News

Please see below article received from Brooks Macdonald yesterday, which provides a global market update as we enter August.

What has happened

If, like me, you had holiday and time away from markets in July, then you probably missed something of a game of two halves in markets in the month that wrapped up yesterday. Early on in July, markets at an index level were doing well, with the US S&P500 equity index hitting a succession of record highs. We also saw government bond prices up (and bond yields down) during the month, on the back of hopes that interest rate cuts would increasingly start to filter through, especially in the case of the US on the back of a softer US inflation print. But about half-way through July, equity market leadership shifted, as tech stocks fell. The so-called ‘Magnificent 7’ group of US megacap tech stocks were down over -10% from peak to trough, entering technical correction territory. Given their weight in US equity indices, that was a big headwind for larger-stock index performance. Instead, we saw a meaningful rotation into the smaller capitalised end of the stock market, as rate cut hopes lifted the outlook for smaller companies who are generally much more sensitive to funding and credit conditions. Indeed, the outperformance in July of the US Russell 2000 small cap equity index over the US Nasdaq technology equity index was the largest in any month since February 2001. Coming back to tech, it was a better day yesterday, with good results from Meta after the US close driving the company’s shares up over +7% in after-market trading. Nvidia shares meanwhile staged an impressive one-day rally up +12.81% yesterday.

US job data points to further cooling, supporting Fed rate cut hopes

A broad gauge of US labour cost growth closely watched by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) cooled in the calendar Q2 by marginally more than analysts had been forecasting.  Out yesterday, the US Employment Cost Index (ECI) a broad measure of labour costs, increased by +0.9% in Q2 sequential quarter on quarter (QoQ). This was weaker than the +1.0% expected, after rising +1.2% QoQ in Q1. In year-on-year terms, the ECI was up +4.1% in Q2. Separately, a report from the US-based ADP Research Institute showed US companies added the fewest number of jobs in July since January, while wage growth fell to the slowest pace since 2021 for both so-called ‘job-changers’ and ‘job-stayers’ alike. That was a constructive backdrop for the Fed meeting later in the day, where rates yesterday were kept on hold as expected, but Fed Chair Powell pointed markets in the direction of a first US rate cut in the current cycle to likely come in September. Specifically, Powell said that if the Fed get the data that they hope to get, then a reduction in the policy rate could be on the table at the September meeting.

Investors are proving to be less forgiving

The current calendar Q2 corporate reporting season is seeing a somewhat mixed picture unfold, and in turn it is prompting a somewhat mixed reaction in markets. We highlighted this in our post-Asset Allocation Committee meeting communication out earlier this week. That is to say, according to Factset who have reviewed the latest US S&P500 company reports, while the percentage of companies reporting positive earnings surprises is above average levels, the magnitude of earnings surprises is below average levels. Furthermore, while the aforementioned index is reporting its highest year-over-year earnings growth rate since Q4 2021, the market has been rewarding positive EPS surprises reported by companies less than average and punishing negative EPS surprises reported by companies more than average.

What does Brooks Macdonald think 

The market reaction to the latest round of US quarterly earnings results makes sense. Mindful that we are roughly only coming up towards half-way through the results season, nonetheless, these results are landing having followed a period of very strong equity market performance, where the US S&P 500 equity market had notched up fresh record highs as recently as mid-July. As a result, there is a lot less room for manoeuvre left in equity valuations should company results, or their outlooks not beat expectations, in particular focused around megacap US tech stocks. In valuation terms, the MSCI USA equity index 12-month forward Price-to-Earnings Per Share ratio is currently 21.00x versus the past 30-year average of 16.98x. Interestingly, such a valuation gap versus historical averages is virtually non-existent when looking at equity markets on a global ex-US basis. Here, the MSCI All Country World excluding US equity index trades on 13.48x versus the average since 2001 of 13.44x.

 Bloomberg as at 01/08/2024. TR denotes Net Total Return.

Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

02/08/2024

Please see below article received by EPIC Investment Partners yesterday, which provides a global economic update.

The global economy has been spluttering for years, even before the pandemic struck. Sluggish growth, especially in economic powerhouses like China and the G7, painted a grim picture. We speculated many years ago that this slowdown was likely caused by shrinking working-age populations, a demographic trend that has persisted post-pandemic. Despite some recent glimmers of recovery, the underlying problems remain, masked by a perilous reliance on debt. 

Take the United States, for example. A 2.7% GDP growth rate might seem rosy, but it’s a mirage. The US government is running a gargantuan 7% budget deficit, borrowing far more than it earns. This unsustainable fiscal policy conjures an illusion of growth, but it’s a house built on sand. 

