Readers Question: How did the financial crisis affect stock markets and bond markets.
Stock markets were first hit by the instability in credit markets.
When financial markets realised the credit crunch would impact on the wider economy, shares in companies fell further. This is a typical response. When economies enter into recession, firms make less profit (or loss) and so firms pay lower dividends. This makes shares less attractive.
However, on the prospect of recovery, shares have bounced back from their nadir in November 2008. However, the London Stock Market is still 25% down on its Peak of 7000 just after millenium
The bond market is different to the stock market. Government bonds are seen as a ‘safe investment’. Generally, in a period of uncertainty, investors prefer safe investments like government bonds. With shares, a firm could go bust. But, with government bonds – historically, they are safe.
Therefore, at the height of the credit crunch, there was strong demand for government bonds as people looked for security.
Government bonds have also been influenced by the policy of quantitative easing. This involves the creation of money to buy assets such as government bonds. Therefore Central Banks, especially the Bank of England, have been increasing their holding of government bonds. This has caused the price of bonds to rise, due to the increased demand.
However, the outlook for government bonds is more complicated.
Firstly, the recession and financial bailout has caused government borrowing to increase substantially. Therefore, there will be a lot of bonds, governments will be trying to sell. If the debt becomes too large, it may put upward pressure on interest rates and reduce the value of bonds.
Also, there will come a time when the economy recovers and the Central Banks halt and then reverse there policy of quantitative easing. This will involve selling their holdings of bonds on the open market. Combined with large fiscal deficits it is uncertain whether the market will have much appetite for the huge quantity of government bonds. Therefore, price of bonds may fall.
Some people, even talk of a new bond bubble. – Bond prices rising more than they deserve.
Related
Treasury Bond Bubble
Bond Yields and the price of Bonds
Why is it that we seem to see bubbles so much when they were virtually unheard of 50 years ago. Too much market manipulation?