Emerging Markets

OPEC 2.0’s decision to cut 2mm b/d of output beginning in December telescopes the loss of Russian volumes we expect over the course of the coming year. OPEC 2.0 clearly is not playing by the G7’s or the US’s rules. This will keep prices volatile.

In this report, we elaborate on why the Chinese central government has been reluctant to open stimulus taps as much as in the past, especially when it comes to the ailing property market. In recent years, there has been a major shift in Beijing’s assessment of the trade-offs between short-term economic growth, sociopolitical stability and the nation's long-term goals. We explain this difficult balancing act, little-known in the global investment community.

Russia’s conflict with the West will escalate and trigger more bad news for risky assets this fall. Beyond that, stalemate looms. Latin American equities present a potential opportunity once the macro and geopolitical backdrop improve.

This week we present our Portfolio Allocation Summary for October 2022.

Investors should go long US treasuries and stay overweight defensive versus cyclical sectors, large caps versus small caps, and aerospace/defense stocks. Regionally we favor the US, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, while disfavoring China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, eastern Europe, and the Middle East.