Europe
Europe has been too ambitious with Renewables. Oversupply, volatility, and rising contract risk are compressing revenues and returns. The space is now crowded yet markets have not fully repriced the risk. New opportunities are emerging: Power Storage and Data Centers have upside.
Volatility is high, but the path for yields is clearer than it looks. Across three oil scenarios, we show how policy responses shape fixed income markets and why the balance of risks still points to lower yields.
Europe’s fiscal debate has resurfaced as interest rates normalize and new spending pressures emerge. Yet alarmism is misplaced. Aggregate debt levels are high but broadly stable, servicing costs remain historically low, and r–g dynamics are broadly benign. Fiscal space matters less as the ECB and EU backstop growth and spreads. Structural reforms—not wanton fiscal spending—is Europe’s real opportunity.
The Section 122 tariffs under the US Trade Act of 1974 are more favorable to Europe; the trade-weighted tariff rate falls to 10.45%, from 11.74% pre-ruling. This positive development does not change our overall views on Europe, as we expected lower tariffs ahead of the US midterms.
MacroQuant recommends a slight underweight in equities, favors a below-benchmark duration stance in fixed-income portfolios, remains bearish on the US dollar, has upgraded oil and copper to overweight, and is bullish on gold.
