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Economic Troubles – In this article youβll find:
π― UBS Asset Management β Strategic Viewpoint π
- GLOBAL EQUITIES
- EX-US DEVELOPED MARKET EQUITIES
- EMERGING MARKETS
π― Moodyβs Analytics β Troubles on the streets π
- TROUBLE ON MAIN STREET
- DECLINING SALES AND PROFIT MARGINS
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π― UBS Asset ManagementΒ β Strategic Viewpoint π
GLOBAL EQUITIES π
– βThe risk-reward proposition for global equities at an index level is not particularly attractive, but is becoming more positive.β
– βStocks remain expensive, but we believe earnings estimates will remain resilient as tight labor markets support consumer spending while profit margins remain relatively elevated.β
– βImportantly, US stocks still account for nearly 60% of global equities, and are particularly richly valued.β
– βEarnings estimates for S&P 500 companies are being revised higher once again, and the lower US dollar should help boost profits for multinational corporations.β
EX-US DEVELOPED MARKET EQUITIES π
– βNon-US developed market equities are attractively valued but also highly cyclical.β
– βThere is a lot of variation between DM equity markets based on differing domestic policy stances and degrees of vulnerability to external headwinds.β
– βWidespread improvements in shareholder return programs have increased the appeal of Japanese equities.β
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– βHowever, we have high conviction that the yen will appreciate, which somewhat diminishes the attractiveness of Japanese stocks in local currency terms.β
– βMany forward-looking indicators for European equities continue to improve.β
– βHowever, the ECB is committed to bringing policy rates well into restrictive territory, which should limit how much valuations can improve or how strongly Europeβs economy can rebound.βΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
EMERGING MARKETS π
– βWhile Chinaβs reopening is primarily a story of recovering domestic consumption, we believe it will still produce positive, but measured, spillovers for its trading partners as well as mobility-sensitive commodities.β
– βBroadly speaking, EM equities have both de-rated and have seen a larger total drawdown in earnings estimates than DM equities.β
– βThis limits the scope for relative underperformance versus global equities going forward, in our view.β
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π― Moodyβs Analytics β Troubles on the streets π
– βAfter 10 consecutive rate hikes and for the first time since January 2022, the committee did not lift the target range of the federal funds rate, instead keeping it at 5% to 5.25%.β
TROUBLE ON MAIN STREET π
– βMost small businesses in May reported declining sales volumes over the prior three months; the net percentage of small firms reporting higher sales volumes is firmly negative and trending toward recession territory.β
– βThis comes as uncomfortably high inflation over the past year has weighed on consumer confidence.β
– βAlso, higher borrowing costs and tighter lending standards by financial institutions have led to a slower expansion in consumer credit.β
– βGrowth has decelerated for revolving credit, which includes householdsβ credit cards and other forms of short-term debt.β
– βFinally, negative wealth effects from falling house prices and the past selloff in stocks are headwinds to consumer demand, as spending from household wealth has historically been driven by changes in wealth rather the level of wealth itself.β
π DECLINING SALES AND PROFIT MARGINS
– βOn their own, declining sales and profit margins on Main Street do not guarantee that the economy is in a recession or that a recession is dead ahead.β
– βHowever, as the economy slows this year, the net percent of respondents citing poor sales as their single-most important problem could start to tick higher.β
Join the conversation with your own take on these topics in the comments below.
About the Author
Alessandro is a Financial Markets enthusiastic and he loves learning from articles/papers on many financial topics.
In doing so he shares with you the most interesting charts and comments.