negative -27% year over year swan dive – them aint Canadian or Chinese reindeers folks – them be Socialist Santas!
In Thailand, they also reported what is trailing economic reality – that the global economic Santa sleigh stopped, mid air, in October-November of 2008. Thailand’s exports for November weren’t as horrifying as Japan’s, but they proved that more than just Rudolph had a bloody red nose on the East side of the world. At -18.6% year over year, the Thai exporters reminded the world that their stock market was a leading indicator of future news, when it hit its bottom on November the 24th, 2008.
You see, now that the entire institutional investing community is afraid to say that the US stock market could be up a ton in Q1 of 2009, it’s probably the right time to be asking THE QUESTION as to why not? Thailand and Chinese stocks are no different than American ones. Prior to the revisionist historian news hitting the tape, the fall in the Thai stock exchange was -58%, and in China’s was over -70%. Asian equity markets crashed before America’s did, therefore it only makes sense for them to begin their respective recoveries first. Stock markets recover in anticipation of news improving tomorrow, not recapping yesterday.
Last week was the first up week in the SP500 in the last three. Small caps led the way, with the Russell 2000 having a +3.8% week, and I found that interesting as a proxy for where the bodies lie in this tape, particularly on the short side. Since its November 20th low, the SP500 has “re-flated” to the tune of +18%. Our macro portfolio has had a great run in the last 4 weeks, not as much for being long the USA, but by not being short it. Globally, the “Re-flation” we have seen from Hong Kong to Brazil have certainly helped.
So what is it that the shorts are missing? Maybe it’s asking THE aforementioned QUESTION. Maybe the “key to today’s leadership” is Chinese influence. Maybe Chinese Reindeer are flying overhead in Canada. After what we have seen “Made-Up” in 2008, maybe anything can happen… come Madoff, come Fuld, come Donner and Blitzen!
Have a great holiday week with your families,
KM
Long ETFs
SPY-S&P 500 Depository Receipts –Front month CME contracts on the S&P 500 traded as high as 891.20 in trading before 7AM this morning before heading lower.
USO - U.S. OIL FUND – Front month NYMEX light Sweet Crude traded as high as 43.44 this morning as Non-OPEC member nations Russia and Azerbaijan signaled that they will follow the organization’s lead and cut production starting January.
VYM – Vanguard High Dividend Yield- Proctor Gamble (4.28% VYM) placed $2 billion in bonds on Friday at a yield 100 basis points lower than notes issued in October.
DIA –DIAMONDS Trust Series – Front month CBOT contracts on the S&P 500 traded as high as 8,615 in trading before 7AM this morning before heading lower.
EWZ – iShares Brazil— Brazilian inflation forecasted at 5.02% for 2009. Goldman Sachs cut 2009 and 2010 earnings forecast for Brazilian Banks. The economy is expected to expand 2.5% in 2009.
EWH –iShares Hong Kong – The Hang Seng closed down 3.34% this morning to 14,622.39. Hong Kong’s inflation accelerated for the first time in four months as the government resumed rental charges for public-housing residents. Consumer prices rose 3.1% in November from a year earlier, after gaining 1.8% in October.
FXI –iShares China – The CSI300 closed down 1.68% to 2017.55. The Yuan fell for a second day on speculation China is keeping appreciation in check to help exports. China’s currency fell 0.07% to 6.8510 per USD as of the 5:30 p.m. from 6.8465 at the end of last week. This year’s 6.5% advance makes it the best performer among Asia’s 10 most-active currencies excluding the Yen.
Short ETFs
FXY – CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust – The Yen is trading down this morning to 89.92 USD.
Keith R. McCullough
CEO & Chief Investment Officer