Fixed Income
Three strategies that could win whatever the outcome of Britain's referendum on EU membership. And what to look out for in the final days before the vote.
At current levels, Treasury yields are consistent with our assessment of fair value. Further, the Fed's Labor Market Conditions Index does not suggest an imminent recession. Expect payrolls to stabilize above levels consistent with further progress on wage growth and inflation, allowing the Fed to hike rates later this year.
For now, maintain a benchmark duration stance leading into the June 23 U.K. Brexit vote, favoring Treasuries and (especially) Gilts over Bunds and JGBs.
Risk assets will take their cues more from the dollar than the Fed if the euro rises above its 16-month range against the dollar. Retain exposure to energy equities and gold.
The RMB has been steadily depreciating versus the U.S. dollar and has dropped to a new cyclical low versus its trade-weighted basket. All the while, Chinese domestic interest rates have lately drifted higher. When global investors wake up to these dynamics, global share prices and EM risk assets will likely sell off anew. In Mexico, initiate a new yield curve trade: receive 10-year / pay 1-year swap rates.
In this <i>Special Report</i>, we revisit our list of signpost economic indicators introduced two years ago to identify if the U.S. and Euro Area were falling into a "Secular Stagnation".
Assuming last month's weak employment report is not the start of a trend, the market is still discounting too low a probability that the Fed will lift rates this year. This means the Treasury curve should bear-flatten in the coming months, providing an opportunity to move to above-benchmark duration.
Weak employment will push out the timing of rate hikes to something closer to BCA's view of a September increase. It is also supportive of our asset allocation call two weeks ago to overweight Treasuries.
All three of Trump's signature policy proposals - increased deficit-financed infrastructure spending, a more restrictive immigration policy, and trade protectionism - are dollar bullish. These policies could cause the U.S. economy to overheat, forcing the Fed to raise real rates more than it otherwise would. Equities could rally in the near term following a Trump victory, but are likely to face stiff longer-term headwinds. Treasurys would still suffer modest losses, while, ironically, the one asset that could suffer the most from a Trump victory is gold.
A Spanish bull, a euro bull, and an equity bear.