GAM Investment Solutions: Can equity gains be sustained?

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GAM INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS: CAN EQUITY GAINS BE SUSTAINED?

GAM Investment's Larry Hatheway outlines his latest multi-asset views, discussing whether a pullback in markets appears less likely than it did at the turn of the year, the main threats to an improvement in markets and the potential catalyst for investors to
re-engage more fully in risk assets.

After a strong beginning to the year from equities, we have recently seen more uncertainty creep into markets. This raises the question as to whether there will soon be a reversal of market fortunes. Some of the issues that plagued markets last year are beginning to resurface, including a potential hard Brexit and the absence of an agreement between the US and China on trade.

 

Still, more accommodative monetary policy, reflected in the recent tilts by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve (Fed), has underpinned a strong rally in bond markets, which has also supported equities. More important over time, however, is whether the weakening of global growth last year will continue, or whether some re-acceleration in the second half of 2019 will take place.

 

We endorse the latter view. China is easing policy, and much of the European slowdown was due to one off factors. The avoidance of hard Brexit or tariff escalation will help restore confidence. All of those factors should underpin risk assets this year, even as they undermine the recent strength of government bond markets. The key issue for investors, in other words, is whether the political and policy uncertainty that undermined confidence in late 2018 can be avoided during the remainder of 2019.

 

To be sure, even if growth stabilises and then re-accelerates, the scope for equity market gains is limited, particularly after the strong gains in the first three months of 2019. Margins and capital efficiency have peaked in the US. In Europe and emerging markets, the potential for stronger earnings is there, but investors are unlikely to anticipate it without some acceleration of top-line growth. Cyclically sensitive sectors such as European financials or consumer discretionary are likely to remain handicapped by lack of conviction in the growth rebound.

 

Accordingly, we continue to prefer allocations to quality and minimum volatility as equity factors. Value is only likely to recover if growth surprises turn more convincingly positive and yield curves steepen. Momentum will struggle if overall market performance remains uneven, characterised by rapid rotation. Lastly, we continue to believe that as bond yields rise from here, achieving diversification requires allocations to liquid alternatives, including target return and alternative risk premium strategies.

 

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Important Legal Information:

The information in this document is given for information purposes only and does not qualify as investment advice. Opinions and assessments contained in this document may change and reflect the point of view of GAM in the current economic environment. No liability shall be accepted for the accuracy and completeness of the information. Past performance is no indicator for the current or future development. Allocations and holdings are subject to change.

 

Author

Photo of Larry Hathaway, Group Head of GAM Investment Solutions

Larry Hatheway

Group Head of GAM Investment Solutions and Group Chief Economist, GAM Investment Solutions

May 2019


Please note that these are the views of Larry Hatheway on behalf of GAM Investment Solutions and should not be interpreted as the views of RL360.

360 fund links

A range of GAM funds can be accessed through our guided architecture products LifePlan, Oracle, Paragon, Protected Lifestyle, LifePlan Lebanon, Protected Lifestyle Lebanon, Quantum, Quantum Malaysia, Regular Savings Plan, Regular Savings Plan Malaysia and also through our PIMS portfolio bond.