Emerging Markets Market outlooks Study & Analysis

Amundi Cross Asset Investment Strategy - December 2018

December 17, 2018 by Amundi

Strategies for tough markets

This year has proven to be challenging for portfolio construction, as well as regarding returns. To put this into perspective, for 2009-17, our analysis shows that each year, on average, 76% of major asset classes (including different regional government bonds, equity, inflation-linked, currency and commodities) recorded positive performances. In 2018, the story has changed: we are heading towards an unprecedented year in which less than 20% of asset classes have been in positive territory*. Markets have started to price in a slowdown in global growth and tighter liquidity conditions, in a more complex than expected political environment (trade tariffs and populism). Vulnerabilities in the more stretched areas of the market (growth stocks in equities and credit markets) and idiosyncratic stories (Argentina, Turkey, Italy) are the main consequences of this new narrative.

Moving into 2019, Central Bank policy will be crucial again with regard to determining market sentiment. Given a potential slowdown in growth and weak financial conditions, a Fed shying away from further tightening would give new oxygen to the markets. Also, the ECB will likely be increasingly uncomfortable with raising rates in such a scenario. In the meantime, the risk of policy mistakes will remain high: How far can Trump trade policy go? What could the implications for input prices and corporate margins be? Can China growth hold on? These are all elements that could fuel volatility, but also lead to an opening up of opportunities in the market.

We think that, at least in the first part of 2019, there will be room to increase risk-taking in some areas of the market, given the more appealing valuations and the fact that most of the bond yield repricing is behind us. Signs of more dovish Fed could represent an additional positive trigger. We believe that a constructive earnings outlook will support a recovery in equities, based on a theme rotation. We continue to recommend a selective approach, with a focus on quality and valuations (and dividends later in the year) across the board, with the US equity market currently remaining our key call. Moving ahead, we would seek entry points to benefit from this year’s price dislocations. One area of focus is Europe, once the political risk linked to next year’s parliamentary elections in May, fades away. Emerging markets could be another area of interest, as the threat from rising interest rates and a strong dollar should dissipate with early signs of a slowdown in the US. Against a backdrop of economic and political uncertainty, we would continue to focus on drawdown management, as capital preservation will be at the top of the list of investor concerns. This means focusing on bottom-up research to select stocks and bonds with stronger fundamentals that could be more resilient to market downturns and to avoid concentration in the most risky areas of the market, where sustainability of returns could be under threat (ie, over-indebted companies, overvalued stocks).