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March 26, 2010



Economics Group
 Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary

 U.S. Review                                                                                                                       Existing & New Single Family Home Sales
                                                                                                                                              Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate - In Millions
 Public Policy Grabs Center Stage                                                                                    1.6                                                                                       7.0



       •      Public policy dominated this week, with the passage of                                                 1.4                                                                                       6.5


              healthcare reform and confirmation the social security                                                 1.2                                                                                       6.0
              system would run into deficit this year contributing to
                                                                                                                     1.0                                                                                       5.5
              disappointing Treasury auctions and higher bond yields.
       •      Advance orders for durable goods rose in line with                                                     0.8                                                                                       5.0


              expectations, but a large downward revision to January’s                                               0.6                                                                                       4.5
              nondefense capital goods orders raises a red flag as to
                                                                                                                     0.4                                                                                       4.0
              how strong capital spending will be in the first quarter.
       •      Sales of new and existing homes both declined in                                                       0.2              New Home Sales: Feb @ 308 Thousand (Left Axis)                           3.5
                                                                                                                                      Existing Home Sales: Feb @ 4.4 Million (Right Axis)
              February, raising fears the incipient recovery in housing                                              0.0                                                                                       3.0
              has faltered.                                                                                             2002        2003      2004        2005      2006    2007       2008     2009    2010


 Global Review                                                                                                                     Argentine Real Gross Domestic Product
                                                                                                                                                       Year-over-Year Percent Change
 The Argentine Economy Surprises on the Upside                                                                       15%                                                                                      15%



       •      The Argentine economy grew by 2.6 percent during the                                                   10%                                                                                      10%

              last quarter of 2009 compared to the same period a year
                                                                                                                       5%                                                                                     5%
              earlier, and by 0.9 percent for the whole year.
       •      The most important contributor to last year’s GDP                                                        0%                                                                                     0%

              performance for the Argentine economy was the collapse
                                                                                                                      -5%                                                                                     -5%
              of imports.
       •      Government consumption increased by 7.7 percent                                                        -10%                                                                                     -10%

              during the last quarter of 2009 compared to the same
                                                                                                                     -15%                                                                                     -15%
              period a year earlier, and rose 7.2 percent for the year as
                                                                                                                                           Real Gross Domestic Product: Q4 @ 2.6%
              a whole.                                                                                               -20%                                                                                     -20%
                                                                                                                            2000             2002            2004          2006          2008          2010


                                                                                                                                                                           Inside
                                                                      Wells Fargo U.S. Economic Forecast
                                                             Actual                       Forecast                            Actual                        Forecast       U.S. Review                         2
                                              1Q          2Q
                                                             2009
                                                                  3Q       4Q      1Q     2Q
                                                                                            2010
                                                                                                 3Q    4Q
                                                                                                              2006         2007   2008         2009       2010    2011
                                                                                                                                                                           U.S. Outlook                        3
 Real Gross Domestic Produc t
                                   1
                                             - 6.4       - 0.7    2.2      5.9    3.4    2.0    2.0    2.3    2.7          2.1       0.4       - 2.4       2.9       2.5
                                                                                                                                                                           Global Review                       4
   Personal Consumption                       0.6        - 0.9    2.8      1.7    2.2    1.0    1.4    1.6    2.9          2.6       - 0.2     - 0.6       1.6       1.7   Global Outlook                      5
 Inflation Indic ators
                      2
                                                                                                                                                                           Point of View                       6
   "Core" PCE Deflator                        1.7         1.6     1.3      1.5    1.4    1.2    1.2    1.2    2.3          2.4       2.4        1.5        1.3       1.7
   Consumer Pric e Index                     - 0.2       - 1.0    - 1.6    1.5    2.5    2.4    1.9    1.6    3.2          2.9       3.8       - 0.3       2.1       2.1   Topic of the Week                   7
 Industrial Produc tion
                          1
                                            - 19.0       - 10.4   6.4      6.6    8.3    3.9    3.4    6.5    2.3          1.5       - 2.2     - 9.7       4.9       5.7   Market Data                         8
                                       2
 Corporate Profits Before T axes            - 19.0       - 12.6   - 6.6    24.0   22.0   16.0   10.0   8.5    10.5         - 4.1    - 11.8     - 5.1      13.8       8.0
                               3
 T rade Weighted Dollar Index                83.2        77.7     74.3     74.7   75.4   76.8   78.5   80.1   81.5         73.3     79.4       74.7       80.1      83.6
 Unemployment Rate                            8.2         9.3     9.6      10.0   9.7    9.8    10.1   10.0   4.6          4.6       5.8        9.3        9.9       9.6
                  4
 Housing Starts                              0.53        0.54     0.59     0.56   0.59   0.64   0.67   0.70   1.81         1.34     0.90       0.55       0.65      0.76

 Quarter- End Interest Rates
   Federal Funds T arget Rate                0.25        0.25     0.25     0.25   0.25   0.25   0.25   0.50   5.25         4.25     0.25       0.25       0.50      3.25
   Conventional Mortgage Rate                5.00        5.42     5.06     4.88   5.40   5.70   5.80   5.80   6.14         6.10     5.33       4.88       5.80      6.10
   10 Y ear Note                             2.71        3.53     3.31     3.85   3.70   3.80   4.00   4.10   4.71         4.04     2.25       3.85       4.10      4.50
 Forecast as of: March 10, 2010
   1
     C ompound Annual Growth Rate Quarter-over-Quarter
   2
     Year-over-Year Percentage C hange
Economics Group                                         U.S. Review                                             Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 U.S. Review
 Strange Days in the Credit Markets
                                                                                                                Yield Curve Spread
 The bond market is the ultimate truth detector and its verdict on                                                        Basis Points
                                                                        300                                                                                                  300
 healthcare reform is the new law will be more costly than the                              10Y - 2Y: Feb @ 283 bps
 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated and budget deficits        250                 2Y - FFR: Feb @ 73 bps                                                           250
 will be larger. The bond market was already on edge from the
 ongoing Greek debt saga and reports that Berkshire Hathaway            200                                                                                                  200

 and a handful of other businesses can now borrow more cheaply
                                                                        150                                                                                                  150
 than the U.S. Treasury. The CBO confirmed the Social Security
 system would pay out more in benefits this year than it receives in    100                                                                                                  100
 taxes, something that was not supposed to occur until 2016. The
                                                                         50                                                                                                  50
 Social Security shortfall means the Treasury will need to redeem
 the “special issue notes” issued to the Social Security trust fund,         0                                                                                               0
 which will require the Treasury to sell real bonds, which has
 become more challenging in recent weeks.                                -50                                                                                                 -50

 The last few years have seen Treasury yields rise during the           -100                                                                                                 -100
 spring, triggering a whole new set of challenges. History looks
                                                                        -150                                                                                                 -150
 like it will repeat itself this year, with the end of the Fed’s
                                                                            1996            1998        2000            2002        2004   2006         2008          2010
 mortgage-backed securities purchases next week adding to the
 upward drift in yields. The supply of bonds coming to market will                            Inventory of New Homes for Sale
 remain a challenge, with additional money needed to pay Social                                  Months of New Homes For Sale at Current Sales Rate
                                                                        14                                                                                                       14
 Security benefits and recapitalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.                             Months' Supply: Feb @ 9.2
 Sovereign credit risk and worries about growing supply also                                12-Month Moving Average: Feb @ 8.7
 extend to municipalities, which saw yields climb sharply recently.     12                                                                                                       12

 Rising interest rates will make it hard for the housing recovery to
 gain momentum. The latest numbers are clearly troubling,               10                                                                                                       10
 although anecdotal reports from builders and Realtors are not
 nearly as pessimistic as February’s home sales were. New home
                                                                         8                                                                                                       8
 sales fell to a new all-time low in February, falling 2.2 percent to
 308,000. Builder sentiment also remains near all-time lows but
 builders are reporting some improvement in sales and buyer              6                                                                                                       6

 interest. On a net basis, housing is likely modestly stronger this
 year than last year. Supply remains a big issue, with a 9.2-month       4                                                                                                       4
 supply of new homes currently available for sale.
 The harsh weather had less of an impact on existing home sales,         2                                                                                                       2
 which fell 0.6 percent in February. Single-family sales fell                89        91        93        95      97          99    01    03     05        07        09
 1.4 percent, while condominium prices posted a slight increase.
 Maybe all that cold weather up North boosted the attractiveness                       NonDefense Capital Goods Orders, Ex-Aircraft
                                                                                                           Series are 3-Month Moving Averages
 of all those vacant condos in South Florida. The inventory of          40%                                                                                                40%
 homes available for sale rose to an 8.6-month supply, as more
 homes are put up for sale in anticipation of the key spring home       30%                                                                                                30%

 buying season and the expiration of the tax incentives.
                                                                        20%                                                                                                20%
 The unusually prolonged drawdown in inventories has set off a
                                                                        10%                                                                                                10%
 strong cyclical recovery in parts of the factory sector. Advance
 orders for durable goods posted a 0.5 percent gain in February          0%                                                                                                0%
 with January’s numbers being revised higher. Big gains in orders
 for machinery appear to be driving the overall increase. New           -10%                                                                                               -10%

 orders for nondefense capital goods, excluding aircraft, rose 1.1
                                                                        -20%                                                                                               -20%
 percent in February, but the previous month’s decline was a
 percentage point worse than first reported and now shows a 3.9         -30%                                                                                               -30%
 percent drop. The downward revision should cause forecasters to
                                                                        -40%                     3-Month Annual Rate: Feb @ 9.3%                                           -40%
 pull back their estimates for first quarter economic growth and
                                                                                                 Year-Over-Year Percent Change: Feb @ 5.4%
 may also signal a weaker trend for capital spending in general for     -50%                                                                                               -50%
 2010.                                                                            93        95        97          99        01        03    05         07        09




