March 24, 2023 – Let’s talk about what’s going on in markets and the economy after the recent bank failures.
Quick recap: Over the last few weeks, several banks have collapsed under the pressure of bad management, high interest rates, portfolio losses, and a run of depositor withdrawals.
Since then, regulators, governments, and other major financial institutions have stepped in to take over troubled banks and guarantee deposits.1,2
It has also emerged that Silicon Valley Bank (the first to fall) had already been under regulatory review by the Federal Reserve for more than a year about the very issues that triggered its collapse.3
One of the possible silver linings of these failures is that other small institutions with similar problems are probably looking very hard at their books and reassessing their strategies to avoid a similar fate.
Will these bank failures trigger a recession?
I wish I had a simple answer for you. In the short term, it doesn’t look like these problems are big enough to threaten the overall economy.
In fact, banks fail almost every year without triggering serious problems. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 563 banks have failed since 2001.4
However, if banks get stricter about lending (as they did after the 2008 financial crisis) and the cost of getting loans increases with higher interest rates, the end result could be slower economic activity.
If employers get leerier about hiring workers or Americans get more cautious about their spending, that could also take a bite out of the economy.
What’s happening with markets?
After giving in to fear and selling off, global markets rebounded after regulators and central banks stepped in to stabilize the situation.
The Fed hiked interest rates a quarter of a point at their most recent meeting (as expected), and indicated that they might be pausing increases later this year.
Markets reacted positively to the news, buoyed by hopes of an end to higher interest rates, but let’s not be surprised by more volatility when it comes.5
Risk Disclosure: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only.
Securities offered through Fortune Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC and Fortune Financial Services, Inc. are separate entities and are not affiliated.
Markets & Fed Moves
March 24, 2023 – Let’s talk about what’s going on in markets and the economy after the recent bank failures.
Quick recap: Over the last few weeks, several banks have collapsed under the pressure of bad management, high interest rates, portfolio losses, and a run of depositor withdrawals.
Since then, regulators, governments, and other major financial institutions have stepped in to take over troubled banks and guarantee deposits.1,2
It has also emerged that Silicon Valley Bank (the first to fall) had already been under regulatory review by the Federal Reserve for more than a year about the very issues that triggered its collapse.3
One of the possible silver linings of these failures is that other small institutions with similar problems are probably looking very hard at their books and reassessing their strategies to avoid a similar fate.
Will these bank failures trigger a recession?
I wish I had a simple answer for you. In the short term, it doesn’t look like these problems are big enough to threaten the overall economy.
In fact, banks fail almost every year without triggering serious problems. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 563 banks have failed since 2001.4
However, if banks get stricter about lending (as they did after the 2008 financial crisis) and the cost of getting loans increases with higher interest rates, the end result could be slower economic activity.
If employers get leerier about hiring workers or Americans get more cautious about their spending, that could also take a bite out of the economy.
What’s happening with markets?
After giving in to fear and selling off, global markets rebounded after regulators and central banks stepped in to stabilize the situation.
The Fed hiked interest rates a quarter of a point at their most recent meeting (as expected), and indicated that they might be pausing increases later this year.
Markets reacted positively to the news, buoyed by hopes of an end to higher interest rates, but let’s not be surprised by more volatility when it comes.5
Sources
Risk Disclosure: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only.
Securities offered through Fortune Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC and Fortune Financial Services, Inc. are separate entities and are not affiliated.
Investment advisory services offered through Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC (“Robertson Stephens”), an SEC-registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission. This material is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. The information contained herein was compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but Robertson Stephens does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Investing entails risks, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is an investment advisory publication intended for investment advisory clients and prospective clients only. Robertson Stephens only transacts business in states in which it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration. A copy of Robertson Stephens’ current written disclosure brochure filed with the SEC which discusses, among other things, Robertson Stephens’ business practices, services and fees, is available through the SEC’s website at: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. © 2023 Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC. All rights reserved. Robertson Stephens is a registered trademark of Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC in the United States and elsewhere.
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