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Monthly Archives: January 2019

Asset Allocation Insights – Risky Assets Continue Their Ciomeback


Partying Like it is 2017 Again

►The comeback for holders of risky assets such as equities, real estate, and commodities continues

►EM equities perform the best of our major asset classes – up 2.3% for the week and over 9% over the last 3 months

►Developed international equities also had a huge week – up 1.7% and 5% for 2019 thus far

►Commodity indices also made a nice comeback boosted by higher oil prices – up 9.4% for the year already

►Aggressive, domestically focused multi-asset class strategies out-performed less risky options

►In 2018 lower risk asset allocation strategies   outperformed especially if allocations involved international equities but the story is reversed thus far this year

►Within equities, Growth has slightly under-performed Value in 2019 but over the last year Growth remains solidly ahead

►Over the last year, only Cash and US Reits exhibit positive returns

Currencies:

►The USD is losing some strength as budget discussions in Washington remain unresolved and the Fed has indicated being close to done with rate hikes

►A depreciating USD will boost international asset returns – we expect this effect to persist in 2019

►A big question mark for this coming week is what happens to Brexit (yet again) but sterling is showing strength

►The Yen is now in a Break Out phase as investors remain risk averse and the Yen is usually considered the “safe” trade

►Resource-oriented currencies experienced losses last week relative to the USD despite firmer commodity prices

In general, FX volatility has increased substantially in the last couple of months

Commodities:

►Commodity indices continue in a Down Trend even as oil markets showed continued gains last week

►Grain prices have also continued their upward path from the lows of last summer

►Gold and Silver are in the Break Out phase as investors have flocked to them as a hedge against equity volatility

►However, we still view US Treasuries as the best hedging option for equity risk

This Coming Week:

►While risky assets recovered last week we still think that risk is being shunned at the moment

►While not comfortable, US investors should allocate more money to non-US stocks due to their lower valuations and a depreciating USD

►The strong USD will not persist much stronger as the FED appears close to the end in terms of interest rate hikes

►The Value/Growth discussion is being overshadowed by sector rotation but on a risk-adjusted basis we believe that higher allocations to Value are warranted

►We are also watching out for any jump in inflationary expectations (which have been trending down)

►Tariffs are inflationary and will be reflected in higher consumer prices eventually

►Our biggest concerns revolve around a slowing global economy – The IMF recently lowered 2019 growth numbers to 3.5%

►We still see a risk on/off market this year making it difficult for short-term investors – probably best to extend horizons

►In general, investors seem very pessimistic making contrarian plays interesting from a tactical perspective

__________________________________________________________________________________

To read our full weekly report please click here

ic J. Weigel

Global Focus Capital LLC

eweigel@gf-cap.com

______________________________________________________________________________

Global Focus Capital
Global Focus Capital

Publications:

Weekly Asset Allocation Review – Free

Weekly Equity Themes Review – Free

The Equity Observer (Monthly) – Subscription Required

The Asset Allocation Advisor (Monthly) – Subscription Required

Equity Market Insights – Global Risk Assets Shoot Up Despite Underlying Tension

https://gf-cap.com

 

“Investing is not nearly as difficult as it looks. Successful investing involves doing a few things right and avoiding serious mistakes”

– Jack Bogle

►The seesaw continues for risky assets as small caps take the lead for 2019 but investors feel the tension

►Over the last month, US small caps and EM stocks have made money

►Over the last 12 months, all major equity asset classes are down with US Large Cap the least and EM the most

►Valuations while more reasonable than 3 months ago are not yet favorable – we may be seeing a reversal from the q4 downdraft, not a fundamental uptrend

►The key for equity markets is global growth and whether we are entering a slowdown or not

Countries & Region:

►A global recovery but with large differences in global market performance

►Commodity indices continue their recovery as oil prices firmed up helping resource oriented markets

►In the US Value outperformed Growth last week – higher dividend yield underperformed but the sector effect was dominant as was the quality factor

►In international markets Value out-performed Growth by a smaller margin than in the US

►Financials performed best and Utilities did the worst (barely positive)


Style & Sector:

►In the US, we saw Midcaps do best followed by large caps

►Value performed a bit better than Growth

►Within equity styles, Quality strategies resulted in better performance

►The Momentum trade has made a bit of a comeback in 2019 but the effect is still uncertain

►EM Asia and Latam shot up last week recovering from poor 2018 performance

 


This Coming Week:

►Risk Aversion should spring up this week unless China and the US reach a deal on tariffs

►Equity Technicals have improved to the point that only 17% of stocks remain in the Down Trend Phase

►Political drama in Washington is exacerbating the uncertainty of market participants but investors seem to be in denial thus far in 2019

►Brexit is up for the spring but prospects of passing Parliament are slim. Could we be starring at Referendum 2.0?

►Tariff wars are taking a bite with the IMF recently citing trade wars as the main reason for a cut in their forecast of global growth

►Small caps have massively underperformed large caps over the last 3 months but have had a nice a nice recovery in 2019

►Surprisingly EM equities have outperformed developed markets in the last month. 

►Our models still favor a reduction in risk in our portfolios with positive active allocations to cash and bonds

►The price of higher equity returns is discomfort – volatility has been too low in the last few years

►This coming week has huge earnings implications. Lots of companies reporting Q4.


