Views at a glance - April 2022

Views at a glance - April 2022
Russia fails to achieve a quick victory
Though Russian troops have pulled back from Kyiv, fighting continues in many other parts of Ukraine and hopes of a peace deal appear to be fading. The humanitarian crisis worsens by the day, with over 4 million refugees and 6 million displaced within the country. The economic implications of the invasion are also now becoming clearer, as higher energy and food prices lead to hardship around the world. Global markets have been volatile as the risk of "stagflation" (rising inflation and low or slowing growth) continues to rise. Strict Covid lockdowns in China, which could result in further supply chain disruptions, are not helping the outlook. And investors have had little support from central bankers, who continue to signal their commitment to raising interest rates to tame inflation.
Worrying signals from bond markets
Historically, high inflation and rising interest rates have preceded economic contractions. Bond market investors are becoming increasingly concerned this will be the case again. Shorter-dated US treasury yields have risen quickly, with the two-year note now yielding almost 2.5%, compared to just 0.3% six months ago. Longer-dated bond yields have also risen, but not at the same pace, reflecting concern about the longer-term growth outlook. Investors are now on the look-out for yield curve “inversion” which is often regarded as a signal that a recession is on the way. While the risk of a slowdown is higher than it was, we do not expect a recession in the US over the next year. This is based on our view that savings accumulated during the pandemic will provide consumers with a significant cushion to absorb higher costs. Schroders' economists estimate these savings at $2 trillion in both the US and Europe.
Renewed focus on energy transition
The invasion of Ukraine has exposed the flaws in an energy system that is still very dependent on autocratic regimes. This is especially true for Europe, which imports roughly half of its gas and a quarter of its oil from Russia. Just two weeks after the invasion, the European Commission set out its plan to become fully independent from Russian fossil fuels by 2030, with much of the reduction to come this year. This call to “accelerate the clean energy transition” will boost the long-term demand outlook for many companies involved in renewable power and electrification. However, the near-term outlook for these industries could remain challenging as companies grapple with supply chain bottlenecks and rapidly rising raw material costs.
Portfolio positioning
Recent developments have prompted us to make some changes to our outlook. We have trimmed exposure to equities where portfolios were meaningfully overweight. We have also made adjustments within our equity allocation, reflecting our more cautious stance. We have reduced exposure to Europe, given our view that European economies are likely to face the greatest pressure from high energy prices. We have also reduced our allocation to funds focused on small- and mid-cap stocks, tilting portfolios towards larger, higher quality companies with strong balance sheets and greater ability to pass on cost increases. We maintain our underweight position in government bonds, which has served us well as yields continue to rise (and bond prices fall). We prefer to diversify portfolios using alternative assets such as gold, broader commodities and absolute return funds.
Outlook
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Economics |
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Valuations |
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Sentiment |
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Risks |
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Asset Classes
Asset classes | Current positioning | Medium term view | Current views |
Equities | ![]() ![]() |
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised the risk of “stagflation” and created a less supportive macro-economic backdrop for equities. It is also resulting in higher volatility. We prefer higher quality companies with the ability to pass on higher input costs. We also maintain conviction in long-term secular themes including healthcare and energy transition. |
Bonds | ![]() |
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Despite the recent rise in yields, valuations remain expensive. However, longer-dated government bonds have a valuable role to play as defensive assets. We prefer USD and Chinese government bonds due to their relatively higher yields. We also prefer inflation-linked bonds to conventional government bonds at this stage. |
Alternatives | ![]() |
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Alternative assets have an important role to play in diversifying portfolios. We like absolute return strategies that can generate returns with a low correlation to equity and bond markets. We also like real assets with long-dated, visible revenue streams and commodities. |
Cash | ![]() |
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Cash has defensive qualities in potentially volatile markets. |
Equities
Asset | Current positioning | Medium term view | Current view |
Equities | ![]() ![]() |
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised the risk of “stagflation” and created a less supportive macro-economic backdrop for equities. It is also resulting in higher volatility. We prefer higher quality companies with the ability to pass on higher costs. We also maintain conviction in long-term secular themes including healthcare and energy transition. |
UK | ![]() |
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Valuations remain relatively attractive. The FTSE100 is also benefiting from its exposure to cyclical sectors. However, the Bank of England remains under pressure to raise interest rates given continued high inflation - despite domestic growth concerns. |
Europe | ![]() ![]() |
