The Macro Report | February 2020

Virus clouds fragile growth

The Wuhan coronavirus poses a risk to China's economy over the short term, and there will very likely be some effects on global growth. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has said the outbreak presented a "new risk" to the economic outlook for the United States. Financial markets are still assessing the fallout from the deadly virus amid disruptions to businesses and as Chinese cities remain under lockdown. A prolonged epidemic could have a lasting impact on global economic prospects.

Against this backdrop, there is ongoing tension in the current configuration of monetary policy, economic performance, and asset valuations. Investors continue to look to the Fed for direction, especially after policymakers lifted the interest on excess reserves rate (while holding the benchmark policy rate). In Europe, the U.K. formally left the European Union on January 31, closing the chapter on a nearly 50-year relationship with its neighbors. Securing a new trade agreement will be a top priority for Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the coming months.

Mapping the virus toll on China

Mapping the virus toll on China

The coronavirus poses a risk to China's growth as the government races to contain the outbreak, and the global economy could suffer from disruptions in business activity.

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Markets look to the Fed

Markets look to the Fed

It is through the financial markets that monetary policy affects the real economy, and central banks such as the Fed play a key role in fueling investor expectations.

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London braces for post-Brexit trade

London braces for post-Brexit trade

The U.K. officially quit the EU at the end of January, and during the transition period, officials will need to hammer out a trade deal by the end of 2020.

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About the macro report

The Macro Report is written by members of Putnam’s Fixed Income team. With backgrounds in applied economics, currency and interest-rate analysis, and sovereign and local bond market dynamics, this group conducts macroeconomic research in support of Putnam’s global fixed-income strategies.

Albert Chan, CFA, Head of Portfolio Construction
Interest-rate derivatives, government debt, risk analysis

Onsel Gulbiten, PhD, Analyst
Inflation, risk analysis, global growth dynamics

Sterling Horne, Analyst
Politics and economics

Irina Solyanik, CFA, Analyst
Quantitive analysis, growth forecasting

Izzet Yildiz, PhD, Analyst
Labor market analysis, global growth dynamics