April 19, 2018

The strength of US institutions was on display again today, as the New York Fed published a blog post titled Will New Steel Tariffs Protect U.S. Jobs?:

We argue that the new tariffs are likely to lead to a net loss in U.S. employment, at least in the short to medium run.

Research on markup adjustments more generally shows that a 10 percent increase in competitor prices leads to a 5 percent increase in domestic prices. With a 25 percent tax on imported steel, local steel producers can increase their markups and prices, and still stay competitive relative to foreign-produced inputs. This is the so-called protection that tariffs confer.

However, firms that are dependent on steel and aluminum inputs—both importers and non-importers—will face higher prices. Downstream domestic producers will have to increase their prices or reduce markups, which makes them uncompetitive relative to competing imports. Similarly, U.S. exporters that need steel or steel-related inputs will face higher input costs and will have to either increase export prices or reduce their profit margins. These effects could lead to lower employment in these steel-intensive industries and possibly plant shut downs. Researchers estimate that the number of jobs in steel-intensive industries, which they define as industries with steel inputs of at least 5 percent of total, is around 2 million—for example, manufacturers of auto parts, motorcycles, and household appliances.

steelproduction
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I can’t imagine either Poluz or Carney authorizing the publication of anything like that! Canada is poorly served by its bootlicking class.

The 10-Year Treasury yield increased by 4bp today, which some blame on the commodity markets:

The recent weeks of sanctions, tariff dust-ups and tight oil supplies that jolted commodities prices higher have now got equities and Treasuries investors on the run, according to Weeden & Co.

Unlike in February, when optimism over global growth sent Treasury yields higher, this time it’s the price pressure from rising metals, Weeden’s Michael Purves wrote in a note to investors Thursday.

treasuries_180419
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Five year Canada yields were higher as well, closing at 2.16% … this should have been good news for FixedResets but, perversely, they got hit today along with everything else.

HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices
These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices

Values are provisional and are finalized monthly
Index Mean
Current
Yield
(at bid)
Median
YTW
Median
Average
Trading
Value
Median
Mod Dur
(YTW)
Issues Day’s Perf. Index Value
Ratchet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.7463 % 2,969.8
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.7463 % 5,449.4
Floater 3.36 % 3.58 % 95,928 18.35 4 -0.7463 % 3,140.5
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0874 % 3,151.2
SplitShare 4.61 % 4.58 % 78,070 5.10 5 0.0874 % 3,763.2
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0874 % 2,936.2
Perpetual-Premium 5.55 % -7.68 % 75,734 0.09 11 -0.2323 % 2,873.4
Perpetual-Discount 5.38 % 5.42 % 64,749 14.79 24 -0.3042 % 2,949.2
FixedReset 4.31 % 4.73 % 160,597 5.65 104 -0.3088 % 2,510.7
Deemed-Retractible 5.13 % 5.73 % 85,238 5.65 28 -0.2035 % 2,945.0
FloatingReset 3.03 % 2.90 % 32,205 3.59 11 -0.1406 % 2,762.8
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset -1.77 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 19.47
Evaluated at bid price : 19.47
Bid-YTW : 3.97 %
BAM.PF.E FixedReset -1.73 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.45
Evaluated at bid price : 22.77
Bid-YTW : 5.10 %
BAM.PF.C Perpetual-Discount -1.34 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 21.31
Evaluated at bid price : 21.31
Bid-YTW : 5.75 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset -1.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.80
Bid-YTW : 7.55 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset -1.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 21.66
Evaluated at bid price : 22.09
Bid-YTW : 5.01 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset -1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 16.49
Evaluated at bid price : 16.49
Bid-YTW : 4.94 %
HSE.PR.A FixedReset -1.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 17.64
Evaluated at bid price : 17.64
Bid-YTW : 5.14 %
MFC.PR.I FixedReset -1.13 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-09-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.57
Bid-YTW : 4.91 %
BAM.PF.B FixedReset -1.11 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.66
Evaluated at bid price : 23.21
Bid-YTW : 5.08 %
BAM.PR.Z FixedReset -1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.92
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 5.07 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset -1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 23.14
Evaluated at bid price : 24.10
Bid-YTW : 4.85 %
BAM.PR.B Floater -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 16.90
Evaluated at bid price : 16.90
Bid-YTW : 3.59 %
BAM.PR.C Floater -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 16.97
Evaluated at bid price : 16.97
Bid-YTW : 3.58 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset -1.03 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 21.68
Evaluated at bid price : 22.10
Bid-YTW : 5.03 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
TD.PR.S FixedReset 89,200 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2018-07-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.96
Bid-YTW : 3.61 %
BMO.PR.Q FixedReset 66,000 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.91
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %
BMO.PR.W FixedReset 58,890 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.24
Evaluated at bid price : 22.60
Bid-YTW : 4.77 %
POW.PR.D Perpetual-Discount 58,016 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.74
Evaluated at bid price : 23.03
Bid-YTW : 5.45 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset 44,258 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.50
Evaluated at bid price : 23.00
Bid-YTW : 4.84 %
EIT.PR.B SplitShare 43,343 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Soft Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-03-14
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.04
Bid-YTW : 4.80 %
There were 25 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
BAM.PF.E FixedReset Quote: 22.77 – 23.10
Spot Rate : 0.3300
Average : 0.2098

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.45
Evaluated at bid price : 22.77
Bid-YTW : 5.10 %

BAM.PF.B FixedReset Quote: 23.21 – 23.45
Spot Rate : 0.2400
Average : 0.1522

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 22.66
Evaluated at bid price : 23.21
Bid-YTW : 5.08 %

TRP.PR.F FloatingReset Quote: 19.47 – 19.71
Spot Rate : 0.2400
Average : 0.1574

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2048-04-19
Maturity Price : 19.47
Evaluated at bid price : 19.47
Bid-YTW : 3.97 %

BAM.PF.H FixedReset Quote: 25.76 – 25.97
Spot Rate : 0.2100
Average : 0.1312

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-12-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.76
Bid-YTW : 3.92 %

CU.PR.I FixedReset Quote: 26.00 – 26.26
Spot Rate : 0.2600
Average : 0.1829

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-12-01
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.00
Bid-YTW : 3.15 %

MFC.PR.I FixedReset Quote: 24.57 – 24.80
Spot Rate : 0.2300
Average : 0.1545

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-09-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.57
Bid-YTW : 4.91 %

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