                                                                                                                                                                                      2
Economics Group                                                       U.S. Outlook                           Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Personal Income and Spending • Monday
Personal income is expected to advance at a moderate 0.2 percent
pace in February. Aggregate income data from the February                                                        Personal Income
                                                                                                             Month-over-Month Percent Change
employment report proved disappointing, falling 0.2 percent on the                    4%                                                                              4%
                                                                                                Personal Income: Jan @ 0.1%
month. This should continue to weigh on the wage and salary
                                                                                      3%                                                                              3%
growth component of income. Personal consumption expenditures
are expected to rise a more tepid 0.2 percent in February, after
                                                                                      2%                                                                              2%
strong gains of 0.5 percent in January. Unit vehicle sales dropped
2.0 percent in February, which will be an important factor behind
                                                                                      1%                                                                              1%
the somewhat slower trend in overall consumption spending. The
chain PCE price index should continue to point toward slowing
                                                                                      0%                                                                              0%
consumer inflation. Headline PCE is expected to be unchanged in
February, reducing the year-0n-year growth rate to 1.8 percent.                      -1%                                                                              -1%
Fears of inflation forcing the Fed’s hand on interest rates appear
overplayed at the moment.                                                            -2%                                                                              -2%



Previous: 0.1 percent                      Wells Fargo: 0.2 percent                  -3%                                                                              -3%
                                                                                        2000          2002          2004           2006          2008          2010
Consensus: 0.2 percent
                                                                                      ISM Manufacturing • Thursday
                                                                                      Regional manufacturing surveys for March suggest that
                 ISM Manufacturing Composite Index
                                     Diffusion Index                                  manufacturing expansion remains firmly in place as we close out
  65                                                                            65    the first quarter. The rapid recovery in global trade, combined with
                                                                                      the end of aggressive inventory cutting in the United States, is
  60                                                                            60
                                                                                      helping to boost manufacturing production at a healthy pace
                                                                                      despite still-sluggish final demand growth from consumers and
  55                                                                            55
                                                                                      businesses. The March ISM index is expected at 56.7. This is a
                                                                                      slight improvement from February’s 56.5 reading, but still below
  50                                                                            50
                                                                                      January’s 58.4, which marked the highest level since August 2004.
                                                                                      The Chicago Business Barometer and Philadelphia Fed index both
  45                                                                            45
                                                                                      improved in March, though the Empire index moderated,
  40                                                                            40
                                                                                      suggesting a somewhat mixed picture on production gains in
                                                                                      March. These ISM manufacturing levels are consistent with 6 to
  35                                                                            35    7 percent industrial production growth on an annualized basis.
                 ISM Manufacturing Composite Index: Feb @ 56.5
                 12-Month Moving Average: Feb @ 49.9
  30                                                                            30    Previous: 56.5                             Wells Fargo: 56.7
       87   89     91    93    95     97    99     01    03      05   07   09
                                                                                      Consensus: 56.5
Employment • Friday
For March, we are finally expecting to see a positive net non-farm
                                                                                                      Nonfarm Employment Growth
payroll print. The payroll report for February was encouraging in                               Yr/Yr Percent Change vs 3-Month Percent Change, Annual Rate
this regard: it revealed only a modest 36,000 net job loss in a                      5%                                                                               5%

month plagued by winter storms, suggesting the U.S. economy is on                    4%                                                                               4%

the verge of positive employment growth. A strong monthly boost                      3%                                                                               3%
from Census Bureau hiring should be the catalyst that finally                        2%                                                                               2%
pushes the payroll change into positive territory.             The                   1%                                                                               1%
unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 9.7 percent,
                                                                                     0%                                                                               0%
though re-entering job seekers could still push the unemployment
                                                                                     -1%                                                                              -1%
rate slightly higher in the months to come. Look for additional
                                                                                     -2%                                                                              -2%
gains in working hours and hourly earnings to confirm the firmer
labor market tone. Jobless claims remain stubbornly high, pointing                   -3%                                                                              -3%

to a weak underlying trend in private employment growth, and                         -4%                                                                              -4%

consumer confidence stumbled in light of labor market uncertainty.                   -5%                                                                              -5%
                                                                                                 3-Month Annual Rate: Feb @ -0.5%
                                                                                     -6%                                                                              -6%
                                                                                                 Year/Year Change: Feb @ -2.5%
Previous: -36 K                            Wells Fargo: 177 K                        -7%                                                                              -7%
                                                                                           91   93     95      97     99      01      03    05          07    09
Consensus: 150 K


                                                                                                                                                                            3
Economics Group                                       Global Review                                 Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 Global Review
 The Argentine Economy Surprises on the Upside
                                                                                       Argentine Consumer Price Index
                                                                                                   Year-over-Year Percent Change
 According to the INDEC, Argentina’s statistical institute, the        14%                                                                                     14%
 country’s economy grew by 2.6 percent during the last quarter of
 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier. This result
                                                                       12%                                                                                     12%
 followed two consecutive negative quarters when the economy
 dropped by 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent in the second and third
                                                                       10%                                                                                     10%
 quarters, respectively. The fourth quarter growth helped the
 economy to avoid a negative performance during the whole of
                                                                        8%                                                                                     8%
 2009 by posting an annual growth rate of 0.9 percent.
 Interestingly enough, the economy’s performance during the last
                                                                        6%                                                                                     6%
 quarter of the year was boosted by very strong personal
 consumption expenditures, which increased by 2.9 percent after
                                                                        4%                                                                                     4%
 dropping by 1.8 percent and 0.7 percent during the second and
 third quarters, respectively. However, personal consumption
                                                                        2%                                                                                     2%
 expenditures increased by only 0.5 percent during the whole of
 2009.                                                                                                        Consumer Price Index: Feb @ 9.1%
                                                                        0%                                                                                     0%
 The most important contributor to last year’s Argentine GDP              2004         2005         2006        2007        2008          2009          2010
 performance was the collapse of imports. Imports of goods and
 services plunged by 19.0 percent in real terms during the year,                     Argentine Merchandise Trade Balance
                                                                                               Millions of USD, Not Seasonally Adjusted
 while exports of goods and services dropped by only 6.4 percent.      $3,000                                                                             $3,000
 Thus, the strong drop in imports helped the economy prevent a
 deeper recession during the year as imports are a subtraction to
 GDP. On the other hand, the second most affected sector during        $2,000                                                                             $2,000
 2009 was gross fixed investment, which dropped by 10.2 percent
 during 2009, the worst performance since the 2001-2002
 financial crisis when gross fixed investment collapsed by a           $1,000                                                                             $1,000
 cumulative 52.1 percent in real terms.
 Another contributor to growth during the year was strong
                                                                             $0                                                                           $0
 government consumption. Government consumption increased
 by 7.7 percent during the last quarter of 2009 compared to the
 same period a year earlier, and rose 7.2 percent for the year as a
                                                                       -$1,000                                                                            -$1,000
 whole. Thus, the Fernández-Kirchner administration continued
 to support economic growth through very strong fiscal policy at a
                                                                                       Merchandise Trade Balance: Feb @ USD $604M
 time when fiscal revenues continued to dwindle due to the effects
                                                                       -$2,000                                                                            -$2,000
 of the worldwide recession. Government consumption during                    1997      1999       2001       2003      2005       2007          2009
 2009 was stronger than during the previous year even though the
 Argentine economy grew by 6.8 percent during 2008.                                  Argentine Industrial Production Index
                                                                                                   Compound Annual Growth Rate
 This is one of the reasons why many analysts are wondering if         50%                                                                                     50%

 this policy is sustainable, considering that the Argentine
                                                                       40%                                                                                     40%
 government has been an international “pariah” and has not had
 access to international capital markets since the country’s default   30%                                                                                     30%
 back in 2001. Many are wondering how long will it take for the
                                                                       20%                                                                                     20%
 country to default on its debt again if it cannot continue to
 finance its increased expenditures.                                   10%                                                                                     10%
 So far the administration has been able to “find” domestic
                                                                        0%                                                                                     0%
 financing through several measures that have captured increased
 revenues, but the situation is getting tougher, fundamentally         -10%                                                                                    -10%
 because the government has lost the majority in the Argentine
 Congress and it is becoming more difficult to bypass the              -20%                                                                                    -20%

 institution to continue the spending spree.
                                                                       -30%            IPI: Jan @ -4.9%                                                        -30%
                                                                                       3-Month Moving Average: Jan @ 13.8%
                                                                       -40%                                                                                    -40%
                                                                           1997        1999       2001        2003       2005       2007          2009




