In a week marked by the S&P500 witnessing its largest-ever inflow at a staggering $21 billion, there’s an unsettling undercurrent in the financial landscape that demands attention. Bankruptcy filings are surging ominously, casting a shadow on the euphoria of market inflows. Additionally, the U.S. Corporate Default Rate, a key indicator of anticipated defaults among corporations with speculative-grade credit ratings, has witnessed a notable spike.
The paradox between record-breaking market inflows and rising defaults raises questions about the Federal Reserve’s seemingly dovish stance. Is the Fed preemptively responding to an imminent storm on the financial horizon?
Adding to the concerns, about 40% of federal student loan borrowers missed their first monthly payment as the freeze on student debt expired. The Biden administration revealed that nearly 9 million borrowers skipped their initial payment after the pandemic-related pause ended this fall. This alarming statistic, coupled with the corporate default spike, hints at potential economic turbulence.
Comparisons to the 2008 Financial Crisis timeline are hard to ignore. The housing bubble burst, triggering widespread mortgage defaults and foreclosures. Major financial institutions faced insolvency, setting off a global economic domino effect. Governments intervened with massive bailouts and stimulus packages to stabilize the economy.
The parallels to the present are unnerving. As record market inflows clash with rising defaults, the eerie echoes of 2008 raise concerns about the stability of the current financial trajectory. It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself, necessitating decisive action to avert a potential economic crisis.
Last week, the S&P500 saw the biggest inflow ever, at $21 billion, per Bloomberg.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) December 26, 2023
Also: There's been a significant spike in the U.S. Corporate Default Rate.
(Gauges the anticipated rate of defaults among corporations with speculative-grade / non-investment grade, credit ratings). pic.twitter.com/3MPon32V62
— Phoenix Capital (@PhoenixCapitalH) December 25, 2023
About 40% of federal student loan borrowers missed their first monthly payment this fall as the freeze on student debt expired, the Biden administration has announced
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) December 26, 2023
2008 Financial Crisis was a very rough period for the markets
The crisis began with the bursting of the US housing bubble
Leading to widespread mortgage defaults and foreclosures
Major financial institutions faced insolvency
This triggered a domino effect across global… pic.twitter.com/LSCjDTnblP
— Game of Trades (@GameofTrades_) December 24, 2023
Which begs the question.
Deja vu? pic.twitter.com/1Gqgf9ViXh
— Mac10 (@SuburbanDrone) December 22, 2023