The situation isn’t much rosier in other major economies. Growth forecasts for 2024 in nations like Canada, France, Germany, and the UK are all significantly lower than their pre-pandemic levels in 2019. While US employment figures might appear robust, the reality is that the economy is propped up by government spending, not genuine productivity. 

Adding to the unease is the alarming level of debt in these nations. Except for Germany, all G7 countries have a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100%. Servicing such high levels of debt at interest rates above GDP growth is simply not sustainable. 

This addiction to debt has ominous consequences. As Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, has cautioned, this trajectory is unsustainable. In a recent speech, Powell emphasised the gravity of the situation: “The U.S. federal government is on an unsustainable fiscal path. The debt is growing faster than the economy. It’s as simple as that.” 

Powell’s stark warnings underscore the precarious nature of the current economic situation. The US, and indeed much of the Western world, is living on borrowed time. Ironically, while there is much handwringing over ESG and sustainability policies, there’s little discussion about whether government spending itself is sustainable. 

In light of these mounting pressures, substantially lower interest rates are not just likely, they are inevitable. The sheer weight of accumulated debt, coupled with anaemic economic growth, leaves central banks with few options. This shift towards lower rates is not a policy choice, but an economic imperative. 

The question is not whether interest rates will fall, but how far and how fast. 

Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

26/07/2024

Please see below article received from Jupiter Asset Management this morning, which provides their market predictions following the Labour Party’s victory in the UK General Election. 

As the nation wakes up after polling day, the public, press and markets will be digesting news of the result. To give an investment perspective on what it means for markets, we asked some of our experts for their immediate reaction.

Matthew Beesley, CEO

“The UK market has very healthy underlying fundamentals and is trading at near all-time high levels. Yet frustratingly at the same time, the valuations of UK stocks are also at record low levels because of the political uncertainty of the last few years. There is every reason to hope that the new government will usher in a period of political stability, prioritise the Edinburgh reforms and hold themselves accountable to a clear industrial growth strategy that will cement the UK’s recovery and turn it back into a key focus for international investors.”

Adrian Gosden and Chris Morrison, Investment Managers, UK Equity Income

“This election was decided without major policy announcements from either of the main parties, and we are hopeful that a stable political backdrop will prove to be good for the economy and for market sentiment. UK equities have enjoyed solid performance this year to date, and we are looking for a sustained rebound in the market, helped by supportive factors such as weakening inflation, a potential Bank of England rate cut, attractive valuations for UK equities and good earnings performance from UK companies.”

Tim Service, Investment Manager, UK Small & Mid Cap Equities

“After nearly a decade of political shocks in the UK, today’s election result feels unusual for a Labour win having been so predictable. I expect this to be good news for the UK equity market over the medium-term, if for no other reason that markets and companies alike crave certainty. A government with a clear mandate will give companies confidence to hire people and invest in the future, while markets can better discount future company profits accurately.

However, ‘certainty’ is a still a relative concept given Labour’s campaign rhetoric to deliver change – so it’s important for investors to consider how new legislation, tax and spending plans might affect individual companies. We hope that Labour can start addressing productivity issues through planning reform and infrastructure investment, while also reenergising the UK’s capital markets. We are encouraged that Labour seems to recognise the problems, but would stress the urgency with which the remedies are required.”

Mark Nash, Huw Davies and James Novotny, Investment Managers, Fixed Income – Absolute Return

“Relative to the high level of uncertainty seen in the aftermath of international elections over the last few weeks (South Africa, India, Mexico, EU, France) and the concerns around President Biden’s performance at the first US presidential debate, the UK election has been something of a non-event. Labour’s victory means that we have now entered a period of relative stability in UK politics which is in stark contrast to the possibility of continued volatility elsewhere, especially in the run up to the US presidential elections in November. The UK could well look like a haven of political stability, a very different landscape to the years since the Brexit referendum.

The new government has to contend with the perilous scale of the UK’s twin deficits, with the adverse market reaction to Liz Truss’s mini budget almost two years ago still vivid in our memories. Labour will need to convince the market, and also the electorate, that they are fiscally prudent while still improving the shoddy state of UK public services and anaemic productivity and growth profile, none of which will be easy.

Growth will be their get-out-of-Jail free card, easier said but hard to deliver. They look likely to rest their hopes on a better trade deal with the EU to try and reduce friction at the border with the EU, and also by liberalising the UK planning laws. If they can succeed in this endeavour, then there may be some renewed hope for better UK growth along with less inflationary pressure within the UK. Despite the UK’s fiscal position, we believe Gilt yields look cheap compared to other countries that have a weak fiscal position (e.g. France) so there may well be some flows towards Gilts from other challenged sovereign bond markets that continue to have political problems now our election is done and dusted.”