                                                                                                                                                                      4
Economics Group                                                    Global Outlook                            Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
German Unemployment • Wednesday
Despite the deep German recession—real GDP contracted nearly
                                                                                                        German Unemployment Rate
7 percent between early 2008 and early 2009—the unemployment                                                           Seasonally Adjusted
rate in Germany has barely risen. However, the unemployment rate                       13.0%                                                                       13.0%

understates the weakness of the German labor market because
many workers have been put on “short shifts” (i.e., hours worked                       12.0%                                                                       12.0%
have been reduced). The consensus forecast anticipates a small
increase in the number of unemployed workers in March when the                         11.0%                                                                       11.0%
data print on Wednesday. Preliminary CPI data for March are
expected to show few inflationary pressures in Germany at present.
                                                                                       10.0%                                                                       10.0%
Other data will offer further insights into the current state of the
Euro-zone economy. Italy releases unemployment and CPI data as
                                                                                        9.0%                                                                       9.0%
well next week. In addition, the sizeable increases in the Euro-zone
PMIs that were reported in March are expected to be confirmed by
final data next week.                                                                   8.0%                                                                       8.0%

                                                                                                     Unemployment Rate: Feb @ 8.1%
Previous: 8.2%                                                                          7.0%                                                                       7.0%
                                                                                            1997     1999       2001       2003      2005      2007         2009
Consensus: 8.2%
                                                                                        Canadian GDP • Wednesday
                                                                                        Like its large neighbor on its southern border, the Canadian
                              Canadian Real GDP
                 Bars = Compound Annual Rate       Line = Yr/Yr % Change                economy has grown for the past two quarters after enduring a
  6.0%                                                                         6.0%     painful recession. Canada is alone among major countries that
                                                                                        provide GDP data on a monthly basis, and data that are slated for
  4.0%                                                                         4.0%
                                                                                        release on Wednesday are expected to show the economy continued
                                                                                        to expand at a strong pace in January. If the consensus forecast is
  2.0%                                                                         2.0%
                                                                                        realized, then the Canadian economy would be on pace to register
                                                                                        an annualized growth rate in excess of 4 percent in the first quarter
  0.0%                                                                         0.0%
                                                                                        of 2010.

 -2.0%                                                                         -2.0%
                                                                                        Data on raw material and industrial prices are also on the docket
                                                                                        next week. Although prices of raw materials have risen significantly
 -4.0%                                                                         -4.0%    over the past year, the Bank of Canada is not likely to raise rates
                                                                                        anytime soon because the core rate of CPI inflation remains very
 -6.0%                                                                         -6.0%    benign (i.e., only 1.3 percent in January).
                   Compound Annual Growth: Q4 @ 5.0%
                   Year-over-Year Percent Change: Q4 @ -1.2%
 -8.0%                                                                         -8.0%
                                                                                        Previous: 0.6% (month-on-month change)
         2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009
                                                                                        Consensus: 0.5%
Japanese Tankan Index • Thursday
The quarterly Tankan survey that is conducted by the Bank of
                                                                                                   Japanese Tankan Survey & Real GDP
Japan is widely watched by investors. Not only does it contain a                                            Index, Year-over-Year Percentage Change
treasure trove of data on the Japanese economy, but the “headline”                     60.0                                                                        6.0%

index, which measures sentiment among large manufacturers, is
                                                                                                                                                                   4.0%
fairly correlated with real GDP growth. If, as expected, the                           40.0
“headline” index rises further, then investors will infer that the                                                                                                 2.0%
year-over-year growth rate in GDP in the first quarter rose into                       20.0
positive territory for the first time in two years.                                                                                                                0.0%

Monthly data for February will offer further details about the                          0.0                                                                        -2.0%
present state of the Japanese economy. The consensus forecast
looks for a small drop in industrial production last month, which, if                                                                                              -4.0%
                                                                                       -20.0
realized, would be the first decline in IP in a year. Data on retail
                                                                                                                                                                   -6.0%
spending, the labor market and housing starts are also on the
docket next week.                                                                      -40.0
                                                                                                   Tankan Index: Q4 @ -24.0 (Left Axis)                            -8.0%
                                                                                                   Year-over-Year Percent Change: Q4 @ -0.9% (Right Axis)
Previous: -24                                                                          -60.0                                                                       -10.0%
                                                                                            1996    1998      2000       2002      2004      2006     2008
Consensus: -14


                                                                                                                                                                            5
Economics Group                                                Point of View                                                                   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Interest Rate Watch                                                                                                                                  Consumer Credit Insights
Cyclical Rise in Rates Reinforced by                                       Central Bank Policy Rates                                                 ABS Slowdown May Hinder Spending
Structural Deficits.                              7.5%                                                                                       7.5%
                                                                                           US Federal Reserve: Mar - 26 @ 0.25%
                                                                                           ECB: Mar - 26 @ 1.00%
                                                                                                                                                     During the credit boom, issuance of asset-
Over the last few weeks the typical cyclical                                               Bank of Japan: Mar - 26 @ 0.10%
                                                                                           Bank of England: Mar - 26 @ 0.50%                         backed securities (ABS) soared, peaking at
                                                  6.0%                                                                                       6.0%
pattern of rising interest rates has become                                                                                                          $1.2 trillion in 2006. Since then, ABS
more obvious. Improved economic activity                                                                                                             issuance has fallen off a cliff, with a mere
                                                  4.5%                                                                                       4.5%
tends to be associated with rising credit                                                                                                            $177.4 billion being issued in 2009, a
demand. With each economic recovery, the                                                                                                             whopping 86 percent decline from the
                                                  3.0%                                                                                       3.0%
demand for credit tends to increase as                                                                                                               peak. While the year-to-date total through
firms raise their expectations for stronger       1.5%                                                                                       1.5%
                                                                                                                                                     March 2010 of $27.9 billion is 42 percent
final sales. Meanwhile, on the credit supply                                                                                                         above the same period in 2009, issuance
side, the opposite pattern starts to emerge       0.0%                                                                                       0.0%    through the rest of the year will have to
as the Federal Reserve begins to withdraw             2000     2001    2002   2003      2004   2005   2006     2007   2008   2009    2010
                                                                                                                                                     largely match the last nine months of 2009
liquidity. For now, many investors appear                                                Yield Curve                                                 in order for 2010 totals to surpass 2009.
to anticipate that the Federal Reserve will                                     U.S. Treasuries, Active Issues
                                                  5.00%                                                                                      5.00%
                                                                                                                                                     Unfortunately, that may not happen. After
maintain its accommodative policy for the         4.50%                                                                                      4.50%
                                                                                                                                                     rebounding from a scant $600 million in
rest of this year. This may be true for the       4.00%                                                                                      4.00%
                                                                                                                                                     October 2008 to $26.4 billion in
politically sensitive federal funds rate but      3.50%                                                                                      3.50%
                                                                                                                                                     September 2009 as investors’ risk appetite
behind the scenes the risk is that the cost of    3.00%                                                                                      3.00%
                                                                                                                                                     returned, ABS issuance has slowed to just
funds is likely to rise while longer rates will   2.50%                                                                                      2.50%
                                                                                                                                                     $9.2 billion in March 2010 as investors
also rise as the Fed reduces its role in the      2.00%                                                                                      2.00%
                                                                                                                                                     have turned cautious again. Following the
Treasury and mortgage backed security             1.50%                                                                                      1.50%
                                                                                                                                                     cash-for-clunkers surge in fall 2009, auto
markets.                                          1.00%                                                                                      1.00%
                                                                                                                 March 26, 2010                      ABS issuance has been cut in half. Credit
Structural     Deficits    Reinforce      the     0.50%                                                          March 19, 2010
                                                                                                                 February 26, 2010
                                                                                                                                             0.50%
                                                                                                                                                     card issuance has fared even worse as no
Cycle                                             0.00%                                                                                      0.00%
                                                                                                                                                     securities have been issued in two of the
                                                         3M   2Y      5Y       10
                                                                                    Y
                                                                                                                                    30
                                                                                                                                         Y

