Long Run Views
Although the economy is faring better than expected this year, we see a mixed bag of signals. Forexample, while popular market-capitalization weighted stock indices are up for the year, the average stock is essentially flat. Moreover, the outlook for corporate profits and capital spending are flattening out, suggesting muted growth in the private sector ahead. Similarly, monetary and fiscal policies have diverged. Monetary policy is restrictive (higher interest rates), while fiscal policy is expansive (rising deficits). Cross currents such as these lead to a neutral read of incoming data, suggesting we keep portfolio risk exposure very close to benchmarks.
As we pointed out in our Viewpoint 2023, the air of gloom that hung over markets at the start of the year was extreme. Instead, we saw improving fundamentals and opportunity for the situation to play out better than expected. So far, the economy and markets have proven resilient in 2023 with equity markets and the economy turning in better-than-expected performance. While the economy rolls along, however, there are some crosscurrents in the data leading us to avoid large tactical bets at the moment. Conquest Portfolios
Surging inflation and interest rate expectations undermined stock and bond markets last year. There are nascent signs these trends may be reversing. Accordingly, stocks and bonds have rallied so far in 2023, despite the emergence of concerns in the banking sector. After a period of being slightly underweight equities, we have aligned tactical portfolio risk exposure close to benchmarks to reflect improvement in our WCA Barometer, coupled with a wide band of uncertainty around the forecast. Conquest portfolios
Central Bank all in to fight inflation Markets signal inflation to fade Rates to push higher still Policymaker credibility key to fight Valuations more attractive. We remain cautious based on incoming data and enter the final quarter underweight risk assets.However, policy priorities seem to be having some positive effect on expected inflation, despiteupsetting financial markets. This is a difficult and complex environment, and we continue to followour tactical discipline in navigating a very unusual year. While we are not out of the woods yet,valuations are becoming better as are longer-run expectations for returns.
Set against a backdrop of rising inflation and interest rates, calls for a “technical recession” are growing. Our check of the data leads us to maintain our near-term, tactical “underweight” to stocks. However, the correction in stock prices contains a silver lining as valuations have become better, boosting long-run return expectations.
The first quarter brought a surge in inflation and war in Eastern Europe. This environment imposes a new reality on investors and policymakers. In this report, we discuss what is happening and how our top-down portfolios are positioned now.
We publish this year’s Viewpoint 2022 amid ongoing recovery from an unprecedented pandemic. Signs of continued growth are apparent despite new COVID-19 variants and anticipated policy shifts. Long-run return expectations fall this year in as valuations and profit margins are elevated for stocks. For fixed income investors, surging inflation and expectations for rising rates are of primary focus.
In the very long run, it is growth that dominates other drivers of return. In this commentary, we look at why valuations and profit margins matter less than growth over time. With profit margins and valuations at or near highs, we conclude that we should not depend on further increases in margins or multiples for return. Instead, growth and dividends will become more important for us as long-term investors.
As the economy reopens, we believe growth is set to surge. The United States is well along the path on vaccination, which is unleashing months of pent-up demand. Meanwhile, other parts of the world are lagging in vaccinations and confronted with potential challenges, including a stronger dollar. Given continued signs of progress and growth in the United States, we refocus tactically around domestic and high-quality assets. We also maintain a tactical overweight to equity over bonds, given incoming data as we enter the third quarter.