Please check in with us again soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

05/07/2024

Please see the ‘Monday Digest’ article below, received from Tatton Investment Management this morning. 

Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

01/07/2024

Please see below ‘Daily Update’ article received from EPIC Investment Partners earlier this afternoon, which provides global economic analysis.

The Bank of England (BoE) maintained interest rates at 5.25%, as widely anticipated, despite headline inflation reaching the 2% target in May. Governor Bailey said: “It’s good news that inflation has returned to our 2% target. We need to be sure that inflation will stay low and that’s why we’ve decided to hold rates at 5.25% for now.” 

The BoE’s primary concern, mirroring its US counterpart, is persistent service inflation, which only marginally decreased to 5.7% from 5.9% in April. The central bank attributed part of these increases to regulated prices and volatile components, rather than underlying inflationary pressures. 

As in the previous meeting, seven Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members favoured maintaining rates, while two advocated for a 25bps cut. However, this decision was described as “finely balanced,” suggesting a more nuanced discussion around potential rate cuts. 

The MPC meeting minutes revealed stronger-than-expected economic growth, the BOE forecast 0.5% GDP growth in Q2 2024, up from the 0.2% projected in May. This growth, partly driven by increased government spending, marks a clear recovery from last year’s recession. However, MPC members expressed concerns about persistent wage growth potentially leading to further price increases, and the risk of rising energy prices in autumn contributing to higher inflation. 

The MPC’s subtle shift in guidance, focusing more on the August forecast round rather than immediate data releases, indicates a more forward-looking approach. This change suggests the committee may be becoming less reactive to short-term data fluctuations and more focused on broader trends. 

Barring significant surprises in June’s inflation data, the BoE could commence its easing cycle in August. Markets are currently pricing in a ~70% chance of a cut in August, up from ~30% ahead of the BoE announcement.  

The upcoming change in MPC personnel, with Broadbent’s departure and the more hawkish Clare Lombardelli’s arrival, introduces an element of uncertainty that could influence the timing of the first cut. 

In other news, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) reduced rates by 25bps to 1.25%, marking its second cut this cycle. Unlike many Western countries, Switzerland’s inflation has fallen below 2%, stagnating at 1.4% in May. Of note, the SNB expressed willingness to intervene in the foreign exchange market, given the recent surge in the franc amid European political uncertainty. 

Remember our Net Foreign Asset (NFA) model that we use to predict Euro success? Well, it’s been a mixed bag. While the wealthy nations have largely triumphed, a few upsets have left our Fixed Income team scratching their heads. Belgium (6 star NFA) fumbled against Slovakia (2 star), but they’ve got another shot at glory against Romania (2 star) this weekend. Meanwhile, our model suggests the Netherlands (7 star) should outshine France (3 star) tonight, despite the latter being one of the tournament favourites. Will the Dutch make it rain Oranje, or will the French prove that football prowess is not about wealth? 

Please check in with us again soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

21/06/2024

Please see below article received from IFA Magazine and Evelyn Partners earlier this afternoon, which highlights the pension and tax questions that savers are asking.

Much is up in the air across many facets of pensions and tax policy, and until a few weeks ago the main political parties had most of the rest of the year to make clear some intentions. 

However, campaigning is now well underway with limited clarity as the country looks towards a 4 July poll. 

Gary Smith, Partner in Financial Planning at wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, says: 

‘We haven’t seen the manifestos yet, and even when we do they might not contain much concrete detail on pensions, inheritance tax or the taxation of investments. So we are left in a world of probabilities, possibilities and suspicions around upcoming changes to the financial landscape that savers might have to navigate.  

‘The fact that we are looking at a very probable change of government come 5 July throws up some urgent questions around what’s in store for pensions both state and private, or for families planning how pass on their wealth – but campaign rhetoric doesn’t provide many answers. We do know that change for savers is closer at hand than it was a fortnight ago.  

‘We’ve had the surprise “triple-lock plus” gambit from Rishi Sunak, and while he might not get the chance to put it into practice, it does reignite the state pension debate, as well as disquiet over frozen allowances for everyone. Unless Labour moves to match it, which seems unlikely, it opens up some clear water on policy. 

‘One elephant in the room is the prospect that a new Government might look to the taxation of pensions, or other wealth assets, to escape the fiscal restraints the main parties have imposed on themselves.’ 

The Institute for Fiscal Studies and the International Monetary Fund have warned that both parties’ public finance projections indicate a significant funding gap, of up to £30billion, unless unscheduled spending cuts are enforced. A recent poll revealed that 56 per cent of British voters expect taxes to go up after the UK general election if Labour win, and 52 per cent if the Tories remain in power. 

