NEWS

블룸버그에 따르면 미국의 패스트패션 브랜드 FOREVER21 이 유동성 위기를 겪고 있다고 한다. 미국 거대 사모펀드인 Apollo Global Management와 투자유치에 대해서 얘기했다고 하나 협상은 부정적으로 진행되고 있으며, 진행 상황에 따라 파산 신청을 할 가능성이 제기되고 있다고 한다. FOREVER21은 미국 기업으로써 전 세계에 800여개의 매장을 운영하고 있는 전형적인 SPA 유통업체이다.

원인으로는 여러가지가 있겠지만 가장 큰 원인은 유통업의 변화를 따라가지 못한 것이라고 여겨지고 있다. 2010년대 중반 이후 유통업체들이 오프라인매장 투자를 줄이고 온라인 투자를 큰 폭으로 늘리기 시작할 때,  FOREVER21은 오히려 오프라인매장 투자를 확장했다고 한다. 시대에 맞지 않는 투자는 오히려 매출 감소로 이어졌으며, 2015년 40억 달러 수준이었던 매출은 2018년 35억 달러 수준으로 감소했다. 한때 매장 피트당 150달러 수준이었던 매출은 이제 100달러 미만으로 감소했다. 위기를 겪고 있는 미국의 유통회사들인 Sears나 JCPenney 와 별다르지 않다는 얘기가 나오고 있다.

현재 진행 중인 미국의 오프라인 유통업 Bricks and Mortar 의 위기는 FOREVER21만 겪고 있는 것은 아니다. Sears, Toys"R"Us 등 오프라인 유통을 주 사업으로 삼고 있는 회사들이 파산 보호 신청을 하였다. 2016년에 10달러를 넘었던 JCPenney 의 주식은 현재 1달러 밑에서 거래되고 있다.  한편 오프라인 사업을 중점으로 삼고 있던 회사들 중에서도 온라인 사업에 대한 투자를 늘린 월마트와 같은 회사는 아마존과의 경쟁 속에서도 주가가 오르고 있다.

FOREVER21 은 한국인들에게 있어 아메리칸드림의 상징같은 회사이다. 1980년대에 20대 한인 부부가 건너가 시작한 옷가게가 큰 성공을 이뤄 40억 달러 이상의 매출을 기록하게 된 것으로 알려져있다. 또 2008년 금융위기에서 폭락하는 자산들에 대해 투자를 늘려 크게 성공한 것으로 알려져 있다. 이때의 경험을 토대로 2010년 이후로 진행 중인 오프라인 유통업의 수축을 일시적인 사이클의 하락으로 판단해 투자를 크게 늘린 것으로 보인다. 하지만 오프라인 유통업 자체가 기울고 있는 것은 많은 오프라인 유통 회사들의 파산과 주가급락으로 입증되고 있다. 이번에는 성공하지 못할 것 같은데, FOREVER21도 결국 Sears의 길을 따를 것 같다.


Short Comment

Today, Hong Nam-ki, Minister of Economy and Finance in Korea, announced the amount of the budget is KRW513.5trillion for next year, increasing by 9.3% from that of this year. He made it sure that the government wants to offset sluggish private sector by increasing the government's expenses. He also mentioned the uncertainty relevant with trade-war between G2 and the country's conflict with Japan.

The government's liability will be 39.5% of GDP next year with the  expanding expenses. Korean President Moon Jae-in is strongly insisting that the country needs expanded budget at this point, by mentioning about raising the share to more than 40%. The share of 40% has been accepted as golden number for the country's stable budget.

International Monetary Fund recommended the expansion for Korean government's expenses. Its ground is that the number is much lower than the country's peers. Korea cannot be compared with the US or Japan which have key currencies, but the peers like Italy, Spain, or Canada which have similar economic sizes with Korea's also have the numbers more than 100%.

However, there are several refutations about it. The European countries' situation could not provide the appropriate ground for the opinion. Many economists are suggesting that the European countries' economy has been worsening because they cannot use the advantage of plunging value of the currency. Even though individual countries' situation became worse, a degree of the fall in value of EUR was limited because of German and French economy. Italy and Spain had recorded negative or zero economic growth rate for a long time.

The other peers of Korea which do not use key currencies and are not part of Europe could be Australia and Mexico. Australian and Mexican numbers for the government's liability are 43% and 38% respectively. For someone suggesting more stable fiscal policy, their numbers are being strong grounds.

Whether it has appropriate ground or not, Korean government will push its 'The Biggest Government' policy. Bank of Korea does not have intention to disobey it. The countries' academics are suggesting that the lowest point of BoK's policy rate should be 75bp, but the institution can make a bunch of grounds to refute it. The institution will support the government's policy, and 0% policy rate will be realized soon.


Short Comment

US Equities have shown the great volatility recently with inconsistent attitude of US President Donald Trump about trade-war between the US and China. The volatility is being the best news for safe assets including US Treasuries. The securities have enjoyed bull market, even after Mr. Trump eased the tightness with dovish twitter messages about China. Yield of 10year US T-Note is being transacted under 1.5% now.

I believe the fundamental of global stock market is very fragile at this point. US stock market could endure Mr. Trump's hostile twitter message about China if it had the status of June to July when S&P500 touched 3,000pt. It failed to endure it and there are several signals announcing weakening stock markets. Yield spread between 2year and 10year US T-Notes has been recording negative number. Mr. Trump and Chinese President Xi do not have the intention to yield to each other in the negotiation. Market participants had expected that US Federal Reserve could lower its policy rate by 75bp-100bp in this year, but the institution made it sure that it does not lower the rate by that much in this year.

The participants are contracting their expectation for the markets based on those factors. Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet's investment holdings, started selling their equities. Insiders in Corporate US started to sell their shares on the companies. FAANG, the pack of US best Tech companies, is failing to recover shareprice of its peak. A degree of S&P500's recovery on August 26 was less than half of that of its plunge on August 23.

Even though some Research Analysts are suggesting the stock markets entering the bear market, I believe that the markets have the upside yet. In the history, negative yield spread between 2year and 10year US T-Notes had needed 18months to bring the plunge to the stock markets. Of course, the progress could be different this time, but economic indices in the US are good enough, no needing the radical down of the policy rate. The proceeding trade-war could make the recession realized faster than expected, but plunging market interest rates in the US could offset the effect of it. Market consensus about performance of the companies is low enough, so there will be no earning shock in the country, like it was during early this year.

The best ground I want to suggest about bullish markets is that a liquidity party is still proceeding in the markets. The liquidity is also being reasons for the lowest market interest rates. The liquidity which US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan have provided to the markets is still full in the markets. The two banks except US Fed will provide additional liquidity to the markets directly in this year. Sluggish macroeconomy in Europe including Germany and strong Japanese Yen are credible grounds I can make in here.

The global stock markets' direction depends totally on the US market, and the US market still has power to run. The liquidity is still playing on the ground and will support the stock markets classified as DM to endure the proceeding concern. Maybe from coming September, the markets could have the last run targeting 3,200pt of S&P500.


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