In the last two weeks the long-run outlook                                                                                                           last three months, leaving the three-month
                                                                                        Forward Rates
for U.S. fiscal deficits has deteriorated for                                       90-Day EuroDollar Futures                                        moving average at just $370 million versus
                                                  2.25%                                                                                      2.25%
two    reasons:     Social    Security   and                                                                                                         about     $8.0    billion   last   summer.
healthcare. Recent estimates suggest that
                                                  2.00%                                                                                      2.00%
                                                                                                                                                     Furthermore, the Fed’s assistance is
the Social Security fund will experience          1.75%                                                                                      1.75%   waning as ABS holdings via the TALF have
spending outflows in excess of revenue            1.50%                                                                                      1.50%   actually declined since December.
inflows this year—much earlier than prior         1.25%                                                                                      1.25%   Over the last couple years, consumer
estimates. This suggests the entitlement                                                                                                             spending growth has been closely linked to
                                                  1.00%                                                                                      1.00%
problems that were anticipated with the                                                                                                              ABS issuance, lagging it by about six to
retirement of the baby boom generation are        0.75%                                                                                      0.75%   nine months. Thus, the recent slowing of
coming earlier than many expected.                0.50%
                                                                                                               March 26, 2010
                                                                                                               March 19, 2010
                                                                                                                                             0.50%   ABS issuance suggests consumer spending
                                                                                                               February 26, 2010                     growth could remain sluggish as we head
Meanwhile, the budget implications of             0.25%
                                                              Jun 10       Sep 10        Dec 10       Mar 11      Jun 11      Sep 11
                                                                                                                                             0.25%
                                                                                                                                                     into the summer.
healthcare have become more visible. First,
there is lots of skepticism on the ability of                                                                                Mortgage Data
future Congresses to really enforce cuts in
Medicare. Second, there are very few                                                                                                         Week              4 Weeks             Year
elements in the healthcare bill to control
                                                                                                      Current                                  Ago                Ago               Ago
costs.
                                                   Mortgage Rates
Research done at the Federal Reserve                  30- Y r Fixed                                               4.96%                              4.95%            4.93%             4.98%
suggests that it is expected future federal           15- Y r Fixed                                               4.33%                              4.32%            4.33%             4.61%
deficits that influence interest rates today.         5/1 ARM                                                     4.09%                              4.05%            4.12%             4.98%
Financial markets are forward-looking and             1- Y r ARM                                                  4.12%                              4.22%            4.23%             4.91%
the outlook is not good. This outlook is
reinforced by the understanding that much          MBA Applic ations
of the Federal deficit in the last year has         Composite                                                    620.9                             633.1             600.5             876.9
been purchased by the Fed and Asian                 Purc hase                                                    221.5                             226.8             212.3             257.1
buyers—two buyers that the markets are              Refinanc e                                                 2,955.9                           3,007.2           2,860.1           4,497.6
less confident about going forward.
                                                   Source: Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC




                                                                                                                                                                                                6
Economics Group                                    Topic of the Week                                   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 Topic of the Week
 A Few Brief Comments on Healthcare Reform
                                                                                    Gross Cost of Coverage Provisions
 The financial markets appeared to have already priced in                                      CBO Estimates, Billions of Dollars
                                                                $250                                                                                   $250
 passage of the healthcare bill before last weekend. Our
 early assessment is that, while there is a great deal of
 cost shifting taking place, the bill that passed was less
 onerous than many had feared. Unfortunately, the               $200                                                                                   $200
 history of massive social spending programs is that they
 tend to grow larger and larger over time. Moreover, the
 scoring by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO),              $150                                                                                   $150
 which shows the program costing $940 billion and
 reducing the deficit $138 billion over the 2010 to 2019
 period, was based on a strict interpretation of the bill as
                                                                $100                                                                                   $100
 it was written. The costs will likely be higher than the
 CBO estimate and the budget deficit will also likely be
 larger. Savings from Medicare cutbacks will likely be
                                                                 $50                                                                                   $50
 harder to achieve. Moreover, the extended phase-in of
 the program will likely lead to incessant political
 pressure to expand benefits and scale back the tax hikes.
 The healthcare bill will have relatively little impact on        $0                                                                                   $0
 economic conditions over the near term as most of the                      2010           2012            2014            2016           2018

 provisions will not take effect for a couple of years.
 There is little evidence the new healthcare law will hold
                                                                                              U.S. CPI - Medical Care
                                                                                               Series are 3-Month Moving Averages
 down the price of healthcare. Healthcare costs have been       15%                                                                                    15%
 rising faster than the overall inflation rate for about as                                 Medical Care 3-M Annual Rate: Feb @ 3.7%
                                                                                            Medical Care Yr/Yr Pct Chg: Feb @ 3.5%
 long as can be remembered. The driving force for this
                                                                                            Core CPI Year-over-Year Percent Change: Feb @ 1.5%
 increase has been the aging population, which has              12%                                                                                    12%
 resulted in increased demand of healthcare services and
 a lack of market discipline in the healthcare
 marketplace. Most costs are paid indirectly either by
                                                                 9%                                                                                    9%
 insurance companies or the government. This leads to
 over-consumption and little to no price sensitivity.
 The higher tax rates on investment earnings will draw
                                                                 6%                                                                                    6%
 more investment dollars into tax avoidance projects and
 lead to modestly lower investment throughout the
 economy. Likewise, the new tax on medical devices and
                                                                 3%                                                                                    3%
 pharmaceutical companies could lead to reduced
 profitability and thus less innovation and product
 development.
                                                                 0%                                                                                    0%
 Please visit our website for the full report.
                                                                       80      83     86       89     92      95      98      01     04      07   10




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                                          And for those with permission at www.wellsfargo.com/research




                                                                                                                                                              7
Economics Group                                                                   Market Data                                           Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Market Data ♦ Mid-Day Friday
  U.S. I nterest Rates                                                                                         Foreign I nterest Rates
                                                         Frida y       1 W eek            1 Ye a r                                                              Frida y     1 W eek          1 Ye a r
                                                   3/26/2010                 Ago              Ago                                                          3/26/2010              Ago            Ago
 3-Month T-Bill                                            0.13              0.14             0.14             3-Month Euro LIBOR                                 0.58           0.58            1.53
 3-Month LIBOR                                             0.29              0.28             1.23             3-Month Ste rling LIBOR                            0.65           0.65            1.70
 1-Ye a r Tre a sury                                       0.43              0.40             0.55             3-Month Ca na dia n LIBOR                          0.41           0.40            1.05
 2-Ye a r Tre a sury                                        1.06             0.99             0.91             3-Month Ye n LIBOR                                 0.24           0.24            0.61
 5-Ye a r Tre a sury                                        2.62             2.46             1.79             2-Ye a r Ge rma n                                  1.00           1.00            1.41
 10-Ye a r Tre a sury                                       3.86             3.69             2.74             2-Ye a r U.K.                                      1.19           1.25            1.28
 30-Ye a r Tre a sury                                      4.76              4.58             3.65             2-Ye a r Ca na dia n                               1.69           1.64            1.18
 Bond Buye r Inde x                                        4.44              4.32             5.00         2-Ye a r Ja pa ne se                                   0.17           0.15            0.42
                                                                                                           10-Ye a r Ge rma n                                     3.15           3.11            3.13
  Foreign Exchange Rates                                                                                   10-Ye a r U.K.                                         4.04           3.96            3.31
                                                         Frida y       1 W eek            1 Ye a r             10-Ye a r Ca na dia n                              3.57           3.48            2.89
                                                   3/26/2010                 Ago              Ago              10-Ye a r Ja pa ne se                              1.39           1.37            1.32
 Euro             ($/€)                                   1.341             1.353          1.353
 British P ound ($/₤)                                     1.491             1.501          1.445               Commodity Prices
 British P ound (₤/€)                                     0.899             0.901          0.936                                                                Frida y     1 W eek          1 Ye a r
 Ja pa ne se Ye n (¥/$)                                  92.530            90.540        98.710                                                            3/26/2010              Ago            Ago
 Ca na dia n Dolla r (C$/$)                               1.029             1.017          1.231               W TI Crude ($/Ba rre l)                           80.47         80.68            54.34
 Sw iss Fra nc (CHF/$)                                    1.065             1.061          1.127               Gold ($/Ounce )                               1104.45       1107.00           934.10
 Austra lia n Dolla r (US$/A$)                            0.904             0.915          0.702               Hot-Rolle d Ste e l ($/S.Ton)                    615.00       615.00          450.00
 Me xica n P e so (MXN/$)                                12.544            12.585        14.192                Coppe r (¢/P ound)                               340.05       336.45          184.95
 Chine se Yua n (CNY/$)                                   6.827             6.827          6.832               Soybe a ns ($/Bushe l)                             9.30           9.45            9.54
 India n Rupe e (INR/$)                                  45.240            45.497        50.604                Na tura l Ga s ($/MMBTU)                           3.97           4.17            3.95
 Bra zilia n Re a l (BRL/$)                               1.822             1.802          2.249               Nicke l ($/Me tric Ton)                       22,806        22,722            9,507
 U.S. Dolla r Inde x                                     81.604            80.724        84.165                CRB Spot Inds.                                   501.12       503.52          332.94


