The corona crisis continues to keep the markets on the edge, and the headwinds have increased, at least in the short-term. On this backdrop, the risk/return potential on equity markets has recently deteriorated again and volatility is likely to increase. Within the Fixed Income asset class we favor selectively riskier segments, and the FX volatility is likely to remain low.
The pandemic continues to keep financial markets on tenterhooks, although a certain degree of complacency can be noted, not least due to the 20 trillion dollar stimulus from central banks and governments. For capital markets, however, the headwind has increased in recent weeks, especially when they are exclusively in the optimistic camp. The arguments of the "bulls" are as follows:
In contrast to this, the “bears” see the world as follows:
Although the arguments of both sides can be rationally understood, they have an enormous scope for interpretation with regard to validity on the time axis and the extent to which this public information is already priced in by capital markets.
We remain constructive in the medium-term, but in the short-term we expect some headwinds for capital markets. We see the following three challenges at the center:
The equity risk premium of the S&P 500 has remained relatively stable between 350 and 400 basis points in recent months (graph 3). Compared with previous years, the values are above the historical average – a similar picture can be seen on other global equity markets. Moreover, the risk premium in the US is more than 500 basis points higher than at the turn of the millennium, when investors even accepted a negative premium. Of course, interest rates were much higher back then, but the capital market today indicates that, in the medium to long term, investors are compensated for the risks they take on equities.
Our investment strategy continues to have a constructive basic tenor, although the headwinds are likely to cause volatility. At investment strategy level, we prefer equity risks to bond risks, since the investor in the former category is better compensated for the risks taken. Within equities, the focus is less on regions than on industries or individual stocks, i.e. selection is most important. We continue to favor pharmaceutical companies that continue to show an attractive risk/return ratio in historical comparison. In the fixed income universe, corporate bonds still offer a positive return, but here too selection is key. In emerging market bonds, we would stay on the sidelines for the moment. Despite the enormous price advances in gold, this asset class remains attractive to us in the medium to long term. However, since trees do not grow into the sky, we would not chase the rally, at least not in the short-term.
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Publisher: LGT Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., Glärnischstrasse 36, CH-8027 Zurich
Author: Thomas Wille, Head Research & Strategy, Email: thomas.wille@lgt.com
Editor: Alessandro Fezzi, E-Mail: alessandro.fezzi@lgt.com
Source: LGT Bank (Switzerland) Ltd.
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