In a recent statement, Larry Fink, the chairman of Blackrock, voiced concerns about the current state of the markets. Despite regulators’ rapid response to prevent contagion risks following recent bank failures, Fink believes the markets remain on edge. He specifically mentioned worries over the potential for a crisis in asset liability and questioned whether it could be the next sector to fail.
Aggressive policies, inflation spikes
In his regular yearly letter to investors, the asset management chair expressed his thoughts on the present market condition. In the letter, he said that the markets had altered dramatically in the previous 15 years. According to him, markets have been characterized by the exceptionally aggressive fiscal and monetary policy since the 2008 financial crisis, resulting in increases in inflation statistics not seen since the 1980s.
In the letter, the chair of the Federal Reserve said that in the last year, the central bank has increased interest rates by about 500 points to rein in the spiraling inflation. He thinks the consequences of unsustainable practices enacted in previous years have, at long last, returned to haunt the banking industry.
In light of current market conditions, Fink commented on the bond markets, noting that despite experiencing a 15% decline last year, there was still room for the market to drop further. Fink highlighted the recent frequency of rate hikes, which he believes has exposed vulnerabilities in the financial system, reminiscent of those last seen in the 1980s.
Asset-liability mismatch: Fink
Fink thinks Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) loss is a textbook asset-liability mismatch and the most significant bank failure since 2008. He believes it is too early to determine the magnitude of the situation’s ripple impact, given that two other smaller banks failed in the aftermath of SVB’s failure. He praised the regulatory reaction but questioned if it would be sufficient to avert another crisis in a similar industry.
According to him, it is still uncertain whether the impact of easy money and regulatory changes will spread throughout the regional banking sector in the United States, resulting in additional seizures and shutdowns.
Fink thinks it is now unavoidable for some financial institutions to reduce their lending levels to strengthen their balance sheets. It would result in more stringent capital rules for financial institutions like banks.
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