Corporate treasurers are facing another complex market environment this year. The pandemic has created significant economic uncertainties, which have been compounded by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and changing regulatory regimes, resulting in high inflation. In this article, we will explore some of the key market trends that are likely to impact corporate treasurers in the coming years.
In 2022, according to Reuters, major central banks hiked rates at the fastest pace (and by the largest amount) in more than 20 years. The U.S. The Federal Reserve hiked 7 times, totaling 425 bps for the year, while the Bank of England (BoE) hiked 350 bps across 9 hikes and the European Central Bank (ECB) hiked 250 bps across 4 consecutive hikes. 2023 has already seen several hikes, and the year is far from over! All of these in order to fight against inflation.
“One might wonder whether the end justifies the means.”
However, with recent news, one might wonder whether the end justifies the means… We are all glad that the financial system is much more resilient compared to the 2008 financial crisis, after the numerous reforms banks had to go through, allowing them to have high levels of capital today to pass the ongoing storms with a shaky banking environment and market turmoil. In my view, what is going on is a good (and necessary) refreshing cure that yes, banks can still go bust, and counterparty risk is still all around us.
“A good (and necessary) refreshing cure”
As cheap/zero-cost money came to a brutal end after more than a decade of free money, corporate treasurers have (again) had to adapt to this new situation. The current environment results in a tighter debt market, with foreign exchange hedging getting more expensive. The recession risk, together with uncertainty, puts higher focus on cash forecasting (like if it weren’t already priority #1) For companies not too leveraged (i.e., not too reliant on debt to fund their activities), this shock can be absorbed, while SMEs struggle with inflation and stricter access to funding combined with higher borrowing costs.
“High interest rates are not only a consequence of rate hikes by the central banks to fight inflation.”
Treasurers need much more active management of cash, both on the borrowing side and the investment side. As a result, money market fund providers are getting a lot more attention, and requests for short-term deposits are increasing all over the place. The duration of investments has changed as well (impacted by the speed of rate hikes, and the uncertainty). However, there’s no free lunch: high interest rates are not only a consequence of rate hikes by the central banks to fight inflation. On the horizon are also higher counterparty risks and, maybe, a liquidity shortage. Therefore, treasurers will need to find the right balance between a risk-adjusted return on their excess cash and simply benefiting from almost “risk-free” returns.
“Expect volatility to persist in the short term.”
In conclusion, Corporate treasurers need to consider implementing and updating their hedging strategies to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations, closely monitor interest rates and counterparty risk to ensure that they are managing their cash and debt portfolios effectively, and in good household manner, so that they can position their companies for success in the coming years. They will need to stay vigilant and adapt to changing market conditions, and expect volatility to persist in the short term.
Read more from Benjamin Defays
- The Importance of Data for Treasurers: Embracing the Era of “Treasury on-Demand”
- Balancing Innovation with Fundamentals for Lasting Value
- Navigating the Future: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Treasury for Efficient Cash Forecasting and Fraud Detection
- There is No More Ignoring ESG in Treasury
Join our Treasury Community
Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information.