Labour has now promised not to hike VAT, which means both parties have pledged not to raise any of the three biggest levies – income tax and national insurance being the other two – that account for the lion’s share of Treasury revenues. Labour has also vowed not to raise the headline rate of corporation tax, the fourth biggest fundraiser. 

Smith says: ‘A new government might look at the tax treatment of pensions or certain IHT reliefs to bridge a funding gap that seems bound to open up even if public sector spending is severely restricted. Savers, however, should be very wary of acting on such possibilities and it is highly unlikely any changes to the tax system would be enacted before April 2025.’ 

State pension triple lock (plus?) 

Smith says, ‘The affordability of the triple-locked state pension is a can that keeps getting kicked down the road and an election is not the time that either main party is likely to break that pattern. 

‘In fact, the Conservatives have doubled down with their £2.4billion “triple lock plus” pledge. Mr Sunak has said he would create an “age-related” tax-free personal allowance in the income tax system, which would rise to keep it above the rate of the state pension. This would mean two different personal allowances: one for working-age people that will be frozen until 2028 and another higher one for retirees that would change annually.  

‘There are issues with this, apart from affordability and the potential to be generationally divisive. It’s not clear what sort of personal allowance would apply to those who continued to work after state pension age – and 1.37million people aged 65 and over were still in work last year. It would also add another level of complexity to the UK tax system. 

‘It’s questionable whether the Conservatives would have tabled this policy if they had a good chance of remaining in power, but it does at least shine a light on how frozen thresholds are raising the tax burden by stealth. Promises from both parties not to raise headline tax rates offer little comfort when we all know we’re going to be paying more tax anyway due to fiscal drag. 

‘One favour today’s workers can do for themselves is to assume the triple lock might not be sustainable for more than a decade, and that they need to save more than they think to make up for that.’ 

The pensions lifetime allowance 

Smith says, ‘While Jeremy Hunt’s abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance was widely welcomed, some of the details in the implementation have caused lingering uncertainty and confusion – as has Labour’s undertaking to reinstate it. 

‘We hope Labour will soon offer some more clarity on how and when it plans to reintroduce the LTA. If an LTA is reintroduced, the key questions will be at what level, and will there be some sort of carve-out for highly-paid NHS clinicians? It seems very unlikely a new LTA would be set back at its most recent £1.073 million – a level that landed doctors and surgeons with unwelcome tax charges, exacerbated staffing shortages in the NHS and led to Hunt’s decision to abolish the threshold. 

‘Under the last Labour government, the LTA ended up at £1.8 million, which would now be worth over £2.5 million adjusted for inflation since. It wouldn’t be surprising if the LTA was reintroduced at something like the £2 million mark. 

‘Either away, it is important to understand that the LTA has been removed from the statute book and so a future Government wishing to reintroduce it could not just switch it back on the day after the election but would have to pass new legislation which would likely take the form of a Finance Bill on the back of a Budget – and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out a summer Budget.  

‘The legislative process takes time and therefore is unlikely that a new LTA could be in place until April 2025. Applying a new LTA retrospectively would be highly contentious, open to challenge, and therefore unlikely. There is also strong precedent, from the original introduction of the LTA and previous reductions in the threshold, that those impacted would able to take out protection, typically by ceasing further funding.  

‘Given all this, for some savers who may have previously ceased pension funding because of the LTA and are very keen to restart with regular or lump sum contributions, the current window of opportunity might be worth taking advantage of, after taking some advice.  

‘But making drastic changes to one’s financial plans in what is a fluid situation is probably inadvisable, particularly for those who are about to access their pots. For instance, if some savers are thinking of rushing to access their 25 per cent tax-free lump sum because of fears over what Labour might do – as some reports have suggested – they should take advice before any hasty action.’ 

Could there be other changes to pension taxation? 

The Conservatives have affirmed that they would not introduce any new taxes on pensions or increase existing ones for the whole of the next Parliament. They would maintain the 25 per cent tax-free lump sum and tax relief on pension contributions at the marginal rate of income tax. National Insurance would not be extended to employer pension contributions. 

Smith says: ‘We have no indication of any such plans from Labour but no such assurances either. In spite or because of this, the taxation of pensions is inevitably drawing some speculation, not just over the reintroduction of the LTA, but other areas where a future government could look to raise revenue. 

‘Labour objected to Jeremy Hunt’s pension taxation reforms at the 2023 Budget as “a tax gift to the wealthy”, so the increase of the annual allowance from £40,000 to £60,000 cannot be considered untouchable. The annual allowance is arguably an easier and more efficient way to cap the amount spent on pension tax relief than the LTA, so some sort of reversal of the AA increase is not unthinkable, whether it comes alongside or instead of a new LTA. 