Next Week’s Economic Calendar
               Mon da y                             T u esda y                           W edn esda y                          T h u rsda y                          Frida y
               29                                   30                                   31                                    1                                     2
               Pe r son a l In com e               Con su m e r Con fi d en ce          Fa ct or y Or d er s                   ISM Ma n u fa ct u r i n g           N on fa r m Pa y r ol l s
               Ja n u a r y 0 . 1 %                Feb r u a r y 4 6 . 0                Ja n u a r y 1 . 7 %                   Feb r u a r y 5 6 . 5                Feb r u a r y -3 6 K
               Feb r u a r y 0 . 2 % ( W )         Ma r c h 5 0 . 9 (W )                Feb r u a r y 0 . 3 % ( W )            Ma r c h 5 6 . 7 (W )                Ma r c h 1 7 7 K (W )
 U.S. Data




               Pe r son a l Sp e n d i n g                                                                                     Con st r u ct i on Sp en d i n g Un em p l oy m e n t Ra t e
               Ja n u a r y 0 . 5 %                                                                                            Ja n u a r y -0 . 6 %                Feb r u a r y 9 . 7 %
               Feb r u a r y 0 . 2 % ( W )                                                                                     Feb r u a r y -0 . 4 % (W )          Ma r c h 9 . 7 % ( W )
               PCE De fl a t or                                                                                                T ot a l V e h i cl e Sa l e s
               Ja n u a r y 2 . 1 %                                                                                            Feb r u a r y 1 0 . 3 6 M
               Feb r u a r y 1 . 8 % ( W )                                                                                     Ma r c h 1 1 . 5 M (W )

               Ge r m a n y                        Ja p a n                             Ge r m a n y                           Ja p a n
 Global Data




               CPI (Y oY )                         Job l e ss Ra t e                    Un em p l oy m en t Ra t e             Lge Ma n u fa ct i n g PMI
               Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 0 . 5 %         Pr ev iou s ( Ja n ) 4 . 9 %         Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 8 . 2 %            Pr ev iou s ( 4 Q ) -2 4
                                                   Ja p a n                             Ca n a d a                             UK
                                                   In d u st r i a l Pr od . (MoM) GDP (MoM)                                   PMI Ma n u fa ct u r i n g
                                                   Pr ev iou s ( Ja n ) 2 . 7 %         Pr ev iou s ( Dec ) 0 . 6 %            Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 5 6 . 6

               Not e: ( W ) = W el ls Fa r g o Est im a t e ( c ) = C on sen su s Est im a t e




                                                                                                                                                                                                        8
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Economics Group


Diane Schumaker-Krieg            Global Head of Research (704) 715-8437          diane.schumaker@wellsfargo.com
                                 & Economics                (212) 214-5070

John E. Silvia, Ph.D.            Chief Economist            (704) 374-7034       john.silvia@wellsfargo.com
Mark Vitner                      Senior Economist           (704) 383-5635       mark.vitner@wellsfargo.com
Jay Bryson, Ph.D.                Global Economist           (704) 383-3518      jay.bryson@wellsfargo.com
Scott Anderson, Ph.D.            Senior Economist           (612) 667-9281      scott.a.anderson@wellsfargo.com
Eugenio Aleman, Ph.D.            Senior Economist           (612) 667-0168      eugenio.j.aleman@wellsfargo.com
Sam Bullard                      Economist                  (704) 383-7372      sam.bullard@wellsfargo.com
Anika Khan                       Economist                  (704) 715-0575      anika.khan@wellsfargo.com
Azhar Iqbal                      Econometrician             (704) 383-6805      azhar.iqbal@wellsfargo.com
Adam G. York                     Economist                  (704) 715-9660      adam.york@wellsfargo.com
Ed Kashmarek                     Economist                  (612) 667-0479      ed.kashmarek@wellsfargo.com
Tim Quinlan                      Economic Analyst           (704) 374-4407       tim.quinlan@wellsfargo.com
Kim Whelan                       Economic Analyst           (704) 715-8457      kim.whelan@wellsfargo.com
Yasmine Kamaruddin               Economic Analyst           (704) 374-2992       yasmine.kamaruddin@wellsfargo.com



Wells Fargo Securities Economics Group publications are produced by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, a U.S broker-dealer
registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the
Securities Investor Protection Corp. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, distributes these publications directly and through
subsidiaries including, but not limited to, Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Bank N.A,
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities International Limited. The information and opinions herein are
for general information use only. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness, nor
does Wells Fargo Securities, LLC assume any liability for any loss that may result from the reliance by any person upon
any such information or opinions. Such information and opinions are subject to change without notice, are for general
information only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sales of any security or
as personalized investment advice. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is a separate legal entity and distinct from affiliated
banks and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company © 2010 Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.


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Weekly Economic Financial Commentary March 26, 2010

