Economy

Stay defensive until recession risks are verifiably dispelled. Favor government bonds over stocks.

China is on the verge of experiencing a full range of deflation. Poor domestic demand will likely continue into 1H 2023 amid the ailing housing market, subdued private-sector sentiment and the zero-Covid policy, warranting a cautious stance on Chinese equities.

In this Special Report, we consider what some common monetary policy rules are recommending for the major central banks and derive conclusions on duration strategy and country allocation for bond investors. We conclude that rate hike expectations in most countries may appear appropriate given the current global backdrop of high inflation and low unemployment, but look elevated on a forward-looking basis versus slowing global growth and peaking global inflation.