Latest from BCA Research
Results from Tuesday’s elections suggest that the Democrats are doing better than what their 2024 polling are showing. While the results are marginally positive for equities, investors should not overrate this off-year election, especially considering the slowing economy and the many foreign challenges facing the US.
Natural gas storage levels in the US and EU are sufficient to balance flowing supply and demand this winter, assuming normal weather. China continues to invest in domestic production, and to diversify supply sources to compensate for a lack of storage. Longer-term Qatari contracts are giving higher weight to natgas trading hub prices. We remain long the XOP ETF to retain exposure to fossil-fuel producers supplying DM and EM economies with natgas beyond the 2050 net-zero-emissions goals advanced by the IEA.
Following the October US jobs data, the ‘Joshi rule’ real-time US recession indicator increased from 0.11 to 0.15, meaning that it is fast approaching its event horizon of 0.20. We go through the investment implications. We also highlight a new long-term recommendation. Plus, the Norwegian krone is close to a potential rebound.
Despite very low inflation, Bank Indonesia raised its policy rates last month to support the currency. The strategy did not work before and will not work now. Stay short the rupiah.
The Vicious Troika remains a long-term threat, but over the short term, rates will likely have another leg down on growth concerns, offering support to equities, which are now fairly valued and are no longer overbought. Longer-term outlook remains negative. The Magnificent Seven will likely lead a tactical rebound. Overweight Growth vs Value and FSemis.
Our Portfolio Allocation Summary for November 2023.
Both USHQ portfolios outperformed inline with their benchmarks and the BCA Score L/S had another strong month. Increased market volatility continues to benefit the BCA Score.
The Eurozone’s inflation will continue to slow over the coming months. While this trend will help Bund prices, will it boost the appeal of European equities?
We consider several uncertainties in this week’s report, from the interest rate outlook to the source of the mountain of cash households have amassed since the pandemic began. We have not adjusted our tactical asset-allocation recommendations but will do so soon to align with the defensive cast of our cyclical recommendations.