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Wise Money- "Follow the money" was Deep Throat's (aka W Mark Felt) suggestion for solving the cover up of the Watergate burglary. Wise Money's blog follows this adage by keeping you informed of events in the financial world. Over 1000 daily postings since 2004.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

How low can things get?

Strolling towards Lower Thames Street yesterday evening, the Evening Standard sales placards' were shouting "Interest rates To Go To 0%".

Going back a few hours, Mervyn King, fronting the BoE at their release of the Quarterly Inflation Report, made it very clear that the Bank views the risks in the economy at present to be growth or rather the lack of it.

He stated that inflation next year would fall to 1% with a possibility of it actually going negative in the 12-18 month timespan. This meant that interest rates would be cut further and sooner rather than later. HSBC this morning are calling for a 50bp cut at each of the next 4 MPC meetings.

Personally, I think that is too much. I can see real interest rates being cut to zero but with core inflation still sitting at a tad above 2% and not really moving, I feel a further 100bp cut would be ample.

Talking of Money Markets, the coordinated rate cut that I earlier mused might follow this weekend's G20 meeting in Washington is still on the cards even more likely should tomorrow's Eurozone GDP figure come in as dire as is being predicted. Let's get the cuts out of the way and we can all settle down to enjoy the festive season.

In the US, Paulson is still fiddling with his Banking rescue package, now deciding that the fund will not be used to buy distressed assets but rather, and in line with European examples, to purchase stakes in Financial Institutions.

This marks a complete u-turn from the original announcement and could be the catalyst that starts freeing up the lending within the US.

Oil remains on a slippery slope with Brent crude at one point, a whisker away from $50 per barrel. As has been made clear in the past, cartels don't really work during a period of rapidly declining prices.

Although OPEC talk a good game, cutting production quotas in order to put a floor under the price, the fact is that the smaller members maintain or even increase production in order to sustain their revenue.

What else? Oh yes, cable plunged through 1.50 on its headlong rush down and the Sterling Trade Weighted Index fell to a 12-year low this morning as traders took on board the BoE comments from yesterday. We saw a low of 1.4807 in USD/Sterling and 1.1919 in Sterling /Euro.

The contents of this blog are for information purposes only. It is not intended as a recommendation to trade or a solicitation for funds. The Wise Money Blog cannot be held responsible for any loss or damages arising from any action taken following consideration of this information.

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