‘Another way to limit the Treasury spend on pension tax benefits would be to reduce or do away with the 25 per cent pension commencement lump sum, or to limit tax relief on pension contributions. Either measure would be controversial, and the latter would be an administrative challenge, so they are perhaps unlikely, at least early on in a new government’s parliament. 

‘But as pension contributions are an effective way to pay less tax as thresholds remain frozen, it’s understandable if suspicions that a new government might look to cap or reduce tax relief in some way are leading some savers to stash cash into their pensions now. 

‘One final tax-preferential treatment of pensions that could come under scrutiny is the exemption of defined contribution pension pots from inheritance tax.’ 

The questions around inheritance tax exemptions 

Smith says: ‘Labour have made it clear they think some inheritance tax exemptions and allowances are too generous, so it’s possible some sort of measures will be taken to reduce them if they gain power. 

‘While the IHT-exempt status of defined contribution (or money purchase) pension pots has not been mentioned by Labour, it has been highlighted more than once by think-tanks as an anomaly, so it might well be on Rachel Reeves’ radar. 

‘If some steps were taken to levy IHT on the transfer of pension assets, this would probably lead to a widespread draining of drawdown pots, and a lurch towards other assets and tactics that mitigate against IHT, which at 40% is quite significant. 

‘The other major talking point on IHT is around business and agricultural property reliefs, with a think-tank this week highlighting how they help some large estates shelter assets from IHT, and questioning the potential eligibility of most AIM shares for Business Relief.

‘There are legitimate reasons behind business and agricultural IHT reliefs, which help family and rural business to remain intact and going concerns on the death of owner, thereby savings jobs and assets of community value. Objections to the inclusion of AIM shares miss this point, and even a drive to remove AIM shares from Business Relief must take into account that it’s there to encourage private investment in small British firms that is sadly in short supply in the UK economy at the moment.’ 

Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

14/06/2024

It looks like Labour are likely to win the General Election – it is theirs to lose.  Will Labour getting into power impact on existing pension legislation?  It’s difficult to answer this question.  Typically, 50% of what is outlined before an election never gets changed after the election.  That won’t be a surprise to anyone.

In any case, we have certainty about the legislation in place today. If you do think that legislation could change in future, it may be beneficial to act now if you are able to do so.

Areas of concern:

The Lifetime Allowance.  This was abolished on 06/04/2024 and we no longer have a cap at £1,073,100.00 for total pension benefits.  In press coverage today, it looks like Labour may not re-introduce the Lifetime Allowance.  This would be complex and send the wrong message to pension funders, impacting on senior staff in the NHS and Education etc.

Best left alone for all.

Pension Contributions

On 06/04/2023, the maximum annual pension contribution was increased to £60,000.00 gross per annum from £40,000.00 gross per annum.  We also have the ability to carry forward any unused allowances for the previous three tax years.

Labour could limit pension contributions, but again this would impact on senior staff in the NHS and Education etc.

Tax Relief

It has been suggested that Labour will remove marginal rate tax relief for personal pension contributions at 20%, 40% and 45%, to replace it with a tax relief on personal pension contributions of 30% for all (subject to standard contribution rules).

If you are funding your pension personally and you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer, this would not be good news.

Comment

Tinkering with pension legislation all the time is not good news.  As it can impact on our long-term planning, we need to have stable pension legislation, legislation that we can trust.  This is one area of politics that should have cross party agreement and a long-term plan.

The State would like us to fund our own pensions and not be wholly reliant on the State Pension.

What can we do?  We have certainty over the rules we have in place today.  If we are not sure what the rules will be under Labour, and you want to utilise the rules we have now and have the capacity to do so, you could take action now by making a large pension contribution for example.

Please take advice from an IFA before making any decisions.  Personally, I’m still hoping that pension legislation won’t change again – we will see.

Steve Speed

10/06/2024

Please see below article received from Tatton Investment Management this morning, which provides a positive global market update and economic predictions for the months ahead.

ECB’s Lagarde makes rate cut history

Rate cuts at last. The ECB delivered a 25 basis point cut last week, as expected, and markets got excited about easier monetary policy again. ECB president Lagarde spoke about “dialling back” now that inflation is closer to the official 2% target. Nobody expects a full-blown easing cycle (bets on a September cut were dialled back too) but markets are confident that rates will fall globally – especially weaker-than-expected US employment data seemed to confirm an autumn cut from the US Fed.

And yet, no one expects the US or Europe to reach the official 2% inflation target anytime soon. It begs the question of whether central banks have moved to an unofficial 3% target – which would arguably be justified by structural economic changes. Growth and inflation have consistently beaten expectations in the US, for example, but markets expect the Fed to push ahead with cuts this year and next.

