Strength of the U.S. Economy and Implications of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

Download PDF: 202203-thoughts-on-macro-and-equity-strategyDownload Three market moves have dominated the macro landscape in the past quarter amid the Fed tightening policy and geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe: rise in Treasury yields, strengthening dollar, and rally in oil prices. These all amount to a growth tax for consumers, which will inevitably lead to a growth slowdown inContinueContinue reading “Strength of the U.S. Economy and Implications of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion”

Macro Landscape and The Fed

Expectation of a more aggressive Fed rate hike amid longer-than-expected inflationary pressure triggered a violent repricing of U.S. stock market in January this year. Core PCE inflation in December continue to rise 4.85% over the previous year, driven primarily by higher energy and food prices, and pandemic-related items. Meanwhile, unemployment rate continues to decline toContinueContinue reading “Macro Landscape and The Fed”

U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection

Last week the Chinese central bank finally cut one-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) by 10bps from 3.8% to 3.7%, and also cut five-year LPR by 5bps to 4.60%, the first cut since April 2020 when global economy was in the midst of pandemic uncertainty. In the past two months we have also seen the creditContinueContinue reading “U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection”

U.S. Equity Strategy: Sector Selection Amid Slowing Global Growth

Download PDF: us-equity-sector-strategyDownload The 2021 post-pandemic recovery has been impressive, with record amount of fiscal stimulus propping up household spending and the corporate sector turning into a capex hyperdrive. Meanwhile, the Fed maintained an ultra-loose monetary policy and tilted toward the dovish side in the first half of the year, which fuel the froth andContinueContinue reading “U.S. Equity Strategy: Sector Selection Amid Slowing Global Growth”

Positive on Russia, Neutral on Mexico

Download PDF: russia-and-mexico-2021q4-pcDownload Remains Overweight Russia Russia and other oil-exporting countries historically perform poorly during a global slowdown, but tighter discipline among OPEC+ and shale producers since last year has bolstered oil prices to above $80/bbl, which creates a positive spin for energy producers. We have been constructive on Russian and energy sector since lastContinueContinue reading “Positive on Russia, Neutral on Mexico”

Negative Outlook: Chile, Peru and Brazil

Download PDF: brazil-chile-and-peru-2021q4-pcDownload Downgrade Chile and Peru to Underweight Our recommendation to trim exposure to Chile and Peru is driven by three things: downside risk in copper price, rising political risk, and aggressive tightening by both countries’ central bank. Slowdown in Chinese growth is going to weigh on commodity intensive Latam bourse heavily through theContinueContinue reading “Negative Outlook: Chile, Peru and Brazil”

EM Equity Strategy in an Economic Downturn

Download PDF: downturn-ahead-2021q4-pcDownload The global economic boom unfolding in the past year is showing signs of moderation, with data from China – the first country to suffer and come out of the pandemic – currently signaling a contraction in manufacturing activities. It is very likely that the U.S. and Euro area will also see aContinueContinue reading “EM Equity Strategy in an Economic Downturn”

Central and Eastern European Countries: Rising Rates Will Lift All Boats

Download PDF: central-and-eastern-european-countries-202109-pcDownload Central banks in Czech and Hungary have begun to raise their policy rate this year amid acceleration in inflation as their domestic recovery unfolds, creating a tailwind for the koruna and forint against the Euro, which will not see the ECB raising its borrowing cost anytime soon (Chart 1). With Central andContinueContinue reading “Central and Eastern European Countries: Rising Rates Will Lift All Boats”

Where Is The Correction?

Download PDF: where-is-the-correctionDownload For over a year, investors have been rewarded for tilting their portfolio towards risk assets on the backdrop of plentiful support for households from the government’s generous fiscal transfer that supported spending and Fed’s support on the credit market, preventing a crunch in liquidity of the debt market. The unprecedented fiscal andContinueContinue reading “Where Is The Correction?”

Yields Meltdown, Excess Savings and EM Policy Rate

Download PDF: monthly_202107Download Global stocks continue to experience a dichotomy in recent months amid unequal economic recovery in the developed and emerging world. With vaccination rate crossing above 50% of total population and covid-19 number goes into the rear-view mirror in the rich world, both manufacturing and service sector has rebounded strongly amid last year’sContinueContinue reading “Yields Meltdown, Excess Savings and EM Policy Rate”