Emerging Markets

Our Portfolio Allocation Summary for June 2024.

European stocks have massively underperformed US ones since the GFC. Demographics and productivity say this trend will continue, but is that really so?

The US economy is in the “Overheating” phase, so stronger growth brings higher inflation. Tight monetary policy means recession is still likely over the next 12 months. Stay defensive.

In this report, we gauge the outlook for the dollar given client visits in Africa.

In Section I, we argue that global investors have been lulled into a false sense of security concerning the resiliency of the US economy. Tight monetary policy means that something must change for a recession to be avoided, and developed market rates cuts will likely be too modest and come too late to save the day. Nimble investors or those highly sensitive to tracking error should not be underweight stocks over the coming 3-6 months. Over a 6-12 month time horizon, we continue to recommend that investors remain underweight global equities versus US$-hedged long-maturity developed market government bonds. Section II is a guest report written by Martin Barnes, BCA’s former Chief Economist. Martin revisits the idea of the Debt Supercycle and discusses how its true end may emerge in response to a fiscal crisis in the US over the coming few years.

The large buildup in Chinese households’ savings deposits is unlikely to fuel consumption. Poor outlooks on labor market conditions, income, and households’ unwillingness to borrow will hinder consumption through the rest of 2024.

China is trying to export its way out of its economic slowdown while the US has already formed a hawkish consensus on foreign policy and trade. Investors should take cover as global financial markets are underrating the new phase of the trade war, which will escalate from here.