Key Points: Vaccines Spur Growth Rebound U.S. Profits Recover to Pre-Pandemic Levels High U.S. Savings to Fuel Growth Stronger Dollar Favors Domestic Tilt Valuations, Rates, and Taxes are Risks Much has changed in the past quarter. A new administration and new congressional leadership has emerged in Washington. Meanwhile, a COVID-19 vaccination rollout is accelerating throughout the United States and some other parts of the world. Speculative fervor has rippled through some parts of equity markets while bond investors fret about rising interest rates. This quarter we address how these changes are shaping the environment, creating challenges and opportunities for tactical…
Many are expecting vaccinations to lead to a robust recovery this year. Return to normal and restart of the in-person economy should encourage growth and be celebrated. At the same time, the return to growth could also weaken the case for continued fiscal and monetary ease. And once restarted, the globe faces challenges. The tensions and ailments that existed before the pandemic are still with us. The path appears to be forward but it will not likely be a straight line. Last year’s pandemic-induced downturn was out-and-out different from recessions past. For this reason, we should see recovery as a…
Executive Summary: The second quarter brought a surge in stock values predicated on three critical assumptions. First, fiscal and monetary measures would be sufficient to support an economy suffering a tremendous hit. Next, the economy could begin a process of “reopening” and avoid a second wave pandemic shutdown. Finally, progress will be forthcoming toward a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. While the future could always play out differently than expectations, equity markets seemed willing to focus on positives, rather than lingering unknowns, throughout most of the second quarter.
Against a backdrop of worry over trade and rising interest rates, the United States economy continues to perform well. While equity markets generally declined in 2018, investors in the United States generally fared better than overseas. Moreover, most companies saw revenue, profits, and dividends grow in 2018, and we expect more to come in 2019. This annual Viewpoint, along with quarterly updates, provides an organized way of looking at the economy, financial markets, and your portfolio. The full report is available by clicking the link below.
China has been a major contributor to the global growth story in recent years, and has had a big impact on developments in foreign and emerging markets. As we’ve noted in previous commentary, we have been seeing some weakening in growth outside the United States while growth here remains strong. A 30% drop in the Chinese stock market, a sharp reversal in the Chinese currency, and slowing output growth all point to accumulating foreign sector weakness. Within China, the Chinese government has increased stimulus as evidenced by a recent surge in local government bond issuance (chart, below), and the Peoples…
Our 2018 Viewpoint begins on an optimistic note. Growth continues to pick up by most accounts, businesses are again investing, and asset values are near records. Confidence necessary for risk taking is apparent, and inflation remains at bay. On the other hand, we are now confronted with higher valuations in many asset classes, which we feel should eventually weigh on long-run returns. This annual Viewpoint, along with quarterly updates, provides an organized way of looking at the economy, financial markets, and your portfolio. Full Report Click Here
WASHINGTON CROSSING ADVISORS THE WEEK AHEAD Big week for data and Fed policy this week. MACROECONOMIC INSIGHT We’ve seen some slowing in growth lately, but last week’s advance U.S. Gross Domestic Product report was encouraging. Readers of the Monday Morning Minute know that incoming data raised some red flags in the first quarter. Our Fundamental Conditions Barometer peaked with the passage of the tax act in December, declined through the remainder of the winter, and stabilized in April. According to last week’s report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economy grew by an estimated 2.3% in the first…
THE WEEK AHEAD Volatility continues amid headline noise on trade. MACROECONOMIC INSIGHT Recent headlines have been enough to unnerve even the most seasoned investor. The tension between the United States and the rest of the world seems to increase daily. On Friday, the United States threatened to levy another $100 billion of tariffs on Chinese imports, which would bring the total to $153 billion. Because the United States exported only $130 billion to China last year, it may prove tough for China to reciprocate in kind. While much of this is likely posturing ahead of some final agreement, the tone…
We see the economy on a growth track, but after a year of strong returns and historically low volatility, some moderation to growth and risk appetite seems reasonable. Continued economic growth, without a notable pickup in inflation, remains our dominant view. Last year’s tax changes, and new federal spending initiatives, have the potential to lift investment and speed up growth. Risks to our outlook include rising trade and geopolitical tension, elevated asset prices in some areas, and rising interest rates. During the quarter, we made a few tactical adjustments to portfolios. We tilted portfolios toward large cap domestic value, and…
