Monetary

The Fed is accentuating bearish dynamics for the dollar over the next three to six months. The upcoming National Congress of the Communist Party of China provides Chinese authorities with an incentive to ramp up stimulus this year. The new Treasury semi-annual report pre-empts meaningful direct interventions to soften the yen. More than just Brexit risk is weighing on the pound.

Approaching the referendum on EU membership, what are the prospects for the U.K. economy and financial markets?

We continue to view the rally in equities and high-yield corporate bonds since February as a high-risk affair.

Colombia's structural growth outlook is superior to many other developing economies. In the near-term, however, Colombia's economy is set to weaken materially. Upgrade Colombian equities and sovereign credit to neutral versus EM benchmarks. Continue betting on further yield curve flattening/inversion and buy 10-year domestic bonds on weakness. Go long Colombian bank stocks / short Peruvian banks, and stay short the peso.

Reflation continues to dictate short-term market moves. Behind this sugar-high, the global economic backdrop remains poor. Commodity currencies can rally for a few more weeks, but once markets refocus on Chinese and EM core weaknesses, commodity currencies will make new lows. Within the complex, favor the NOK and the CAD over the AUD and the NZD. Our portfolio remains positioned for additional yen strength.

The Fed's statement underscored its 'go slow' approach, with a June hike increasingly unlikely, but September and December still in play. The BoJ stood pat, reluctant to admit that NIRP was a flop soon after it was launched. Nevertheless, we expect fresh easing this summer. Chinese stimulus should last a few more months, but commodities will resume their structural downtrend thereafter. Remain tactically bullish risk assets; be prepared to turn more cautious in Q2.

Our sense is that the current reflation trade will extend into the summer, sending stock and commodity prices higher and the U.S. dollar down. Global government bond yields should rise during this phase. Beyond the near term, we expect these reflation trades to go into reverse. Stay defensive.

Monetary policy at systematically important central banks will determine the winners and losers in global ag export markets going forward. The evolution of fundamentals - supply, demand, and inventories - will remain essential drivers. Mother Nature is the wild card.

Policy easing works with a time lag, and the previous easing measures should continue to feed through to business activity. The recent decline in the trade-weighted RMB should lead to continued improvement in the industrial sector's performance for at least the next two quarters.