That is pushing bond yields sharply down, which is supporting equity valuations. Does this challenge our assessment last week that profits, rather than rates, are driving stock markets? Not exactly. Rates were key this week, but markets are still laser focused on expected profit growth. Nvidia’s incredible performance encapsulates both points: falling rate expectations pushed it to the brink of a $3 trillion market cap last week, but underlying that valuation is an astounding track record for growing profits (up 600% year-on-year last quarter). This is the ‘goldilocks’ environment that markets long for. Rates fall and growth moderates, but not enough to truly hurt profits.

Lastly, a note about elections. Recent stock market swings in Mexico, India and South Africa, following unexpected election results, has some worried about whether the UK election might upset things. This is unlikely, since the near-term impacts of the main parties’ economic policies are unlikely to substantially differ. But even when markets do get spooked by politics, it tends to be short-lived, and in fact most of the time represents a good buying opportunity. It would take a lot to really upset markets at the moment.

May 2024 asset returns review

May was decent for global investors, global stocks gaining 2.3% in sterling terms. This was underlined by strong corporate profits and firmer rate cut expectations. Inflation slowed again but unevenly, sending global bond prices up 0.9%. The US was in line with expectations but Britain and Europe surprised to the upside. This was not enough to deter the ECB from cutting rates at the start of June, however, and US data seemed to confirm an autumn cut from the Fed.

US tech was again the standout, jumping 5.2%, but this was less about rate cut optimism and more about stellar Q1 profits. AI champion Nvidia reported the afore mentioned 600% year-on-year jump for the first three months of this year, and its stock price has been duly rewarded.

US Companies that didn’t live up to the hype were punished – showing that markets are laser focused on fundamentals – a far cry from the ‘valuation vertigo’ fears earlier in the year. Growth is less strong in the UK and Europe, but stock markets still rallied 2.1% and 3.5% respectively, as lower rates are expected.
 
Emerging markets were down 1.1% through May, despite mildly positive returns (up 0.8%) in China. Currency troubles hurt several EMs – as well as Japan, whose currency is among the worst performing this year. Commodity prices fell too, led by a 7.6% swing down for crude oil. Weaker oil demand is a sign of slowing global growth, but it will undoubtedly be a positive in terms of removing a key price pressure.

May was encouraging overall. Not only did markets recover April losses, but we saw the emergence of a healthy system of market checks and balances: where rates look set to stay higher for longer, profits look strong enough to account for it. And where profits don’t look as good, rate cuts should accommodate.

Will currency volatility return?

Currency markets are having an interesting time. The Japanese yen has lost nearly 10% of its value against the dollar year-to-date, and China’s renminbi is under pressure too – consistently trading at the top of its official exchange rate band. Historically, big currency swings can upset capital markets but, for years now, foreign exchange markets have had little impact on wider markets. That could be about to change.

There are two key reasons why: monetary policy divergence and deglobalisation. Japan is the clearest example of the first (Japanese interest rates are practically zero and US rates are 5.5%) but there is growing divergence between the US and Europe too – with cuts coming sooner in the latter. China is the clearest example of the second – with former president Donald Trump explicitly arguing that the dollar is too expensive relative to the renminbi.

Ironically, trade wars have strengthened the dollar, since threats to the global economy push people toward the world’s reserve currency. Central banks are increasing their dollar allocations too – reversing a long-term trend of higher renminbi allocations.

This impacts how we think about currency moves. A strong dollar is usually seen as a cyclical headwind to growth, but if there is a structural push for a stronger dollar we might have to re-evaluate. For example, the renminbi is historically weak against the dollar, but China’s trade with the US is now smaller than its trade with Asia. The renminbi looks overvalued relative to Asian currencies which would suggest it needs to depreciate.

That would mean financial and geopolitical headwinds – especially if Trump becomes president again. The pattern could play out in the UK and Europe too, considering growth is relatively weaker than in the US. The more economies become misaligned, the more we need to include currency movements as an additional factor in our investment outlook.

Please check in again with us shortly for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

10/06/2024

Please see below article received from AJ Bell yesterday morning, with our thoughts added at the end for your perusal.

Given the rate at which prime ministers (and chancellors) seem to come and go, investors may be rightly inclined to avoid second-guessing the result of the next general election, which is now set for Thursday 4 July.

The lack of available cash in the government’s kitty, the Conservatives’ occasionally frayed relationship with ‘business’ and the likelihood that Labour took on board Trussonomics’ lesson that unfunded promises could prompt chaos may all mean that investors could be in the mood to take Sir Keir Starmer’s big lead in the polls, and any eventual victory, in their stride, even if the FTSE All-Share’s record shows it seems to prefer a Tory government, on average.

