More pain ahead for equities as the world resets

More pain ahead for equities as the world resets

Peter Garnry
Chief Investment Strategist

Summary:  The world needs a weaker USD, and the Fed will provide one over time. This speaks in favour of European equities.

Q2 2020 was surely the “rebirth” of economies on a new platform of state capitalism, funded by very supportive monetary policies melting fiscal and monetary institutions closer to each other in the name of crisis management. All-out stimulus to fight the biggest economic contraction since the 1930s has fostered animal spirits and speculation on a scale we have not seen since 2000, maybe even since the roaring 1920s. 

However, as we write this outlook, the S&P 500 has just had its worst session since March and the VIX has exploded higher, so the impact from Covid-19 is far from over. Our economy and financial system remain very fragile.

VIX suggests equities are still in a bear market

It’s generally accepted that the 22 level is the VIX’s long-term equilibrium. In other words, that’s the level where the equity market flips from being bullish (positive returns and low volatility) to bearish (negative returns and high volatility). The VIX broke above 22 on 24 February and never dropped back below – despite the impressive rally in equities. 

While you could argue, as some have done, that we were never in a bear market because the decline was arrested so fast, the implied volatility market suggests we are still structurally bearish. History suggests that this period offers negative equity returns, alongside high volatility. 

As we enter Q3, markets remain fragile. The VIX is indicating a very volatile summer, where Q2 earnings releases will finally reveal the real damage to the corporate sector and potentially give us a rough sketch of what’s ahead. 

VIX index

Terrible risk-reward in equities, but what’s the alternative?

Valuations have bounced back to levels where the risk-reward ratio is not attractive in a historical context. History suggests that there is a 33% probability, at current valuation levels, that the international equity investor will experience negative real rate return over the next 10 years. 

Could valuations go even higher, proving this relationship wrong? Absolutely, and with potential yield-curve control by the Fed coming the game for equities could change. In a recent research note we showed that yield-curve control was very positive for US equities in the period 1942-1951, while it has been bad for Japanese equities in the period since September 2016. The main difference between the two periods is that the US ran massive fiscal deficits while Japan’s government actually tightened its fiscal impulse into the economy. If yield-curve control comes with large fiscal deficits it could be very positive for equities, especially emerging market stocks that are reliant on low USD rates and good financial conditions.

msci-index

 

While yield-curve control could offer the cure to high nominal growth and high inflation – by deleveraging the public-debt-to-GDP ratio – it could also go awfully wrong if done at very low interest rate levels. A 2018 study by BIS showed how the percentage of global listed companies becoming “zombies” has risen dramatically since the early 1990s, especially since the Great Financial Crisis. It seems the price of low rates, which lower the financial pressure on companies, is unproductive use of capital and massive misallocation of capital and labour. Not a good recipe for the future.

Is it time to buy Europe again?

The past year has pushed the outperformance of US equities over European equities to an extreme spread in a historical context. European equities have lost out to US equities to the tune of five standard deviations on a relative basis since 2007. The drivers have been a strong USD, higher valuations on US equities relative to European equities, higher US earnings growth combined with large buyback programmes and a tectonic shift in market capitalisation towards technology companies – where Europe has lagged. 

Measured on 12-month trailing EV/EBITDA, US equities are valued 65% higher than European equities. This massive valuation spread requires a flawless US earnings path from here. 

usa-vs-euro-equities

US equities generally have lower financial leverage than European companies, which is obviously a positive in an uncertain macro environment. However, valuation is the key factor in explaining future returns, so with the historic outperformance of US equities combined with rich valuations we believe investors should begin to overweight European equities – despite the political risks in the EU. 

The world needs a weaker USD, and the Fed will provide one over time. This speaks in favour of European equities. Plus, European companies are better positioned in the green transformation and healthcare’s focus on robotics. While Europe has been asleep on IT, there are signs that it is finally getting momentum.

Investment themes in a world getting more localised

Localisation as a theme will take a decade to play out, in the economy but certainly also in equity markets. One theme that makes sense in this transition is investing in small caps with a domestic revenue profile in non-cyclical parts of the economy (healthcare, consumer staples and utilities). The transition to a more localised global economy will create an uncertain path for many companies and therefore the good old strategy of investing in high-quality companies with low financial leverage is also attractive in our view. 

We believe that certain sectors of the economy, such as the green transformation, will also continue to do well because the current economic model is a net drag on the environment. Our initial list of “green stocks” from January 2020 still provides a solid starting point for inspiration. Other industries such as healthcare, robotics and 3D printing will also get a boost from policies of self-reliance and domestic-oriented production in the developed world. 

Companies with a strong digital presence and business model will also naturally do very well in our view – take a look at our recent list of online companies to start finding those long-term stocks. However, with extreme valuations among some online companies investors should be cautious on what we call “bubble stocks”. 

Finally, gold will likely do quite well in this future landscape of State capitalism and localisation. But beware the myth of buying gold miners. One of our recent research notes shows that they are not doing better than spot gold, despite their balance sheet leverage. So investors wanting gold exposure should be wary.

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)


Business Hills Park – Building 4,
4th Floor, office 401, Dubai Hills Estate, P.O. Box 33641, Dubai, UAE

Contact Saxo

Select region

UAE
UAE

Trade responsibly
All trading carries risk. Read more. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more

Saxo Bank A/S is licensed by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and operates in the UAE under a representative office license issued by the Central bank of the UAE.

The content and material made available on this website and the linked sites are provided by Saxo Bank A/S. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to ascertain the terms of and comply with any local laws or regulation to which they are subject.

The UAE Representative Office of Saxo Bank A/S markets the Saxo Bank A/S trading platform and the products offered by Saxo Bank A/S.