To read our weekly report including style factor breakdowns please click  here

Eric J. Weigel

Global Focus Capital LLC

eweigel@gf-cap.com

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Global Focus Capital

Weekly Asset Allocation Review – Free

Weekly Equity Themes Review – Free

The Equity Observer (Monthly) – Subscription Required

The Asset Allocation Advisor (Monthly) – Subscription Required

Asset Allocation Insights – A Relief Rally With No Legs


Breathing a Sigh of Relief For Now

►A huge comeback for holders of risky assets such as equities, real estate,  and commodities

►US small caps perform the best of our major asset classes – up 4.8% for the week but still down 6% over the last 3 months

►REITS also had a huge week after a poor last couple of weeks – up 4.5% and 3.2% for 2019 thus far

►Commodity indices also made a nice comeback boosted by higher oil prices – up 7.5% for the year already

►Aggressive, domestically focused multi-asset class strategies out-performed less risky options

►In 2018 lower risk asset allocation strategies   outperformed especially if allocations involved international equities but the story is reversed thus far this year

►Within equities, Growth has slightly under-performed Value but over the last year Growth remains solidly ahead

►Over the last year, Cash remains the best performing of the major asset classes

Currencies:

►The USD is losing some strength as budget discussions in Washington remain unresolved and the Fed has indicated being close to done with rate hikes

►A depreciating USD will boost international asset returns

►A big question mark for this coming week is what happens to Brexit (Tuesday vote)

►The Yen is now in a Break Out phase as investors remain very risk-averse and the Yen is usually considered the “safe” trade

►Resource-oriented currencies experienced the biggest gains last week relative to the USD as commodity prices have stabilized

►In general, FX volatility has increased substantially in the last couple of months

Commodities:

►Commodity indices continue in a Down Trend even as oil markets showed some nice gains last week

►On the flipside, grain prices went down slightly last week but have recovered from the lows of last summer

►Sugar and coffee prices recovered along with the Brazilian Real – these 2 commodities are very sensitive to the currency

►Gold and Silver are in the Break Out phase as investors have flocked to them as a hedge against equity volatility

►However, we still view US Treasuries as the best hedging option for equity risk

This Coming Week:

►While risky assets recovered last week we still think that risk is being shunned at the moment

►While not comfortable, US investors should allocate more money to non-US stocks due to their lower valuations

►The strong USD will not persist much stronger as the FED appears close to the end in terms of interest rate hikes

►The Value/Growth discussion is being overshadowed by sector rotation but on a risk-adjusted basis we believe that higher allocations to Value are warranted

►We are also watching out for any jump in inflationary expectations (which have been trending down)

►Tariffs are inflationary and will be reflected in higher consumer prices eventually

►Our biggest concerns revolve around blowing out interest rate spreads and a slowing global economy

►Leverage on the balance sheet of companies should be cross-checked for sustainability

►We still see a risk on/off market this year making it difficult for short-term investors – probably best to extend horizons

►In general, investors seem very pessimistic making contrarian plays interesting from a tactical perspective

►In this environment of fear, it is best to allocate capital to specific assets rather than asset classes

__________________________________________________________________________________

To read our full weekly report please click here

ic J. Weigel

Global Focus Capital LLC

eweigel@gf-cap.com

___________________________________________________________________________________

Global Focus Capital
Global Focus Capital

Publications:

Weekly Asset Allocation Review – Free

Weekly Equity Themes Review – Free

The Equity Observer (Monthly) – Subscription Required

The Asset Allocation Advisor (Monthly) – Subscription Required

Equity Market Insights -A well-behaved market that will not last

https://gf-cap.com

 

Markets are constantly in a state of uncertainty and flux and money is made by discounting the obvious and betting on the unexpected

– George Soros

  • The seesaw continues for risky assets as small caps take the lead for 2019
  • Over the last month, all major equity categories have lost money
  • Surprisingly, EM stocks have held up the best in this equity correction
  • Valuations while more reasonable than 3 months ago are not that favourable
  • The key for equity markets is growth and whether we are entering a slowdown or not

Countries & Region:

  • A global recovery but with large differences in global market performance
  • Commodity indices recovered last week as oil prices firmed up helping resource oriented markets
  • In the US Value slightly outperformed Growth last week – higher quality and dividend yield also made a difference
  • In international markets Value out-performed Growth by a wider margin than in the US
    • Energy performed best and Tech did the worst (Apple effect)

Style & Sector:

  • In the US, we saw a strong size effect last week with small caps dramatically out-performing
  • Value performed a bit better than Growth
  • Within equity styles, Quality and Div Yield strategies resulted in better performance
  • The Momentum trade has gone in reverse with last year’s biggest loser performing the best thus far in 2019
  • Latam shot up last week recovering from poor 2018 performance and the rise in oil prices

This Coming Week:

  • Risk Aversion should stay high and we expect choppy markets this coming week again
  • Equity Technicals have deteriorated to the point that close to 65% of stocks in the Down Trend Phase
  • Political drama in Washington is exacerbating the uncertainty of market participants
  • Brexit is up for the spring but prospects of passing Parliament are slim. Could we be staring at Referendum 2.0?
  • Tariff wars are taking a bite with the IMF recently citing trade wars as the main reason for a cut in their forecast of global growth
  • Small caps have massively under-performed large caps over the last 3 months but had a nice recovery
  • Surprisingly EM equities have outperformed developed markets in the last month.
  • Our models still favor a reduction in risk in our portfolios with positive active allocations to cash and bonds
  • This too shall pass but market participants are hyper nervous on things companies have no control over
  • The price of higher equity returns is discomfort – volatility has been too low in the last few years

To read our weekly report including style factor breakdowns please click  here

Eric J. Weigel

Global Focus Capital LLC

eweigel@gf-cap.com

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Global Focus Capital
Global Focus Capital
Global Focus Capital
Global Focus Capital

Weekly Asset Allocation Review – Free

Weekly Equity Themes Review – Free

The Equity Observer (Monthly) – Subscription Required

The Asset Allocation Advisor (Monthly) – Subscription Required

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