  • 1. March 26, 2010 Economics Group Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary U.S. Review Existing & New Single Family Home Sales Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate - In Millions Public Policy Grabs Center Stage 1.6 7.0 • Public policy dominated this week, with the passage of 1.4 6.5 healthcare reform and confirmation the social security 1.2 6.0 system would run into deficit this year contributing to 1.0 5.5 disappointing Treasury auctions and higher bond yields. • Advance orders for durable goods rose in line with 0.8 5.0 expectations, but a large downward revision to January’s 0.6 4.5 nondefense capital goods orders raises a red flag as to 0.4 4.0 how strong capital spending will be in the first quarter. • Sales of new and existing homes both declined in 0.2 New Home Sales: Feb @ 308 Thousand (Left Axis) 3.5 Existing Home Sales: Feb @ 4.4 Million (Right Axis) February, raising fears the incipient recovery in housing 0.0 3.0 has faltered. 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Global Review Argentine Real Gross Domestic Product Year-over-Year Percent Change The Argentine Economy Surprises on the Upside 15% 15% • The Argentine economy grew by 2.6 percent during the 10% 10% last quarter of 2009 compared to the same period a year 5% 5% earlier, and by 0.9 percent for the whole year. • The most important contributor to last year’s GDP 0% 0% performance for the Argentine economy was the collapse -5% -5% of imports. • Government consumption increased by 7.7 percent -10% -10% during the last quarter of 2009 compared to the same -15% -15% period a year earlier, and rose 7.2 percent for the year as Real Gross Domestic Product: Q4 @ 2.6% a whole. -20% -20% 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Inside Wells Fargo U.S. Economic Forecast Actual Forecast Actual Forecast U.S. Review 2 1Q 2Q 2009 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 2010 3Q 4Q 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 U.S. Outlook 3 Real Gross Domestic Produc t 1 - 6.4 - 0.7 2.2 5.9 3.4 2.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 2.1 0.4 - 2.4 2.9 2.5 Global Review 4 Personal Consumption 0.6 - 0.9 2.8 1.7 2.2 1.0 1.4 1.6 2.9 2.6 - 0.2 - 0.6 1.6 1.7 Global Outlook 5 Inflation Indic ators 2 Point of View 6 "Core" PCE Deflator 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 1.5 1.3 1.7 Consumer Pric e Index - 0.2 - 1.0 - 1.6 1.5 2.5 2.4 1.9 1.6 3.2 2.9 3.8 - 0.3 2.1 2.1 Topic of the Week 7 Industrial Produc tion 1 - 19.0 - 10.4 6.4 6.6 8.3 3.9 3.4 6.5 2.3 1.5 - 2.2 - 9.7 4.9 5.7 Market Data 8 2 Corporate Profits Before T axes - 19.0 - 12.6 - 6.6 24.0 22.0 16.0 10.0 8.5 10.5 - 4.1 - 11.8 - 5.1 13.8 8.0 3 T rade Weighted Dollar Index 83.2 77.7 74.3 74.7 75.4 76.8 78.5 80.1 81.5 73.3 79.4 74.7 80.1 83.6 Unemployment Rate 8.2 9.3 9.6 10.0 9.7 9.8 10.1 10.0 4.6 4.6 5.8 9.3 9.9 9.6 4 Housing Starts 0.53 0.54 0.59 0.56 0.59 0.64 0.67 0.70 1.81 1.34 0.90 0.55 0.65 0.76 Quarter- End Interest Rates Federal Funds T arget Rate 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.50 5.25 4.25 0.25 0.25 0.50 3.25 Conventional Mortgage Rate 5.00 5.42 5.06 4.88 5.40 5.70 5.80 5.80 6.14 6.10 5.33 4.88 5.80 6.10 10 Y ear Note 2.71 3.53 3.31 3.85 3.70 3.80 4.00 4.10 4.71 4.04 2.25 3.85 4.10 4.50 Forecast as of: March 10, 2010 1 C ompound Annual Growth Rate Quarter-over-Quarter 2 Year-over-Year Percentage C hange
  • 2. Economics Group U.S. Review Wells Fargo Securities, LLC U.S. Review Strange Days in the Credit Markets Yield Curve Spread The bond market is the ultimate truth detector and its verdict on Basis Points 300 300 healthcare reform is the new law will be more costly than the 10Y - 2Y: Feb @ 283 bps Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated and budget deficits 250 2Y - FFR: Feb @ 73 bps 250 will be larger. The bond market was already on edge from the ongoing Greek debt saga and reports that Berkshire Hathaway 200 200 and a handful of other businesses can now borrow more cheaply 150 150 than the U.S. Treasury. The CBO confirmed the Social Security system would pay out more in benefits this year than it receives in 100 100 taxes, something that was not supposed to occur until 2016. The 50 50 Social Security shortfall means the Treasury will need to redeem the “special issue notes” issued to the Social Security trust fund, 0 0 which will require the Treasury to sell real bonds, which has become more challenging in recent weeks. -50 -50 The last few years have seen Treasury yields rise during the -100 -100 spring, triggering a whole new set of challenges. History looks -150 -150 like it will repeat itself this year, with the end of the Fed’s 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 mortgage-backed securities purchases next week adding to the upward drift in yields. The supply of bonds coming to market will Inventory of New Homes for Sale remain a challenge, with additional money needed to pay Social Months of New Homes For Sale at Current Sales Rate 14 14 Security benefits and recapitalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Months' Supply: Feb @ 9.2 Sovereign credit risk and worries about growing supply also 12-Month Moving Average: Feb @ 8.7 extend to municipalities, which saw yields climb sharply recently. 12 12 Rising interest rates will make it hard for the housing recovery to gain momentum. The latest numbers are clearly troubling, 10 10 although anecdotal reports from builders and Realtors are not nearly as pessimistic as February’s home sales were. New home 8 8 sales fell to a new all-time low in February, falling 2.2 percent to 308,000. Builder sentiment also remains near all-time lows but builders are reporting some improvement in sales and buyer 6 6 interest. On a net basis, housing is likely modestly stronger this year than last year. Supply remains a big issue, with a 9.2-month 4 4 supply of new homes currently available for sale. The harsh weather had less of an impact on existing home sales, 2 2 which fell 0.6 percent in February. Single-family sales fell 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 1.4 percent, while condominium prices posted a slight increase. Maybe all that cold weather up North boosted the attractiveness NonDefense Capital Goods Orders, Ex-Aircraft Series are 3-Month Moving Averages of all those vacant condos in South Florida. The inventory of 40% 40% homes available for sale rose to an 8.6-month supply, as more homes are put up for sale in anticipation of the key spring home 30% 30% buying season and the expiration of the tax incentives. 20% 20% The unusually prolonged drawdown in inventories has set off a 10% 10% strong cyclical recovery in parts of the factory sector. Advance orders for durable goods posted a 0.5 percent gain in February 0% 0% with January’s numbers being revised higher. Big gains in orders for machinery appear to be driving the overall increase. New -10% -10% orders for nondefense capital goods, excluding aircraft, rose 1.1 -20% -20% percent in February, but the previous month’s decline was a percentage point worse than first reported and now shows a 3.9 -30% -30% percent drop. The downward revision should cause forecasters to -40% 3-Month Annual Rate: Feb @ 9.3% -40% pull back their estimates for first quarter economic growth and Year-Over-Year Percent Change: Feb @ 5.4% may also signal a weaker trend for capital spending in general for -50% -50% 2010. 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 2
  • 3. Economics Group U.S. Outlook Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Personal Income and Spending • Monday Personal income is expected to advance at a moderate 0.2 percent pace in February. Aggregate income data from the February Personal Income Month-over-Month Percent Change employment report proved disappointing, falling 0.2 percent on the 4% 4% Personal Income: Jan @ 0.1% month. This should continue to weigh on the wage and salary 3% 3% growth component of income. Personal consumption expenditures are expected to rise a more tepid 0.2 percent in February, after 2% 2% strong gains of 0.5 percent in January. Unit vehicle sales dropped 2.0 percent in February, which will be an important factor behind 1% 1% the somewhat slower trend in overall consumption spending. The chain PCE price index should continue to point toward slowing 0% 0% consumer inflation. Headline PCE is expected to be unchanged in February, reducing the year-0n-year growth rate to 1.8 percent. -1% -1% Fears of inflation forcing the Fed’s hand on interest rates appear overplayed at the moment. -2% -2% Previous: 0.1 percent Wells Fargo: 0.2 percent -3% -3% 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Consensus: 0.2 percent ISM Manufacturing • Thursday Regional manufacturing surveys for March suggest that ISM Manufacturing Composite Index Diffusion Index manufacturing expansion remains firmly in place as we close out 65 65 the first quarter. The rapid recovery in global trade, combined with the end of aggressive inventory cutting in the United States, is 60 60 helping to boost manufacturing production at a healthy pace despite still-sluggish final demand growth from consumers and 55 55 businesses. The March ISM index is expected at 56.7. This is a slight improvement from February’s 56.5 reading, but still below 50 50 January’s 58.4, which marked the highest level since August 2004. The Chicago Business Barometer and Philadelphia Fed index both 45 45 improved in March, though the Empire index moderated, 40 40 suggesting a somewhat mixed picture on production gains in March. These ISM manufacturing levels are consistent with 6 to 35 35 7 percent industrial production growth on an annualized basis. ISM Manufacturing Composite Index: Feb @ 56.5 12-Month Moving Average: Feb @ 49.9 30 30 Previous: 56.5 Wells Fargo: 56.7 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Consensus: 56.5 Employment • Friday For March, we are finally expecting to see a positive net non-farm Nonfarm Employment Growth payroll print. The payroll report for February was encouraging in Yr/Yr Percent Change vs 3-Month Percent Change, Annual Rate this regard: it revealed only a modest 36,000 net job loss in a 5% 5% month plagued by winter storms, suggesting the U.S. economy is on 4% 4% the verge of positive employment growth. A strong monthly boost 3% 3% from Census Bureau hiring should be the catalyst that finally 2% 2% pushes the payroll change into positive territory. The 1% 1% unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 9.7 percent, 0% 0% though re-entering job seekers could still push the unemployment -1% -1% rate slightly higher in the months to come. Look for additional -2% -2% gains in working hours and hourly earnings to confirm the firmer labor market tone. Jobless claims remain stubbornly high, pointing -3% -3% to a weak underlying trend in private employment growth, and -4% -4% consumer confidence stumbled in light of labor market uncertainty. -5% -5% 3-Month Annual Rate: Feb @ -0.5% -6% -6% Year/Year Change: Feb @ -2.5% Previous: -36 K Wells Fargo: 177 K -7% -7% 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Consensus: 150 K 3
