Larry Fink, CEO, BlackRock
“I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance.”
“The evidence on climate risk is compelling investors to reassess core assumptions about modern finance. Research from a wide range of organisations – including the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the BlackRock Investment Institute, and many others, including new studies from McKinsey on the socioeconomic implications of physical climate risk – is deepening our understanding of how climate risk will impact both our physical world and the global system that finances economic growth.”
“Will cities, for example, be able to afford their infrastructure needs as climate risk reshapes the market for municipal bonds? What will happen to the 30-year mortgage – a key building block of finance – if lenders can’t estimate the impact of climate risk over such a long timeline, and if there is no viable market for flood or fire insurance in impacted areas? What happens to inflation, and in turn interest rates, if the cost of food climbs from drought and flooding? How can we model economic growth if emerging markets see their productivity decline due to extreme heat and other climate impacts?”
“Investors are increasingly reckoning with these questions and recognising that climate risk is investment risk. Indeed, climate change is almost invariably the top issue that clients around the world raise with BlackRock.”
Week Past
UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in November, Economists had expected zero growth, but the manufacturing and production sectors declined more than expected. The weak data weighed on the pound. [1]
UK industrial and manufacturing production – The latest production figures from the industrial and manufacturing sectors showed real weakness. Industrial production fell 1.2% per cent during November, while manufacturing dropped 1.7%. Services shrank just 0.3%. [1]
UK high street – Retail sales fell 0.1%, in 2019, the first annual sales decline in 25 years, according the British Retail Consortium (BRC) with November and December particularly weak. The BRC blamed political uncertainty over Brexit and the General Election for the weakness. [2]
China inflation (December) – China’s consumer prices rose by 4.5% year on year, marginally lower than expectations of a 4.7% rise. Soaring pork prices were the main driver of higher inflation amid an African swine fever crisis. [3]
US initial jobless claims (w/e 4 January) – Claims for state unemployment benefits dropped to 214,000, against expectations of a fall to 219,000. However, there were signs that the labour market was cooling, with the number of Americans on unemployment rolls surging to its highest level in 18 months at the end of 2019. [4]
US inflation – US consumer prices grew at 0.2% in December from the previous month — its weakest reading since September. This gives the Federal Reserve scope to keep rates on hold. Economists had forecast a 0.3% increase. However, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey, a closely watched gauge of inflation expectations, rose modestly in December. [5]
Week Ahead
UK inflation (December) – Consumer price inflation is expected to remain at 1.5%, with a small drop in core inflation. [6]
UK retail sales (December) – UK retail sales are expected to rise from 1% to 3.8% month on month, but still show weakness year on year after a tough Christmas season for retailers. [6]
UK wages and employment – UK wage growth has been slowing in recent months but remains ahead of inflation. The consensus expectations are for wage growth (including bonuses) of 3.4%. [7]
US-China trade deal – The US and China are expected to sign their much-awaited ‘phase one’ trade deal. Any delay may unsettle markets. [6]
China GDP – China’s GDP growth is expected to fall from 6% to 5.9%, with industrial production and retail sales weaker. [6]
US manufacturing production (December) – the US manufacturing sector is expected to show weakness with production falling from -0.8% to -2.7%. [6]
References
- UK GDP: Pound slips on unexpectedly weak growth figures, City AM, January 2020
- Worst year for retail in 25 years, says trade body, BBC, January 2020<
- China’s pork price rockets 97 per cent in December, keeping inflation at eight-year high, South China Morning Post, January 2020
- Weekly jobless claims fall but number of unemployed surged to a more than 1 1/2-year high, CNBC, January 2020
- US consumer prices rise less than forecast in December, Financial Times, January 2020
- IG Index, week ahead, January 2020
- FX Street, economic calendar, January 2020
The opinions expressed are as of January 2020 and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. The above descriptions are meant to be illustrative only.