Currencies
The factors that drove the recent rally - Fed dovishness, China reflation, and a pickup in economic data - are largely over.
Profits are bottoming but the outlook is lackluster, even if further dollar weakness provides a temporary boost.
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.
For the month of April, the model's performance was in line with the S&P 500, but lagged global equities. For May, the model is aggressively paring back its equity risk exposure. Both Europe and Emerging Markets were downgraded, but still possess the lion's share of the equity allocation, while defensive markets such as the U.S. and Switzerland received a boost. In the fixed-income space, U.S., Italian and Spanish paper were the model's favorites.
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.
The near-term (next month or two) market dynamics in EM risk assets remain a coin toss. Beyond that the outlook for EM risk assets remains downbeat. EM financial markets are complacent and there are many potential negative EM/China developments that could derail the current EM rally. A new trade: go long the KOSPI / short EM overall equity index.
Like the economy, banks show no major imbalances. But the "glide path" for credit is slower than in previous cycles.
The dollar countertrend move has more downside, but beyond the next few months, the dollar remains in a cyclical bull market. Improvements in global growth, even if temporary, are likely to lift non-U.S. rates more than U.S. ones. The euro will benefit from that move as investors still have deep negative feelings toward EUR/USD, exactly as economic momentum has moved in favor of Europe. The SEK should outperform.