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Given Europe’s economic exposure to Russia (particularly through energy), the inflation and growth outlook for the region is more challenging and could depress consumer sentiment. Monetary policy is likely to remain accommodative. The NextGeneration EU plan, and potentially additional government spending, will also be supportive. |
North America | ![]() ![]() |
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The US is less dependent on energy and agriculture imports than other regions and is therefore somewhat insulated from geopolitical developments. Inflation remains a concern, however, and means that consumer sentiment is the weakest it has been for over a decade. Valuations remain high, although the earnings outlook remains positive. |
Japan | ![]() |
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A delayed reopening, lower risk of inflation and more fiscal support from a newly-formed government should contribute to stronger economic growth, led by consumption. |
Asia/ Emerging markets |
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An improved outlook for Asia and Emerging Markets, led by China. Chinese lending activity is starting to improve. Greater government spending could also support growth. The earnings outlook remains robust and valuations are now in-line with the 15-year average. There remains the risk of economic disruption from China’s zero covid policy, as well as the potential for further regulatory intervention. |
Bonds
Asset | Current positioning | Medium term view | Current views |
Bonds | ![]() |
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Despite the recent rise in yields, valuations remain expensive. However, longer-dated government bonds have a valuable role to play as defensive assets. We prefer USD and Chinese government bonds due to their relatively higher yields. We also prefer inflation-linked bonds to conventional government bonds at this stage. |
Government bonds | ![]() |
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Long-dated government bonds provide some portfolio insurance characteristics, despite the backdrop of high inflation. Chinese government bonds offer relatively more attractive real yields with lower volatility. |
Investment grade | ![]() |
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We prefer shorter-dated bonds and higher quality credit given the more challenging economic backdrop. Opportunities remain within asset-backed securities, which offer a relatively attractive yield. |
High-yield | ![]() |
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Default rates remain low although the market faces headwinds from rising debt costs and a more challenging economic backdrop. |
Inflation-linked | ![]() |
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We prefer the US inflation-linked market to both conventional treasuries and the UK inflation-linked market. This reflects the low cost of currency hedging. While inflation expectations are likely to remain high in the short term, we are conscious of the potential impact of rising real yields from very low levels. |
Emerging markets | ![]() |
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Emerging market bonds offer selective value across both US dollar and local currency debt. Idiosyncratic country risk will remain a significant driver of returns. |
Alternatives and cash
Asset | Current positioning | Medium term view | Current views |
Alternatives | ![]() |
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Alternative assets have an important role to play in diversifying portfolios. We like absolute return strategies that can generate returns with a low correlation to equity and bond markets. We also like real assets with long-dated, visible revenue streams and commodities. |
Absolute Return | ![]() |
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We continue to see selected opportunities in market-neutral strategies given the divergence in valuations and performance across sectors and markets. The asset class can also help diversify portfolios. |
Liquid private real assets | ![]() |
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We like the long-dated revenue streams and income available in selected parts of the market. We see good opportunities in digital infrastructure and exposure to private companies. |
Commodities | ![]() |
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Gold is attractive as a diversifier and should provide portfolio insurance in the event of a meaningful equity market correction or growth shock. Broader commodities can hedge against further rises in inflation. |
Equity-linked strategies | ![]() |
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Attractive returns especially in times of heightened volatility, but we acknowledge the shorter-term correlation with equities. |
Cash | ![]() |
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Cash has defensive qualities in potentially volatile markets. |
Key
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Positive |
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Positive/neutral |
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Neutral |
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Negative/neutral |
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Negative |
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Up from last month |
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Down from last month |
Terms
Spread: the difference in yield between a non-government and government fixed income security.
Duration: approximate percentage change in the price of a bond for a 1% change in yield.
Topics:
This article is issued by Cazenove Capital which is part of the Schroders Group and a trading name of Schroder & Co. Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Nothing in this document should be deemed to constitute the provision of financial, investment or other professional advice in any way. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
This document may include forward-looking statements that are based upon our current opinions, expectations and projections. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
All data contained within this document is sourced from Cazenove Capital unless otherwise stated.