  • 4. Economics Group Global Review Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Global Review The Argentine Economy Surprises on the Upside Argentine Consumer Price Index Year-over-Year Percent Change According to the INDEC, Argentina’s statistical institute, the 14% 14% country’s economy grew by 2.6 percent during the last quarter of 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier. This result 12% 12% followed two consecutive negative quarters when the economy dropped by 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent in the second and third 10% 10% quarters, respectively. The fourth quarter growth helped the economy to avoid a negative performance during the whole of 8% 8% 2009 by posting an annual growth rate of 0.9 percent. Interestingly enough, the economy’s performance during the last 6% 6% quarter of the year was boosted by very strong personal consumption expenditures, which increased by 2.9 percent after 4% 4% dropping by 1.8 percent and 0.7 percent during the second and third quarters, respectively. However, personal consumption 2% 2% expenditures increased by only 0.5 percent during the whole of 2009. Consumer Price Index: Feb @ 9.1% 0% 0% The most important contributor to last year’s Argentine GDP 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 performance was the collapse of imports. Imports of goods and services plunged by 19.0 percent in real terms during the year, Argentine Merchandise Trade Balance Millions of USD, Not Seasonally Adjusted while exports of goods and services dropped by only 6.4 percent. $3,000 $3,000 Thus, the strong drop in imports helped the economy prevent a deeper recession during the year as imports are a subtraction to GDP. On the other hand, the second most affected sector during $2,000 $2,000 2009 was gross fixed investment, which dropped by 10.2 percent during 2009, the worst performance since the 2001-2002 financial crisis when gross fixed investment collapsed by a $1,000 $1,000 cumulative 52.1 percent in real terms. Another contributor to growth during the year was strong $0 $0 government consumption. Government consumption increased by 7.7 percent during the last quarter of 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, and rose 7.2 percent for the year as a -$1,000 -$1,000 whole. Thus, the Fernández-Kirchner administration continued to support economic growth through very strong fiscal policy at a Merchandise Trade Balance: Feb @ USD $604M time when fiscal revenues continued to dwindle due to the effects -$2,000 -$2,000 of the worldwide recession. Government consumption during 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2009 was stronger than during the previous year even though the Argentine economy grew by 6.8 percent during 2008. Argentine Industrial Production Index Compound Annual Growth Rate This is one of the reasons why many analysts are wondering if 50% 50% this policy is sustainable, considering that the Argentine 40% 40% government has been an international “pariah” and has not had access to international capital markets since the country’s default 30% 30% back in 2001. Many are wondering how long will it take for the 20% 20% country to default on its debt again if it cannot continue to finance its increased expenditures. 10% 10% So far the administration has been able to “find” domestic 0% 0% financing through several measures that have captured increased revenues, but the situation is getting tougher, fundamentally -10% -10% because the government has lost the majority in the Argentine Congress and it is becoming more difficult to bypass the -20% -20% institution to continue the spending spree. -30% IPI: Jan @ -4.9% -30% 3-Month Moving Average: Jan @ 13.8% -40% -40% 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 4
  • 5. Economics Group Global Outlook Wells Fargo Securities, LLC German Unemployment • Wednesday Despite the deep German recession—real GDP contracted nearly German Unemployment Rate 7 percent between early 2008 and early 2009—the unemployment Seasonally Adjusted rate in Germany has barely risen. However, the unemployment rate 13.0% 13.0% understates the weakness of the German labor market because many workers have been put on “short shifts” (i.e., hours worked 12.0% 12.0% have been reduced). The consensus forecast anticipates a small increase in the number of unemployed workers in March when the 11.0% 11.0% data print on Wednesday. Preliminary CPI data for March are expected to show few inflationary pressures in Germany at present. 10.0% 10.0% Other data will offer further insights into the current state of the Euro-zone economy. Italy releases unemployment and CPI data as 9.0% 9.0% well next week. In addition, the sizeable increases in the Euro-zone PMIs that were reported in March are expected to be confirmed by final data next week. 8.0% 8.0% Unemployment Rate: Feb @ 8.1% Previous: 8.2% 7.0% 7.0% 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Consensus: 8.2% Canadian GDP • Wednesday Like its large neighbor on its southern border, the Canadian Canadian Real GDP Bars = Compound Annual Rate Line = Yr/Yr % Change economy has grown for the past two quarters after enduring a 6.0% 6.0% painful recession. Canada is alone among major countries that provide GDP data on a monthly basis, and data that are slated for 4.0% 4.0% release on Wednesday are expected to show the economy continued to expand at a strong pace in January. If the consensus forecast is 2.0% 2.0% realized, then the Canadian economy would be on pace to register an annualized growth rate in excess of 4 percent in the first quarter 0.0% 0.0% of 2010. -2.0% -2.0% Data on raw material and industrial prices are also on the docket next week. Although prices of raw materials have risen significantly -4.0% -4.0% over the past year, the Bank of Canada is not likely to raise rates anytime soon because the core rate of CPI inflation remains very -6.0% -6.0% benign (i.e., only 1.3 percent in January). Compound Annual Growth: Q4 @ 5.0% Year-over-Year Percent Change: Q4 @ -1.2% -8.0% -8.0% Previous: 0.6% (month-on-month change) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Consensus: 0.5% Japanese Tankan Index • Thursday The quarterly Tankan survey that is conducted by the Bank of Japanese Tankan Survey & Real GDP Japan is widely watched by investors. Not only does it contain a Index, Year-over-Year Percentage Change treasure trove of data on the Japanese economy, but the “headline” 60.0 6.0% index, which measures sentiment among large manufacturers, is 4.0% fairly correlated with real GDP growth. If, as expected, the 40.0 “headline” index rises further, then investors will infer that the 2.0% year-over-year growth rate in GDP in the first quarter rose into 20.0 positive territory for the first time in two years. 0.0% Monthly data for February will offer further details about the 0.0 -2.0% present state of the Japanese economy. The consensus forecast looks for a small drop in industrial production last month, which, if -4.0% -20.0 realized, would be the first decline in IP in a year. Data on retail -6.0% spending, the labor market and housing starts are also on the docket next week. -40.0 Tankan Index: Q4 @ -24.0 (Left Axis) -8.0% Year-over-Year Percent Change: Q4 @ -0.9% (Right Axis) Previous: -24 -60.0 -10.0% 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Consensus: -14 5
  • 6. Economics Group Point of View Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Interest Rate Watch Consumer Credit Insights Cyclical Rise in Rates Reinforced by Central Bank Policy Rates ABS Slowdown May Hinder Spending Structural Deficits. 7.5% 7.5% US Federal Reserve: Mar - 26 @ 0.25% ECB: Mar - 26 @ 1.00% During the credit boom, issuance of asset- Over the last few weeks the typical cyclical Bank of Japan: Mar - 26 @ 0.10% Bank of England: Mar - 26 @ 0.50% backed securities (ABS) soared, peaking at 6.0% 6.0% pattern of rising interest rates has become $1.2 trillion in 2006. Since then, ABS more obvious. Improved economic activity issuance has fallen off a cliff, with a mere 4.5% 4.5% tends to be associated with rising credit $177.4 billion being issued in 2009, a demand. With each economic recovery, the whopping 86 percent decline from the 3.0% 3.0% demand for credit tends to increase as peak. While the year-to-date total through firms raise their expectations for stronger 1.5% 1.5% March 2010 of $27.9 billion is 42 percent final sales. Meanwhile, on the credit supply above the same period in 2009, issuance side, the opposite pattern starts to emerge 0.0% 0.0% through the rest of the year will have to as the Federal Reserve begins to withdraw 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 largely match the last nine months of 2009 liquidity. For now, many investors appear Yield Curve in order for 2010 totals to surpass 2009. to anticipate that the Federal Reserve will U.S. Treasuries, Active Issues 5.00% 5.00% Unfortunately, that may not happen. After maintain its accommodative policy for the 4.50% 4.50% rebounding from a scant $600 million in rest of this year. This may be true for the 4.00% 4.00% October 2008 to $26.4 billion in politically sensitive federal funds rate but 3.50% 3.50% September 2009 as investors’ risk appetite behind the scenes the risk is that the cost of 3.00% 3.00% returned, ABS issuance has slowed to just funds is likely to rise while longer rates will 2.50% 2.50% $9.2 billion in March 2010 as investors also rise as the Fed reduces its role in the 2.00% 2.00% have turned cautious again. Following the Treasury and mortgage backed security 1.50% 1.50% cash-for-clunkers surge in fall 2009, auto markets. 