This month:
Mixed fortunes for fixed income
Mixed fortunes for fixed income.
Significant wage growth figures are pondered.
Value exists in European financials.
Confidence grows on equities generally.
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Looking ahead to investment tips in July, the mixed fortunes of bonds, the prospect of rate hikes and a reversal of Q1 investment trends top the agenda – along with the implications of growing business confidence in the UK.
A mixed picture in fixed income
Insights from:
Jonathan Marriott, Chief Investment Officer at Vestra Wealth, says:
The recent falls in the sovereign bond market appear to be driven by sentiment rather than fundamentals. The fall in prices has been concentrated in longer dated bonds while shorter maturity bonds have moved relatively little, reflecting no significant change in interest rate expectations. We continue to favour shorter duration positioning relative to the wider market and believe the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in the second half of this year, with the Bank of England starting to follow suit mid-2016.
Meanwhile, corporate bond markets have moved in parallel with sovereign bonds, but spreads continue to hold steady. We believe this may reflect a positive view on corporate balance sheet strength, but we do have a number of concerns at the same time. The trend away from fixed income trading by investment banks means that low liquidity levels are likely to persist. Longer duration corporate bond funds and trackers are most at risk from investor outflows and vulnerable to sharp price movements. There is some value in this asset class, but we remain highly selective because of these factors.
Interestingly, sub-investment grade credit has remained relatively stable compared to the sharp moves seen in other bond markets. The enhanced yield appears to have acted as a buffer against the wider bond market volatility and default rates remain low. However, investors need to be aware that this market has historically behaved more in line with equity markets and so does not offer the diversification benefits of higher-quality bonds.
Finally, turning to emerging market debt, a strong US dollar and the prospect of an interest rate rise stateside are clear threats. Modest global growth expectations mean export-focused emerging market companies may struggle to service their debt over the short term. It also makes it unlikely that emerging market currencies will appreciate in any significant way, hence our view that emerging market debt remains unattractive.
Jonathan Marriott
Chief Investment Officer at Vestra Wealth
Be ready for US, UK rate hikes
Insights from:
Patrick Gordon, Head of Research at Killik & Co, says:
Given that the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England target an inflation rate of 2%, and that inflation in both these countries is still well below this level, there is seemingly little pressure on these central banks to hike interest rates. The Consumer Price Index in the UK in May was at 0.1% year-on-year, having moved out of negative territory. In the US, core PCE (personal consumption expenditures) one of the US Federal Reserve’s favoured measures of inflation, fell to 1.2% during the same period. However, central banks are intent on not falling “behind the curve”, so a number of forward looking indicators, rather than just current inflation levels, need to be considered in determining when might be an appropriate time for the US Fed and Bank of England to make their moves.
One such indicator is wage growth. The labour markets of both the US and the UK have recovered significantly since the financial crisis, but productivity growth and average wage increases have remained subdued despite the improvements in economic growth. Much of the growth in output has been produced by an increase in total hours worked, rather than in output per hour worked, and employment growth has been driven largely by lower-skilled, lower-paid occupations.
However, against the backdrop of a tightening labour market we have started to see a pick-up in average wages both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, the 2.3% year-on-year rise in average hourly earnings in May was the fastest rise since 2013; whilst in the UK, average weekly earnings excluding bonuses rose by 2.7% year-on-year over the three month period to April, the highest since 2009. The timing of a lift-off in base interest rates from still “emergency” levels may be influenced by external factors, such as geopolitical developments, but will primarily be data-dependent. Wage growth will continue to be one of the key data points closely monitored by both the Fed and Bank of England.
Patrick Gordon
Head of Research at Killik & Co
Investment pendulum to keep swinging
Insights from:
Patrick Armstrong, Chief Investment Officer at Plurimi Wealth, says:
As the second quarter ends, it could not have been more different than the first quarter. Many of the strongest trends seen in Q1 have completely reversed in Q2: bond yields have moved sharply higher; the euro has rallied versus the US dollar; and eurozone equities have fallen from previous peaks.
We expect bond yields will continue to move higher in the next six months. In aggregate, economic growth, policy measures and inflation dynamics are all consistent with an improving macroeconomic picture and provide a supportive environment for growth and reflation of developed markets. We anticipate that the US Federal Reserve will be in a position to raise interest rates by September, and as markets discount the diverging policy from the Fed and European Central Bank we will see the return to a weaker euro and higher European equity prices.
Throughout Q2, Greece has been a persistently prominent feature shaping market movements. In our opinion, the consequences of a “Grexit” are lower than most investors believe. Many of the contagion concerns surrounding a Greek default in 2011 and 2012 have diminished. The private sector exposure to Greece is no longer significant. Bond yields in the rest of periphery have fallen to near record lows, budget deficits are lower and current accounts are now much stronger. Meanwhile, the eurozone is participating in the global economic recovery, while it was in midst of recession years ago. Finally, banks are much better capitalised than there were four years ago. In our funds we have been adding to European banking stocks on weakness; recent volatility has pushed many of them below tangible book value
Patrick Armstrong
Chief Investment Officer at Plurimi Wealth
Encouraging signs of business confidence
Insights from:
Rosie Bullard, Portfolio Manager at James Hambro & Partners, says:
Rising wages can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they erode company profitability, which can have a potential impact on share prices and the capacity of businesses to reward shareholders through dividends. On the other, they are a sign of an improving economy and therefore something to be welcomed in the UK.
Wages are not the only indicator of economic recovery here. Consumer and business confidence data all point to a more positive outlook than we have had in years.
The company managers we have seen lately have certainly sounded more upbeat. Before the election we encountered a fair amount of inertia, with managers reluctant to sanction capital expenditure. Now they are starting to appear more confident of the UK enjoying a stable economic and political environment for the next five years, and firms are showing signs of more willingness to invest.
In the UK equity space, mid-cap cyclicals – firms like house builders and retailers that might benefit from consumers having more to spend – are of particular interest to us at the moment. This is as opposed to the large-cap arena with significant overseas earnings, on which we have been focused in recent years. With around 60-70% of the revenue of the FTSE 100 being international, strengthening sterling may present short-term challenges for those firms that generate most of their earnings overseas.
We are still confident about equities generally and, correspondingly, we are underweight bonds. Given the market backdrop just discussed, this is not a reflection on firms’ ability to meet their debt payments but an awareness that we are getting closer to the point at which interest rates will start to rise and this could put pressure on capital values. Whilst there may not be an almighty scramble when the gate opens, there could be quite a long and noisy queue out the door.
Rosie Bullard
Portfolio Manager at James Hambro & Partners
Important information
The investment strategy explanations contained in this piece are for informational purposes only, represent the views of individual institutions, and are not intended in any way as financial or investment advice. Any comment on specific securities should not be interpreted as investment research or advice, solicitation or recommendations to buy or sell a particular security.
We always advise consultation with a professional before making any investment decisions.
Always remember that investing involves risk and the value of investments may fall as well as rise. Past performance should not be seen as a guarantee of future returns.