The prospect of a government spearheaded by Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves is unlikely to spark the sort of fear that would have been inspired by an administration whose driving forces were Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Moreover, the current Conservative government, whose tenure effectively dates back to 2010 and covers a flurry of five prime ministers, could be seen as having taken an increasingly interventionist approach to the economy, given such initiatives as sugar taxes, Help to Buy, energy price caps, windfall taxes on North Sea oil producers, 2021’s National Security and Investment Act and proposals for changes to the 2005 Gambling Act under the recent review. 

Increasingly vocal and forceful regulators, such as the Financial Conduct Authority, Ofcom, Ofgem, Ofwat and the Competition and Markets Authority, appear to be responding to public pressure for greater action, and perhaps the hardest part for investors going forward will be spotting which industry or sectors will come under scrutiny next, in the wake of such recent examples as betting, funeral services and veterinary services.

The headline data suggests that a Labour government, and a change in the identity of the incumbent in 10 Downing Street, need not be seen as an inherently bad thing.

A study of all sixteen of the general elections since the inception of the FTSE All-Share in 1962 shows that the UK stock market is by no means frightened of a change in government and it may even welcome it. On average, the FTSE All-Share has recorded a double-digit percentage gain in the first year after an election which sees one prime minister ejected from office and another, new one ushered into it. There are also greater average gains when a government changes relative to when it remains the same.

Source: LSEG Datastream data. *1964/66 to 1970 Wilson governments and 1974/74 to 1979 Wilson/Callaghan governments counted as one term. 2019 Conservative government to 22 May 2024 

Labour governments can also point to healthy average stock market gains during the terms of their five prime ministers during the 42-year era of the FTSE All-Share.

That said, the UK equity market has done better since 1962, on average, when the Conservatives have triumphed at the ballot box.

Source: LSEG Datastream data. *1964/66 to 1970 Wilson governments and 1974/74 to 1979 Wilson/Callaghan governments counted as one term. 2019 Conservative government to 22 May 2024.  **Adjusted for retail price index (RPI).

Some investors could therefore be forgiven for wishing for a Conservative government, on financial grounds, irrespective of their personal political preferences, especially as the average real, post-inflation return from the FTSE All-Share is markedly superior under Conservative governments than it is Labour ones.

The size of a government’s majority seems to be matter of indifference to stock market investors, even if any incumbent in 10 Downing Street will be looking for a thumping advantage in the House of Commons, so they can get on with the business of governing the country and formulating policy, rather than having to constantly curry favour with their own MPs first.

Margaret Thatcher’s crushing 1983 general election win helped to set the tone for her second term and that period yielded the best nominal (and real, post-inflation) returns from the FTSE All-Share from any post-1962 administration. However, Tony Blair’s second-term majority was even bigger, and that period yielded negative returns for investors in UK equities, using the FTSE All-Share as a benchmark.

Source: LSEG Datastream data. *Wilson initially PM with a minority of 33 after February 1974 and then with a majority of 3 after October 1974. Wilson stepped down in April 1976. **Wilson initially won a majority of 3 in 1964 which was increased to 96 in 1966. ***Blair stepped down in June 2007. ****Cameron stepped down in July 2016. *****Johnson resigned in July 2022. Liz Truss took over in September 2022 and was replaced by Rishi Sunak in October 2022. ******May’s initial working majority was based on a deal with the DUP. *******Performance under current government as of 22 May 2024

Again, the role of inflation is important here. The 1974-79 Labour administration that began under Harold Wilson and ended under James Callaghan started off with a tiny majority but on paper generated healthy returns for the FTSE All-Share, which rocketed. However, once those returns take a spiral in the RPI measure of inflation into account (and RPI is used as it offers a longer history than CPI), then investors actually lost out in real terms, in what was a difficult decade for shareholders, owing to the ravages of inflation.

Source: LSEG Datastream data. *Wilson initially PM with a minority of 33 after February 1974 and then with a majority of 3 after October 1974. Wilson stepped down in April 1976. **Wilson initially won a majority of 3 in 1964 which was increased to 96 in 1966. ***Blair stepped down in June 2007. ****Cameron’s majority relied on a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. He stepped down in July 2016. *****Johnson resigned in July 2022. Liz Truss took over in September 2022 and was replaced by Rishi Sunak in October 2022. ******May’s initial working majority was based on a deal with the DUP. *******Performance under current government as of 22 May 2024

Inflation also sorts out the real winners and losers, from the markets’ perspective, when it comes to individual prime ministers. Of the 13 prime ministers since 1964, four of the best five from the very narrow perspective of stock market perspective were Conservatives, once FTSE All-Share returns are measured in nominal terms.

