Is the equity party over?
THE CRACKS might be starting to show in the 10-year equity bull market, but does this mean that the cycle is over?
Global equity markets – and the US in particular – have enjoyed one of the longest bull runs since the end of World War II. Starting after the global financial crisis of 2008/9, equity markets have, until recently, shown a steady upward trend.
Although economic growth across the globe was sound last year, leading to solid company earnings, markets bucked the trend, decoupling from the stable economic fundamentals and anticipating weaker times ahead.
While the long-term bull market remains intact for now, the pull-back in global markets signals weakness. The question is a matter of when, rather than if, the trend will end.
At Citadel, we believe that most economies will deliver reasonable growth during 2019. Clearly, there are headwinds facing global economies this year, with geopolitics playing a major role. Brexit, for example, is in uncharted territory and will certainly be messy, while populism is taking hold in Europe. In France, the “yellow vests” have thrown the country into turmoil, and the Us-sino trade war remains unresolved.
However, there remains capacity for positive growth in 2019.
Although the Chinese economy is slowing down, the authorities are planning for stimulation to support it, and engineer a soft landing.
Such a move would be positive for emerging markets, which are reliant on a healthy China, and we expect the Asian giant to come through for them.
Across the Pacific, we see the US also showing somewhat slower growth this year, but there will be some fiscal support for the economy, and we are hopeful that a trade agreement will be reached between the US and China, which will benefit the markets in general.
TOUGHER ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT PRICED IN BY THE MARKETS
Using a basket of 10 economic indicators, we see a low possibility of a US recession this year. Although the pace of economic growth is slowing, it is expected to remain positive, leaving expectations for company earnings in comfortable territory. The likelihood of a recession, FIXED-RATE BOND*
Two years
Three years
Five years
* Rates are set every month
INFLATION-LINKED BOND*
Three years 3.50 Five years 3.75 Ten years 4.00 * Rates are in addition to capital adjusted for the Consumer Price Index twice a year 7.50 8.25 9.25 however, increases significantly going into 2020.
The market has priced in the weaker economy and, coming from a low base last year, we expect equities to rebound over the course of 2019, with upside potential on offer to investors, although in a more volatile environment. A tougher year is more likely to materialise in 2020, when the US will have to negotiate higher interest rates and growth disappointments in an election year. A recession could even be a possibility then, with a dismal US equity market to match.
A slower interest rate hiking cycle in the US and a possible breather by the dollar would, alongside support in China, also be good for emerging-market economies and currencies.
SOUTH AFRICA HAS THE SCOPE TO IMPROVE ... BUT WILL IT?
South Africa is exiting a technical recession, and growth for last year will be muted. Consumers face enormous headwinds in the form of a stubbornly high unemployment rate, VAT at 15% and interest rates on their way up. But, at the same time, we have a new political administration that is slowly making headway in turning the economy around.
Much will, however, be on hold until after the May election. Until then, political jockeying will consume politicians and the electorate alike, and attention will be focused on issues such as land expropriation without compensation, service delivery and state capture.
We are unlikely to see any meaningful progress towards economic policy reform until the ANC, and notably President Cyril Ramaphosa, receive a solid mandate from voters to enable the government to concentrate on the business of governing. Once there is sufficient clarity and motivation to attract local investors, foreign investors are expected to follow.
There are, of course, risks to this scenario. The South African economy retains its extensive structural defects and holds many challenges – from an excessive debt burden, to a floundering power supplier, to almost insurmountable unemployment. It is perhaps wrong to view the outcome as binary, but if things do not fall into place as envisaged, 2019 will prove another tough year for the country.
As far as the financial markets are concerned, we foresee a year of greater volatility on the back of the heightened geopolitical uncertainty, as well as the outside chance of a bear market.
Against this backdrop, we are following a defensive strategy for 2019. We have increased the number of shock absorbers – such as hedge funds of funds, protected equity and defensive stocks – in our portfolios, and we are reducing exposure to sectors that are vulnerable to market volatility.
At this stage, we view global equities – particularly Europe and Japan –as offering better prospects than South African counters.
Maarten Ackerman is chief economist and advisory partner at Citadel.
RSA RETAIL BONDS: JANUARY 2019
EXCHANGE RATES AT 10/01/2019