Geopolitics
Lower oil prices are aggravating financial and social stress in poorer OPEC states, particularly in Venezuela, where the government recently executed a gold-for-cash swap ahead of looming debt payments.
Headline and aggregate-economy statistics such as GDP and income are no longer representative statistics for the living standards of the vast majority of the population. This <i>Special Report</i> discusses the implications for politics, economics and investment.
Most of the economic arguments in favor of the U.K. leaving the EU do not carry much weight, as we discuss in this collaboration between BCA's <i>Geopolitical Strategy</i> and <i>European Investment Strategy</i>. However, the probability is a coin toss - much higher than investors tend to think. We review the geopolitical and investment implications of the "Leave" and "Remain" scenarios.
This week's report is guest-authored by my colleague, Marko Papic, BCA's Chief Geopolitical Strategist. In a highly controversial piece, Marko argues that Donald Trump's strategy of focusing on the concerns of white working class voters may represent the GOP's best hope for winning this year's presidential election. As such, we expect the political debate to remain highly charged over the coming months, possibly to the detriment of risk assets.
In recent travel, our clients remain focused on downside risks to today's range-bound markets. And for good reason. Uncertainty regarding Chinese reaction function is the biggest source of political risk in today's markets. We discuss it in detail in this month's report, along with an update on our views of Brazil, Russia, and Turkey. In addition, we examine the potential casualties of the European immigration crisis and the likelihood of Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States.
In recent travel, our clients remain focused on downside risks to today's range-bound markets. And for good reason. Uncertainty regarding Chinese reaction function is the biggest source of political risk in today's markets. We discuss it in detail in this month's report, along with an update on our views of Brazil, Russia, and Turkey. In addition, we examine the potential casualties of the European immigration crisis and the likelihood of Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States.
Expectations of a deepening EM/China growth slump and RMB depreciation have been the key to the selloff in global risk assets. There is no basis for these expectations to improve. Therefore, there are few fundamental reasons for EM and global risk assets to rally much further. Stay put. In Brazil, the impeachment rally is unsustainable and will reverse sooner than later. Stay short Brazilian risk assets.
Near-term, global yields will remain depressed, but the structural forces suppressing yields should abate and even reverse in the long-run. Slower potential GDP growth - and lower commodity prices - will eventually shift from tailwind to headwind for bonds. Stepped-up efforts to increase inflation will boost long-term nominal yields; populist politics and calls to curb income inequality will amplify this trend. Long-term investors should stay neutral global bonds for now, but prepare to shift to a structural underweight beyond this decade.
A stunning 9.9 million-barrel build in U.S. oil inventories this week failed to arrest the upward climb in prices.
In this Special Report for the U.S. "Super Tuesday" primary elections, we offer a short primer on what you really need to know about the nomination process. We explain why Clinton's nearly inevitable victory will still take time, and why a "brokered" Republican convention in July is not enough to stop the Trump juggernaut. This sets the stage for our coverage of what promises to be a wild election with important consequences for American productivity, economic growth, and political risk.