Latest from BCA Research
We stick to the view that geopolitical risk has peaked. The US and Iran tensions will increase oil prices, but below a level that will matter for the market. With global liquidity ample, private sector leverage low, and inflation peaking, bears are holding onto an epic collapse of the AI capex to short stocks. Eventually, the capex cycle will end in tears. That much history teaches us. But not yet.
As a short-term (0-3 months) trade, go long an equal-weighted basket of Chinese Investable and A-shares / short the KOSPI. This is a bet on mean reversion. We do not recommend that medium- and long-term investors implement this strategy.
June’s low CPI reading rules out a July rate hike, but September is still on the table.
We wish all our French clients Bonne Fête Nationale! The rest of the world knows the holiday by its other name, Bastille Day. It is fitting, therefore, that we publish today GeoMacro Beta report on the coming political earthquake in France.
History suggests that the equity impact of rate moves depends heavily on the stock/bond correlation regime, and today’s positive correlation regime leaves the bond market as the main risk to equity multiples.
The US and Iran have engaged in a dramatic increase in kinetic activity over the past several days. It all appears to have started on July 6-7, when Iran allegedly attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz, vessels that were using the US-recommended route closer to Oman. Following US strikes against Iran in retaliation for that incident – with the US military claiming to have struck 140 sites – Iran has retaliated against US military facilities across the Gulf region. According to media reporting and Iranian government sources themselves, Iran attacked Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Oman on July 11-12.
We continue to overweight Mexican stocks, local bonds, sovereign credit, and currency within their respective EM portfolios. Also, stay long Mexican equities / short the S&P500.