But the shake-out comes in real, post-inflation terms, when four of the five best premierships for investors came under the Conservatives and the three worst under Labour.

This is not to make an economic point, rather than a political one. As former US president Bill Clinton’s strategist, James Carville, argued ahead of the then Arkansas governor’s 1992 election win, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ If the voters feel flush, they are more likely to vote for the incumbent government and less so if not, and inflation is a key part of that. 

The galloping inflation of the 1970s, and subsequent labour unrest, did for both Ted Heath in 1974 and James Callaghan in 1979. In the latter case, public appetite for a change of tack was particularly strong and ushered into power the nation’s first female prime minister.

Gordon Brown had little or no chance, having had the bad luck to preside over the Great Financial Crisis of 2007-09 and Tony Blair’s second term coincided with the bursting of the technology, media and telecoms bubble, the blame for which could not be laid at Downing Street’s door under any circumstances.

What will be interesting this time around is the degree to which inflation and the economy shape public thinking once more. The Brexit vote dealt Theresa May a difficult hand and the pandemic gave Boris Johnson a dud one, but the public will remember inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Regardless of whether they blame that on the Bank of England’s monetary experimentation, supply chain dislocations caused by the pandemic, the oil price spike that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or just stick it on the government may be a crucial factor in how the general election plays out.

For all that Rishi Sunak now feels able to claim the credit for a deceleration in the annual rate of inflation back to 2.3%, prices are still rising and not shrinking. Since Boris Johnson defeated Jeremy Corbyn in December 2019, the retail price index is up by 31.9% and the consumer price index by 23%, so the cumulative impact of inflation upon consumers’ spending power is damaging indeed.”

Source: Office for National Statistics

Comment

Markets appear to have priced in a Labour win and we don’t anticipate much volatility around the time of the UK General Election. It is interesting to note how events impact on the performance of markets for Governments.

The Tories have a far better outcome overall. But does this Labour Party look more Tory than Labour? And what will happen when elected?

Steve

03/06/2024

Please see below article received from EPIC Investment Partners this morning, which provides a global market update.

This morning, we heard that UK inflation fell to 2.3% in April, the lowest level in nearly three years, as easing energy and food costs provided relief to households. However, the smaller-than-expected decline dampened hopes of an imminent interest rate cut by the Bank of England. Analysts had forecast a sharper drop to 2.1%, leading markets to trim predictions of a 25bp rate reduction as early as next month. 

The drop in the headline CPI from 3.2% in March was driven by falling energy bills (a sharp fall in the energy price cap), coupled with the cost of goods declining by 0.8%. Nonetheless, services inflation, a key measure watched by the BoE, came in hot, rising 5.9%, indicating the inflationary bug has spread through the economy. With wage growth also robust, economists warn the BoE may exercise caution at its upcoming meeting, as elevated services inflation poses an upward risk to inflationary pressures in the second half of the year.  

Ahead of the figures, the IMF upgraded its UK growth forecast to 0.7% for this year, from 0.5%, estimating a 1.5% expansion in 2025. The organisation expects inflation to near 2% in the coming months, predicting that the BoE will cut rates by as much as 75bps this year and 100bps in 2025, taking rates to 3.5% by the end of next year. The IMF also explicitly warned of further national insurance contribution cuts “given their significant cost.” The Fund also warned that the UK government is not on track to meet its main fiscal rule, i.e., reducing national debt in five years’ time, predicting net debt will continue to rise to 97% of GDP, instead of falling to 93% of GDP as forecast by the UK.  

Across the pond, supply chain disruptions continue to plague businesses across the United States, according to a recent survey conducted by the New York Fed. The survey, a follow-up to a similar poll in October 2021, revealed that about a third of service companies and nearly half of manufacturers are still struggling to obtain necessary supplies. This has hampered production, with many firms reducing output and raising prices in response – a troubling development as the Fed battles stubbornly high inflation. 

The survey results align with the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, which has tracked supply availability since 2021. However, there has been a slight divergence in the past few months, potentially indicating that inflationary pressures tied to stronger demand are building again. This is evident in the rising container shipping rates, with the spot rate for a 40-foot container from Asia to the US West Coast now more than double the level a year ago and nearly triple the pre-pandemic average. 

Lastly, for those of you in need of a giggle, the winner of the Beano’s Britain’s Funniest Class competition went to the Year 6 class at Northside Primary School in North Finchley, London:  

What’s the hottest area in the classroom? The corner – because it’s 90 degrees. 

In response, Mike Stirling, director of mischief at The Beano, said: “Year Six, Northside Primary School found the funniest angle overall and are deservedly now immortalised in Beanotown”. 

Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.

Chloe

22/05/2024