THE WEEK AHEAD MACROECONOMIC INSIGHT The drop in stocks from January 26 erased 10% from the market averages. There have been at least two dozen declines of 10% or better over the last 30-years, to put things in perspective. Very few other indicators show a spreading of concern into other areas of the markets or the economy. In the past week, corporate credit spreads remained unchanged; forecast inflation was down only slightly; and S&P 500 earnings forecasts rose. Investors can take some comfort in knowing that a broader reading of the market’s “tea leaves” continues to point toward growth. Source:…
MACROECONOMIC INSIGHT We begin 2018 on a positive note. Last week’s Chicago PMI posted its third straight plus 60 score and is on the best streak for the index in over three years. We expect similar positive results this week from the various manufacturing reports released. The theme of these reports is positive economic growth. After hovering around 2% for 2016 and into last year, GDP has topped 3% each of the last two quarters. We expect that this week’s data on manufacturing will point to an economy still enjoying a cyclical upswing. Macroeconomic Advisers and the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow…
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY There are signs that growth is improving as we start the new year. The pickup began last spring, continued through the fall, and accelerated into year’s end. The surprise outcome of the election raised expectations for new tax, spending, and regulatory proposals, which could impact growth and business sentiment. The bond market is also taking notice of a changing landscape as interest rates price in some additional inflation. We start the year with a tactical tilt toward domestic equities and away from longer-term bonds. A portfolio strategy that combines a long-run point of view with some short-term flexibility…
Productivity growth averaged 3% through the 1950s and 1960s, declined to 2% from the mid-1970s through 2007, slid to just over 1% since the 2008-2009 recession, and fell to under 0.5% last year. We are at serious risk of stagnating growth, should this trend continue. In such an environment, tactical approaches will be required as long-run returns would tend to diminish with real growth rates. Currently, we see recession risk above historic averages, given generally weakening global data. This slippage in fundamentals that became more evident in late 2015 contributed to our elevated focus on quality in equity portfolios and…
THE WEEK AHEAD The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) conducts their March meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Growth overseas remains sub-par, but U.S. consumer spending is stronger and monthly job gains are up 235,000 over the last six months. Signs of moderate inflation can are evident in the personal consumption expenditures price index. This index rose 1.3% year-over-year in January. MACRO VIEW All the churn in markets during the first quarter had little impact on our assessment of fundamentals. Our WCA Fundamental Conditions Barometer remains below 50 and portfolios are defensively allocated. The latest actions by the European Central Bank…
Light economic data from the United States expected this week, and the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to deliver additional monetary stimulus. China releases February’s Merchandise Trade Balance, Consumer Price Index, and Producer Price Index while Japan and the EU both release their latest GDP prints. MACRO VIEW We are looking for signs of an upturn in the data when we update our WCA Fundamental Conditions barometer and forecasts next week. For now, we view the recent stabilization in commodities and better tone in the stock market as providing some reason for optimism, but we need further evidence that…
Our macro outlook is for slow growth and stubbornly low inflation. The start of policy normalization following years of zero interest rate policy in the United States comes at a time of weakening global growth and mixed signals from the domestic economy. We continue to view the United States economy as best positioned to weather the overall weak global environment that resurfaced in 2015. In this report, we take a long-term view and address expectations for markets over the long run. Full Report Click Here
The United States appears to be generating better growth these days when compared to estimates of its potential. The graph below shows how the United States’ output has risen by more than the potential growth estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. For seven quarters in a row, the economy has produced a higher growth rate than potential, which is absorbing excess capacity. As this happened, the unemployment rate fell to near 5% from 10% back in 2009. The total number of hours worked has expanded by 10% over that period as more jobs were added than lost. Capital investment has…
This week: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will make an announcement Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a press conference to follow. Greek negotiations continue. May industrial production data due out today (expectation +0.3%). Macro View This week will bring the Federal Reserve Board’s (Fed) next move into focus as they announce its latest policy decision on Wednesday (forecasts updated and press conference to follow). Ultimately, we expect the Fed to continue toward a September hike, given the recent firming in employment and other data. Mixed views have been expressed recently from other members of the FOMC, but the…
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