China stimulus, global central bank easing and a China-U.S. trade-war ceasefire could set the scene for a rebound in the global economy later in the year. However, the inversion of the U.S. Treasury yield curve and the downtrend in business confidence indicators keep us cautious at mid-year.
Key market themes
U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff increase on Chinese imports in May triggered the end of this year’s equity market recovery. While the stock market has since rebounded, the lasting impact can be seen in falling long-term government bond yields, the inverted U.S. yield curve, the slowdown in global trade and weak global manufacturing surveys. As a result, it now looks increasingly likely that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) will cut interest rates in both July and September. A combination of Fed easing, China stimulus and trade compromise could make the recent yield-curve inversion a false signal. We will take the inversion much more seriously if it persists for a couple more months. At mid-year, it’s a worrying indicator that biases us toward caution.
In Europe, the region’s long-anticipated growth rebound remains just that—anticipated. Growth indicators are lackluster. And persistent low inflation has the European Central Bank pushing rate hikes further into the future. Bond market expectations for inflation in five years’ time have fallen to a record low of 1.2% as of mid-June. We’re not bearish on Europe, but the one-off factors that depressed growth are taking longer to turn around than anticipated. Overall, we see no signs that eurozone equities are either overbought or oversold, while core government bonds look long-term expensive.
The ongoing Brexit uncertainty continues to weigh on the British economy. We think British sterling will remain volatile in the short-term, but a rebound in the currency looks likely if the UK’s new prime minister can secure a deal with Europe, or if a second referendum is called.
The escalation of the China-U.S. trade war has put pressure on growth in the Asia-Pacific region, which suggests there will be further Chinese government stimulus measures that should benefit the region. Although the outlook for Australia remains lackluster, there have been a number of positive developments that should help the housing market stabilize, including a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia. While we believe the Australian equity market is fully valued, we see slightly attractive valuations in Japan and Emerging Asia.
We believe the Canadian economy is gradually recovering, but we remain neutral on our outlook for domestic equities. We don't see valuations as compelling yet, and our contrarian sentiment indicators remain far from oversold.
Economic indicators
- Fading fiscal stimulus is likely to slow the U.S. economy relative to its breakneck pace from 2018. In addition, the Trump administration’s aggressive trade stance with China is exacting a heavy toll on the U.S. and the global economy.
- Midway through 2019, the U.S. manufacturing cycle remains weak. In addition, the global manufacturing cycle has continued to decelerate, and at mid-year is approaching recessionary levels.
- Fiscal easing in the eurozone should provide a decent tailwind, with the European Commission expecting fiscal thrust of 0.4% of GDP (gross domestic product) this year.
- Trade-war uncertainty is depressing businesses’ confidence and international trade. JPMorgan’s tracker of global business capital expenditure is signaling negative business investment spending for the second quarter of 2019, after healthy growth through most of 2018.
- Exports from Asia-Pacific have slowed, while manufacturing activity growth in countries such as South Korea and Taiwan has contracted.
Asset class views
Equities: Broadly neutral to slightly underweight
Our cycle, value and sentiment investment process points to a broadly neutral to slightly underweight view on global equities. We have an underweight preference for U.S. equities, driven by expensive valuation and cycle concerns around the trade-war escalation, fading fiscal stimulus and yield-curve inversion. We’re broadly neutral on non-U.S. developed equities. We see valuation in Japan as slightly positive and neutral in Europe. Both should benefit from stimulus in China, which will help bolster export demand.
Fixed income: Universally expensive
We see government bonds as universally expensive, although we believe U.S. Treasuries are closer to fair value than German bunds, Japanese government bonds and UK gilts. High-yield credit is expensive and losing cycle support, which is typical late in the cycle, when profit growth slows and there are concerns about defaults.
Currencies: Preference for Japanese yen
The Japanese yen is our preferred currency as we look toward the third quarter. It’s undervalued and has safe-haven appeal if the trade war escalates. The U.S. dollar could weaken once the Fed eases. The main beneficiaries of this would be emerging market currencies. At this juncture, the euro and British sterling appear undervalued.
Read our complete 2019 Global Market Outlook – Q3 update
Disclosures
The views in this Global Market Outlook report are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and are current as of June 25, 2019. While all material is deemed to be reliable, accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed.
Please remember that all investments carry some level of risk, including the potential loss of principal invested. They do not typically grow at an even rate of return and may experience negative growth. As with any type of portfolio structuring, attempting to reduce risk and increase return could, at certain times, unintentionally reduce returns.
Keep in mind that, like all investing, multi-asset investing does not assure a profit or protect against loss.
No model or group of models can offer a precise estimate of future returns available from capital markets. We remain cautious that rational analytical techniques cannot predict extremes in financial behavior, such as periods of financial euphoria or investor panic. Our models rest on the assumptions of normal and rational financial behavior.
Forecasting models are inherently uncertain, subject to change at any time based on a variety of factors and can be inaccurate. Russell Investments believes that the utility of this information is highest in evaluating the relative relationships of various components of a globally diversified portfolio. As such, the models may offer insights into the prudence of over or under weighting those components from time to time or under periods of extreme dislocation. The models are explicitly not intended as market timing signals.
Forecasting represents predictions of market prices and/or volume patterns utilizing varying analytical data. It is not representative of a projection of the stock market, or of any specific investment.
Investment in global, international or emerging markets may be significantly affected by political or economic conditions and regulatory requirements in a particular country. Investments in non-U.S. markets can involve risks of currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, different accounting standards and foreign taxation. Such securities may be less liquid and more volatile. Investments in emerging or developing markets involve exposure to economic structures that are generally less diverse and mature, and political systems with less stability than in more developed countries.
Currency investing involves risks including fluctuations in currency values, whether the home currency or the foreign currency. They can either enhance or reduce the returns associated with foreign investments.
Investments in non-U.S. markets can involve risks of currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, different accounting standards and foreign taxation.
Bond investors should carefully consider risks such as interest rate, credit, default and duration risks. Greater risk, such as increased volatility, limited liquidity, prepayment, non-payment and increased default risk, is inherent in portfolios that invest in high yield (“junk”) bonds or mortgage-backed securities, especially mortgage-backed securities with exposure to sub-prime mortgages. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. Interest rates in the United States are at, or near, historic lows, which may increase a Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising rates. Investment in non-U.S. and emerging market securities is subject to the risk of currency fluctuations and to economic and political risks associated with such foreign countries.
Performance quoted represents past performance and should not be viewed as a guarantee of future results.
Indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.
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2019 Global Market Outlook – Q3 Update
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