Please see this weeks ‘Markets in a Minute Update’ from Brewin Dolphin:
Markets
Global shares mostly rallied last week on hopes of a vaccine and continued lifting of lockdowns. In the UK, the FTSE100 nudged through the 6,000 mark for the first time in three weeks, before falling back on Friday as tensions between the US and China flared up once again.
Last week’s gains*
• FTSE100: 3.4%
• Dow Jones: 1.7%
• S&P500: 1.44%
• Dax: 3.65%
• Nikkei: 1.44%
• Hang Seng: -3.4%
• Shanghai Composite: -2%
Most markets in Asia closed up yesterday and were heading up today – even Hong Kong where the Hang Seng closed up by 1% on Monday. In early trade on Tuesday, most global markets were making solid gains due to optimism caused by more easing of lockdowns.
*Data to close on Friday May 22
US/China tensions
Last week China proposed the imposition of national security laws from Beijing in the special administrative region of Hong Kong, restricting freedoms of speech and the press. This move has increased worries about threats to democracy in Hong Kong that had formerly only really been subdued by the onset of social distancing. This has caused protests from the US and threats of retaliation, as well as public protests in Hong Kong by pro-democracy demonstrators. The Hang Seng, fell last week as a result. China will vote on the proposed legislation on May 28.
Trump has promised retaliation
President Trump said he would respond very strongly to what he sees as an assault on democracy in Hong Kong. He is most likely to consider tariffs, although he will be mindful of whether that is in his interests ahead of the US election in November. One conciliatory note from Premier Li Keqiang was a continued commitment to the phase one trade deal reached last year, but we are sceptical that China can really abide by its terms.
Even so, most Asian markets rose yesterday, with the best gains in Japan, as expectations increased that the nationwide state of emergency will soon be lifted.
Stimulus news
UK
The Bank of England has raised the prospect of negative interest rates for the first time. It has said the policy is under “active review”.
Bank of England MPC member Sylvana Tenreyro was probably the most outspoken of a number of MPC members, who coalesced around the position that negative interest rates could be considered in the UK. Tenreyro cited Europe’s experience with negative rates as demonstrating that they have a powerful effect on real activity, but nobody outside the MPC seems to agree. However, with Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Economist Andy Haldane insisting that negative rates could be considered, we have to take them at their word, although market pricing reflects only a slim chance that negative rates could be introduced in 2021.
China
Premier Li Keqiang also suspended China’s growth target to facilitate a shift towards job creation as a priority. China’s GDP target had low credibility anyway, with the eventual GDP report assumed by all to be massaged to fit with the target rather than the other way around.
Europe
Stimulus news in Europe was more positive, albeit only tentatively. Progress on a €500bn aid package crept forwards as Germany reached an agreement with France that the aid could take the form of grants, funded by debt and secured on the EU budget. To finally ratify such an approach will need the consent of all members and it is expected to meet resistance from other northern European states.
Economic activity may have bottomed
Backwards looking data continues to paint a bleak picture. The UK claimant data last Monday showed the number of people claiming unemployment benefit jumped by 856,000 in April, to a total of 2.1m, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This implies a jump to circa 6% unemployment when April’s official rate is released. Friday’s retail sales data indicate a decline of more than 18% in April compared to March, taking us back to activity levels last seen fifteen years ago (over which time the population has grown by about 10% or 6 million people).
However, more current “high frequency” data, such as energy consumption, road traffic etc, shows activity levels are improving. Therefore, we can take heart from the fact that we are at the nadir for economic activity and the path ahead is very likely one towards recovery from here.
Capital and income from it is at risk.
Neither simulated nor actual past performance are reliable indicators of future performance.
Performance is quoted before charges which will reduce illustrated performance.
Investment values may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.
The information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.
These updates from Brewin Dolphin provide a good weekly ‘snapshot’ look at the markets which is useful given the current volatility we are currently experiencing.
We try to capture a wide range of fund managers and investment experts opinions such as Brewin Dolphin to give you an overall consensus view of the current climate we are in.
Andrew Lloyd
27/05/2020