Asset Allocation
The deeply negative momentum in oil prices is fading, setting up the possibility of a counter-trend rebound in global inflation expectations and perhaps even the beaten-up U.S. High-Yield bond market.
Lean against rally attempts until leading profit indicators improve. The conditions for a tradable oilfield services rebound remain elusive. Capital markets may bounce, but we would sell on strength.
The agreement to freeze oil production should reduce tail risks, even if it does not improve overall corporate sector health and profits.
The recovery in global risk assets and currencies is a temporary oversold bounce. It is not supported by signs that global growth is on the mend. Consequently, we are not willing to embrace more risk in our currency strategy just yet.
Markets see long-term global growth prospects as having deteriorated materially, with policymakers unwilling or unable to do much about it. Meanwhile, recent economic data - U.S. notably - hasn't been that bad. A divergence between what matters to Wall Street versus Main Street explains the disconnect. Accelerating wage growth, lower commodity prices, and cheaper rates are positives for households - but not for many Wall Street sectors. Stay neutral global equities. T-bonds are a "hold" for now. The dollar's selloff is overdone.
Greater safety for European taxpayers and bank depositors necessarily means more risk for bank equity and bond investors. We provide some detail, and also initiate two new short-term positions.
While the oil market looked right through the Russian-Saudi production-freeze announcement earlier this week, we believe these states may be attempting to put lipstick on the proverbial pig, to provide a plausible narrative to explain the physical reality of lower oil production in a sub-$30/bbl world.
Value in the U.S. Treasury market is rapidly deteriorating, and the 10-year Treasury yield is now consistent with our fair value projections. Investors should shift from an above-benchmark to a benchmark duration stance.
Reduce portfolio duration to neutral, while also cutting exposure to European bonds (both in the core and Periphery) and Canadian government bonds.
U.S. dollar softness may be sparking a subtle shift in sub-surface dynamics, to the benefit of select deep cyclical industries. Switch from rails into electrical equipment, and take profits in data processing.