<\/p>\n
Zoltan Pozsar
\nCredit Suisse<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are witnessing the birth of Bretton Woods III \u2013 a new world (monetary) order centered around commodity-based currencies in the East that will likely weaken the Eurodollar system and also contribute to inflationary forces in the West.\u201d \u2013 Zoltan Pozsar, Former Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury Department official, and now Credit Suisse Global Head of Short-Term Interest Rate Strategy based in New York.<\/p>\n
In a note published earlier, Zoltan wrote this crisis is not like anything we have seen since President Nixon took the U.S. dollar off gold in 1971 \u2013 the end of the era of commodity-based money. When this crisis is over, the U.S. dollar should be much weaker. From the Bretton Woods era backed by gold bullion, to Bretton Woods II backed by inside money (Treasuries with un-hedgeable confiscation risks), to Bretton Woods III backed by outside money (gold bullion and other commodities), Zoltan believes the global monetary system will never be the same post the crisis.<\/p>\n
Zoltan said a crisis of commodities could be unfolding. Commodities are collateral, and collateral is money, and this crisis is about the rising allure of outside money over inside money. Bretton Woods II was built on inside money, and its foundations crumbled a week ago when the G7 seized Russia\u2019s FX reserve.<\/p>\n
By reviewing the parallels between the crises currently unfolding and the crises of 1997, 1998, 2008, and 2020, Zoltan further mentioned we could draw the conclusions that every crisis occurs at the intersection of funding and collateral markets. At present, commodities are collateral, and more precisely, Russian commodities are like subprime collateral and everything else is prime. According to Zoltan, if we link them up with the four prices of money – namely Par, Interest, Exchange rate and Price level – we see a pattern which should make us concerned.<\/p>\n
Zoltan further adds that commodities used to trade at tight spreads until now. They no longer trade at par. There are Russian commodities that are collapsing in price and there are non-Russian commodities that are rallying \u2013 this is due to the 2022 Russia supply shock which is driven by present and future sanctions-related stigma. Zoltan wrote it\u2019s a buyer\u2019s strike, not a seller\u2019s strike. He believes Russian commodities today are like subprime CDOs were in 2008. Conversely, non-Russian commodities are like U.S. Treasury securities back in 2008. One collapsing in price, and the other one surging, with margin calls on both regardless of which side you are on. \u201cCommodities basis\u201d is climbing.<\/p>\n
Zoltan also pointed out from the 1997, 2008 and 2020 crises, we learned that someone, somehow must always provide a backstop. He believes Western central banks cannot close the gaping \u201ccommodities basis\u201d because their respective sovereigns are the ones driving the sanctions. They will have to deal with the inflationary impacts of the \u201ccommodities basis\u201d and try to cool them with rate hikes, but they will not be able to provide the outside spreads and won\u2019t be able to provide balance sheet to close \u201cRussia-non-Russia\u201d spreads. Commodity traders wouldn\u2019t be able to either. So who would provide the backdrop this time he questions.<\/p>\n
___ In a note published earlier,\u00a0Zoltan Pozsar, Global Head of Short-Term Interest Rate Strategy at Credit Suisse, wrote this crisis is not like anything we have seen since President Nixon took the U.S. dollar off gold in 1971 \u2013 the end … Continue reading
\nhttps:\/\/www.credit-suisse.com\/about-us-news\/en\/articles\/news-and-expertise\/we-are-witnessing-the-birth-of-a-new-world-monetary-order-202203.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"