Don’t give in to cash

IT HAS been a good few years for cash. As shown in

Graph 1, over the past three years cash (that is, highly liquid assets, such as money market funds, and fixedinterest assets, such as Treasury bills) has delivered decent returns compared with equities and bonds, with significantly less volatility amid global uncertainty. This has been particularly pronounced this year, with cash delivering 6% versus –9.38% for the FTSE/JSE All Share Index (Alsi) to the end of October.

However, when you look at the same graph over a longer period, a different picture emerges. Graph 2, which goes back to 2000, shows that over the long term cash materially underperforms equities and bonds.

SHOULD YOU TAKE REFUGE IN CASH?

Given current market conditions, it is understandable that some investors would want to “take refuge” in cash to ride out low equity returns, but is this a good strategy? The answer is more complicated than simply looking at recent returns. Return prospects should be considered alongside:

◆ An assessment of your needs (risk requirement and risk appetite);

◆ Your investment objectives (emergency fund versus saving for retirement); and

◆ Your time horizon (short term versus long term).

If, for example, your objectives are capital preservation and high liquidity to cover short-term needs, cash is an ideal investment – more so now, given its attractiveness.

However, investing predominantly in cash as part of a long-term strategy is unlikely to deliver the appropriate returns to grow your wealth.

THE PROBLEM WITH SWITCHING

During periods of lacklustre or poor market returns even the most experienced investors can lose sight of their longterm objectives. This is when the temptation to switch – selling out of your fund and buying into funds/asset classes that are doing better in the belief that you can “time the market” and generate better returns – becomes very real.

Although there are examples where investors have been able to do this successfully, they are few and far between, and it comes down to luck.

At Allan Gray, we don’t view short-term volatility as risk; rather we view risk as the permanent loss of capital. This is what happens when investors make knee-jerk investment decisions based on how they feel during periods of underperformance, and switch between funds at inopportune times. Those investors who want out when the market falls often feel the lure of equities when they are performing well again. This is counter-intuitive – investors land up selling out at low points and buying at high points, effectively locking in their losses and destroying value.

As economist Javier Estrada wrote after studying more than 160 000 daily returns from 15 international equity markets: “Much like going to Vegas, market timing may be an entertaining pastime, but it is not a good way to make money.” It makes more sense to base investment decisions on what you need to reach your goals and stick with the plan, even if this feels uncomfortable at times.

THE GOOD NEWS

Fortunately in investing, the lower the historic market returns, the greater the potential for improved returns in future. Investors are focused on risks, as opposed to the potential upside, which is understandable, but, as contrarian investors, we look for opportunities where we believe intrinsic value has not been impaired to the same extent as the price has fallen.

Deciding which asset class to invest in can be intimidating, and most investors fall prey to their emotions when making these decisions, as opposed to relying on rational thought and researched knowledge. In times of uncertainty or heightened anxiety, take a step back and take stock of your long-term objectives. If your plan hasn’t changed, it’s unlikely that your strategy should.

The best strategy for most is to invest in a unit trust mandated to invest in multiple asset classes, such as a balanced fund. By doing so, asset allocation decisions are made on your behalf by an experienced fund manager.

Catherine Robberts is an investment specialist at Allan Gray.