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Goldman Shows "Equity Bust" Risk Highest Since 2008

Tyler Durden's picture




 

With the equity market back to near-historical highs, Goldman Sachs' Jan Hatzius revisits his analysis of the predictability of asset price busts. The main predictors of busts are past asset price appreciation and past credit growth, followed by a rising investment/GDP ratio. Hatzius warns that their model says that the further US equity price gains of 2014 have pushed the risk of an equity bust back up - as the chart below shows to levels not seen since 2008/9.

Goldman's "equity bust" model is back at levels last seen in 2008/9 - though obviously well off the peak levels, as the main factor holding down the risk of another bust, especially in the housing market, is the weakness of credit growth since the crisis.

 

The Goldman "Bust" Model

Earlier this year, we presented an analysis of the predictability of equity and housing market busts in advanced economies, focusing particularly on asset price downturns that are associated with a recession. With stocks back to near-record levels, it may be a good time to revisit that analysis.

 

To recap, our analysis uses quarterly data for 20 advanced economies on house prices, equity prices, and a set of economic and financial variables that have been found to correlate with the risk of future busts. We define an equity bust as a year-to-year decline in the quarterly average of real equity prices of at least 20%, and a housing bust as a decline of at least 5%. If the condition for an equity or housing bust is met in quarter t, we date the crisis as having started in quarter t-3. A recessionary bust is defined as a bust that involves a year-to-year decline in real GDP either in the same quarter or up to four quarters later. A deeply recessionary bust additionally requires that the year-to-year decline in real GDP exceed 2%. Our empirical analysis then tries to identify economic and financial variables that predict--or generate and "alarm"--for a bust 5-9 quarters later.

 

 

Exhibit 1 shows our estimation results. In order to facilitate interpretation, all coefficients are expressed in terms of the impact of a 1-standard-deviation increase in an explanatory variable on the probability of a bust, relative to a starting point at which the probability is at its average level. The size of a coefficient is therefore a reasonable proxy for its economic significance in predicting busts, while the z-statistic (in brackets) is a measure of the statistical significance.

 

Exhibit 1 shows that the single most important predictor is past equity price appreciation, followed by a rising investment/GDP ratio and high equity volatility. Our interpretation is that many equity busts are simply the counterpart of prior periods of strong price appreciation, and in this context it is not surprising that big moves downward are more likely when volatility is high. The sizable effect of a rising investment/GDP ratio may reflect a negative impact from excessive capital spending on corporate profitability or the broader dangers posed by an unsustainable homebuilding boom.

*  *  *

Jan Hatzius is careful end with somewhat of a silver lining though...

The expansion has already lasted longer than the median expansion historically, but we still seem to be quite far from the overheating or financial imbalances that historically precede most US recessions.

 

Thus, we expect the current expansion to last longer than average and view the risk of recession over the next few years as fairly modest.

*  *  *
So the model says "worry" but Goldman "thinks" everything's fine.

 

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Tue, 11/04/2014 - 19:59 | 5412542 khakuda
khakuda's picture

Stay calm muppets.  At least until 12/31/14 so GSAM can get a good quarter of billing in.

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:02 | 5412548 rocker
rocker's picture

This has to be another Gartman moment. Does Goldman ever really tell you the next move. Not

Sounds more like another BTFD time. Was going to go short until I read this.

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:26 | 5412570 khakuda
khakuda's picture

You mean the same Goldman that said oil was going to $200 back in 2008, when it ended up in the $30s a few months later?  The very same Goldman that took 200 pages to make the point that oil is going to get hammered a couple weeks back?  You think they would fuck us?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 21:06 | 5412740 Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day's picture

Looks like we have a few more years before were extended and a sell off comes

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:06 | 5412551 order66
order66's picture

"It's different this time"

Got it.

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:09 | 5412561 FieldingMellish
FieldingMellish's picture

So another 3 years to go. By that time gold will be at $500, silver at $5, oil at $10, Dow at 30000, S&P at 4000. Goldilocks.

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:50 | 5412681 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

But somehow the Fed will prop up housing prices so the median is 450,000 dollars.

And the deep-thinkers on CNBC will ask each other why no one seems to be buying..."But interest rates are at zero! It's never been a better time to buy!"

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 06:31 | 5413780 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

Houses for a buck.  

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:21 | 5412580 Squid Viscous
Squid Viscous's picture

GS throwing out a warning flag for the muppetz, in other words it's RISK ON until after "the holidays"?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:20 | 5412585 Bangalore Equit...
Bangalore Equity Trader's picture

Listen.

I got it.

"It's different this time"

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:21 | 5412587 IronShield
IronShield's picture

Fade GS!  It really is starting to be that easy isn't it?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:34 | 5412624 Pareto
Pareto's picture

Another retarded chart from Goldman.....like their fucking swirlagram......equally fucking meaningless.......total waste of time.  Fuck its like if you had money with them, you would have to start asking yourself with these retarded pictures.........why?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 21:09 | 5412746 Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day's picture

It's called baffle me with bullshit....charts. No one in the room will ask what the fuck it means or say...can you explain it it simple English because no one wants to sound stupid...it's a brilliant strategy

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 21:11 | 5412752 drdolittle
drdolittle's picture

Yeah, fade GS. When it becomes the thing to do they'll fuck you again. For now though it's still fade those lying sacks of shit.

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 21:51 | 5412867 bunnyswanson
bunnyswanson's picture

Goldman Sachs = Rothschilds

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 21:52 | 5412871 venturen
venturen's picture

the risk is so much higher as the amount of debt is so high and small moves of interest will bring the house of cards down!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 02:59 | 5413575 Bernoulli
Bernoulli's picture

Who cares what Goldman thinks? I'm listening to Gartman's advice. He's the best!

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