The End of the Monetary Illusion Magnifies Shocks for Markets

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Central bankers are no longer the circuit breakers for financial markets.

Monetary-policy makers, market saviors the past decade through the promise of interest-rate reductions or asset purchases, now lack the space to cut further -- if at all -- or buy more. Even those willing to intensify their efforts increasingly doubt the potency of such policies.

That’s leaving investors having to cope alone with shocks such as this week’s rout in China or when economic data disappoint, magnifying the impact of such events.

“The monetary illusion is drawing to a close,” said Didier Saint Georges, a member of the investment committee at Carmignac Gestion SA, an asset-management company. “With central banks becoming increasingly restricted in their stimulus policies, 2016 is likely to be the year when the markets awaken to economic reality.”

Even against the backdrop of this week’s market losses, Federal Reserve officials signaled their intention to keep raising interest rates this year. Those at the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan ended last year playing down suggestions they will ultimately need to intensify economic-aid programs. ...................(more)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-08/the-end-of-the-monetary-illusion-magnifies-shocks-for-markets