1.00% 1.00% March 26, 2010 ABS issuance has been cut in half. Credit Structural Deficits Reinforce the 0.50% March 19, 2010 February 26, 2010 0.50% card issuance has fared even worse as no Cycle 0.00% 0.00% securities have been issued in two of the 3M 2Y 5Y 10 Y 30 Y In the last two weeks the long-run outlook last three months, leaving the three-month Forward Rates for U.S. fiscal deficits has deteriorated for 90-Day EuroDollar Futures moving average at just $370 million versus 2.25% 2.25% two reasons: Social Security and about $8.0 billion last summer. healthcare. Recent estimates suggest that 2.00% 2.00% Furthermore, the Fed’s assistance is the Social Security fund will experience 1.75% 1.75% waning as ABS holdings via the TALF have spending outflows in excess of revenue 1.50% 1.50% actually declined since December. inflows this year—much earlier than prior 1.25% 1.25% Over the last couple years, consumer estimates. This suggests the entitlement spending growth has been closely linked to 1.00% 1.00% problems that were anticipated with the ABS issuance, lagging it by about six to retirement of the baby boom generation are 0.75% 0.75% nine months. Thus, the recent slowing of coming earlier than many expected. 0.50% March 26, 2010 March 19, 2010 0.50% ABS issuance suggests consumer spending February 26, 2010 growth could remain sluggish as we head Meanwhile, the budget implications of 0.25% Jun 10 Sep 10 Dec 10 Mar 11 Jun 11 Sep 11 0.25% into the summer. healthcare have become more visible. First, there is lots of skepticism on the ability of Mortgage Data future Congresses to really enforce cuts in Medicare. Second, there are very few Week 4 Weeks Year elements in the healthcare bill to control Current Ago Ago Ago costs. Mortgage Rates Research done at the Federal Reserve 30- Y r Fixed 4.96% 4.95% 4.93% 4.98% suggests that it is expected future federal 15- Y r Fixed 4.33% 4.32% 4.33% 4.61% deficits that influence interest rates today. 5/1 ARM 4.09% 4.05% 4.12% 4.98% Financial markets are forward-looking and 1- Y r ARM 4.12% 4.22% 4.23% 4.91% the outlook is not good. This outlook is reinforced by the understanding that much MBA Applic ations of the Federal deficit in the last year has Composite 620.9 633.1 600.5 876.9 been purchased by the Fed and Asian Purc hase 221.5 226.8 212.3 257.1 buyers—two buyers that the markets are Refinanc e 2,955.9 3,007.2 2,860.1 4,497.6 less confident about going forward. Source: Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 6
  • 7. Economics Group Topic of the Week Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Topic of the Week A Few Brief Comments on Healthcare Reform Gross Cost of Coverage Provisions The financial markets appeared to have already priced in CBO Estimates, Billions of Dollars $250 $250 passage of the healthcare bill before last weekend. Our early assessment is that, while there is a great deal of cost shifting taking place, the bill that passed was less onerous than many had feared. Unfortunately, the $200 $200 history of massive social spending programs is that they tend to grow larger and larger over time. Moreover, the scoring by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), $150 $150 which shows the program costing $940 billion and reducing the deficit $138 billion over the 2010 to 2019 period, was based on a strict interpretation of the bill as $100 $100 it was written. The costs will likely be higher than the CBO estimate and the budget deficit will also likely be larger. Savings from Medicare cutbacks will likely be $50 $50 harder to achieve. Moreover, the extended phase-in of the program will likely lead to incessant political pressure to expand benefits and scale back the tax hikes. The healthcare bill will have relatively little impact on $0 $0 economic conditions over the near term as most of the 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 provisions will not take effect for a couple of years. There is little evidence the new healthcare law will hold U.S. CPI - Medical Care Series are 3-Month Moving Averages down the price of healthcare. Healthcare costs have been 15% 15% rising faster than the overall inflation rate for about as Medical Care 3-M Annual Rate: Feb @ 3.7% Medical Care Yr/Yr Pct Chg: Feb @ 3.5% long as can be remembered. The driving force for this Core CPI Year-over-Year Percent Change: Feb @ 1.5% increase has been the aging population, which has 12% 12% resulted in increased demand of healthcare services and a lack of market discipline in the healthcare marketplace. Most costs are paid indirectly either by 9% 9% insurance companies or the government. This leads to over-consumption and little to no price sensitivity. The higher tax rates on investment earnings will draw 6% 6% more investment dollars into tax avoidance projects and lead to modestly lower investment throughout the economy. Likewise, the new tax on medical devices and 3% 3% pharmaceutical companies could lead to reduced profitability and thus less innovation and product development. 0% 0% Please visit our website for the full report. 80 83 86 89 92 95 98 01 04 07 10 Subscription Info Wells Fargo’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary is distributed to subscribers each Friday afternoon by e-mail. To subscribe please visit: www.wachovia.com/economicsemail The Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary is available via the Internet at www.wachovia.com/economics Via The Bloomberg Professional Service at WFEC. And for those with permission at www.wellsfargo.com/research 7
  • 8. Economics Group Market Data Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Market Data ♦ Mid-Day Friday U.S. I nterest Rates Foreign I nterest Rates Frida y 1 W eek 1 Ye a r Frida y 1 W eek 1 Ye a r 3/26/2010 Ago Ago 3/26/2010 Ago Ago 3-Month T-Bill 0.13 0.14 0.14 3-Month Euro LIBOR 0.58 0.58 1.53 3-Month LIBOR 0.29 0.28 1.23 3-Month Ste rling LIBOR 0.65 0.65 1.70 1-Ye a r Tre a sury 0.43 0.40 0.55 3-Month Ca na dia n LIBOR 0.41 0.40 1.05 2-Ye a r Tre a sury 1.06 0.99 0.91 3-Month Ye n LIBOR 0.24 0.24 0.61 5-Ye a r Tre a sury 2.62 2.46 1.79 2-Ye a r Ge rma n 1.00 1.00 1.41 10-Ye a r Tre a sury 3.86 3.69 2.74 2-Ye a r U.K. 1.19 1.25 1.28 30-Ye a r Tre a sury 4.76 4.58 3.65 2-Ye a r Ca na dia n 1.69 1.64 1.18 Bond Buye r Inde x 4.44 4.32 5.00 2-Ye a r Ja pa ne se 0.17 0.15 0.42 10-Ye a r Ge rma n 3.15 3.11 3.13 Foreign Exchange Rates 10-Ye a r U.K. 4.04 3.96 3.31 Frida y 1 W eek 1 Ye a r 10-Ye a r Ca na dia n 3.57 3.48 2.89 3/26/2010 Ago Ago 10-Ye a r Ja pa ne se 1.39 1.37 1.32 Euro ($/€) 1.341 1.353 1.353 British P ound ($/₤) 1.491 1.501 1.445 Commodity Prices British P ound (₤/€) 0.899 0.901 0.936 Frida y 1 W eek 1 Ye a r Ja pa ne se Ye n (¥/$) 92.530 90.540 98.710 3/26/2010 Ago Ago Ca na dia n Dolla r (C$/$) 1.029 1.017 1.231 W TI Crude ($/Ba rre l) 80.47 80.68 54.34 Sw iss Fra nc (CHF/$) 1.065 1.061 1.127 Gold ($/Ounce ) 1104.45 1107.00 934.10 Austra lia n Dolla r (US$/A$) 0.904 0.915 0.702 Hot-Rolle d Ste e l ($/S.Ton) 615.00 615.00 450.00 Me xica n P e so (MXN/$) 12.544 12.585 14.192 Coppe r (¢/P ound) 340.05 336.45 184.95 Chine se Yua n (CNY/$) 6.827 6.827 6.832 Soybe a ns ($/Bushe l) 9.30 9.45 9.54 India n Rupe e (INR/$) 45.240 45.497 50.604 Na tura l Ga s ($/MMBTU) 3.97 4.17 3.95 Bra zilia n Re a l (BRL/$) 1.822 1.802 2.249 Nicke l ($/Me tric Ton) 22,806 22,722 9,507 U.S. Dolla r Inde x 81.604 80.724 84.165 CRB Spot Inds. 501.12 503.52 332.94 Next Week’s Economic Calendar Mon da y T u esda y W edn esda y T h u rsda y Frida y 29 30 31 1 2 Pe r son a l In com e Con su m e r Con fi d en ce Fa ct or y Or d er s ISM Ma n u fa ct u r i n g N on fa r m Pa y r ol l s Ja n u a r y 0 . 1 % Feb r u a r y 4 6 . 0 Ja n u a r y 1 . 7 % Feb r u a r y 5 6 . 5 Feb r u a r y -3 6 K Feb r u a r y 0 . 2 % ( W ) Ma r c h 5 0 . 9 (W ) Feb r u a r y 0 . 3 % ( W ) Ma r c h 5 6 . 7 (W ) Ma r c h 1 7 7 K (W ) U.S. Data Pe r son a l Sp e n d i n g Con st r u ct i on Sp en d i n g Un em p l oy m e n t Ra t e Ja n u a r y 0 . 5 % Ja n u a r y -0 . 6 % Feb r u a r y 9 . 7 % Feb r u a r y 0 . 2 % ( W ) Feb r u a r y -0 . 4 % (W ) Ma r c h 9 . 7 % ( W ) PCE De fl a t or T ot a l V e h i cl e Sa l e s Ja n u a r y 2 . 1 % Feb r u a r y 1 0 . 3 6 M Feb r u a r y 1 . 8 % ( W ) Ma r c h 1 1 . 5 M (W ) Ge r m a n y Ja p a n Ge r m a n y Ja p a n Global Data CPI (Y oY ) Job l e ss Ra t e Un em p l oy m en t Ra t e Lge Ma n u fa ct i n g PMI Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 0 . 5 % Pr ev iou s ( Ja n ) 4 . 9 % Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 8 . 2 % Pr ev iou s ( 4 Q ) -2 4 Ja p a n Ca n a d a UK In d u st r i a l Pr od . (MoM) GDP (MoM) PMI Ma n u fa ct u r i n g Pr ev iou s ( Ja n ) 2 . 7 % Pr ev iou s ( Dec ) 0 . 6 % Pr ev iou s ( Feb ) 5 6 . 6 Not e: ( W ) = W el ls Fa r g o Est im a t e ( c ) = C on sen su s Est im a t e 8
  • 9. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Economics Group Diane Schumaker-Krieg Global Head of Research (704) 715-8437 diane.schumaker@wellsfargo.com & Economics (212) 214-5070 John E. Silvia, Ph.D. Chief Economist (704) 374-7034 john.silvia@wellsfargo.com Mark Vitner Senior Economist (704) 383-5635 mark.vitner@wellsfargo.com Jay Bryson, Ph.D. Global Economist (704) 383-3518 jay.bryson@wellsfargo.com Scott Anderson, Ph.D. Senior Economist (612) 667-9281 scott.a.anderson@wellsfargo.com Eugenio Aleman, Ph.D. Senior Economist (612) 667-0168 eugenio.j.aleman@wellsfargo.com Sam Bullard Economist (704) 383-7372 sam.bullard@wellsfargo.com Anika Khan Economist (704) 715-0575 anika.khan@wellsfargo.com Azhar Iqbal Econometrician (704) 383-6805 azhar.iqbal@wellsfargo.com Adam G. York Economist (704) 715-9660 adam.york@wellsfargo.com Ed Kashmarek Economist (612) 667-0479 ed.kashmarek@wellsfargo.com Tim Quinlan Economic Analyst (704) 374-4407 tim.quinlan@wellsfargo.com Kim Whelan Economic Analyst (704) 715-8457 kim.whelan@wellsfargo.com Yasmine Kamaruddin Economic Analyst (704) 374-2992 yasmine.kamaruddin@wellsfargo.com Wells Fargo Securities Economics Group publications are produced by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, a U.S broker-dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Securities Investor Protection Corp. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, distributes these publications directly and through subsidiaries including, but not limited to, Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Bank N.A, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities International Limited. The information and opinions herein are for general information use only. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness, nor does Wells Fargo Securities, LLC assume any liability for any loss that may result from the reliance by any person upon any such information or opinions. Such information and opinions are subject to change without notice, are for general information only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sales of any security or as personalized investment advice. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is a separate legal entity and distinct from affiliated banks and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company © 2010 Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. SECURITIES: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE