Weekly Market Update – 3rd November 2017

Investment markets and key developments over the past week

• While Chinese shares fell 0.7% over the last week, US shares gained 0.3%, Eurozone shares rose 1.1%, Japanese shares gained 2.4% and Australian shares rose 1% helped by a combination of good global economic growth and earnings news. The Australian stock exchange All Ordinaries Index even managed to push above the 6,000 level for the first time since early 2008. Bond yields declined on the back of President Trump’s nomination of Jerome Powell to succeed Janet Yellen as US Federal Reserve Chair and a fall in Eurozone inflation. Oil and copper prices rose but the iron ore price fell slightly. The US$ was flat against a basket of currencies while the A$ was hit by very weak retail sales data.

• Global share markets have been boosted by a number of positives over the last few weeks: strong economic growth and profits news; ongoing low inflation; progress on US tax cuts; the nomination of Jerome Powell as US Federal Reserve Chair; confirmation that the European Central Bank will continue quantitative easing next year and remains dovish; the continuation of Abenomics after Abe’s election victory; and the clarification around China’s Communist Party Congress. This avalanche of positive news and removal of uncertainties has pushed global shares higher and pushed Australia’s All Ordinaries Index above the 6,000 level.

• As expected, the US Federal Reserve left monetary policy on hold and remains on track for a December rate hike. The US Federal Reserve upgraded its characterisation of growth from “moderate” to now “solid”, while it continues to regard recent inflation softness as temporary and likely to give way to a move back towards its 2% target as a result of falling spare capacity and faster wages growth. The October jobs report in the US likely keeps the US Federal Reserve on track for a December hike, wages growth fell back to 2.4% year-on-year but this looks distorted by the hurricanes. Meanwhile employment rebounded by 261,000, previous months’ payrolls were revised up by 90,000 and unemployment fell further to just 4.1%, indicating a labour market that is getting quite tight.

• Continuity for monetary policy at the US Federal Reserve under Jerome Powell. President Trump’s nomination of current US Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell to replace Janet Yellen as Chair, when her term expires in February next year, signals more of the same at the US Federal Reserve. Naturally, there may be a bit of market nervousness around the time of the handover and particularly around his first meeting in March next year, assuming he is approved by the Senate. However, since becoming a Governor in 2012 Powell has been supportive of the US Federal Reserve’s approach to monetary policy and is pragmatic and non-ideological and is likely to be a consensus builder as Chair. Barring any significant shocks, Powell is most unlikely to alter the US Federal Reserve’s current path of letting its balance sheet run down in-line with the process announced in September and raising rates three times next year. So given Trump liked Yellen, why did he even make the change? Firstly, he wanted to leave his mark. Secondly, Powell appears supportive of taking a more relaxed approach to financial regulation than Yellen was.

• The first indictments in the Mueller investigation into the links between President Trump’s campaign and Russia are unlikely to impact tax reform. Firstly, two of the indictments don’t appear to be linked to Trump or the campaign, and secondly tax reform is a wider Republican objective that goes well beyond Trump. The investigation poses an ongoing risk and source of uncertainty regarding Trump, and of course those indicted may seek to reveal something more damning relating to Trump. However unless there is ultimately a finding of clear criminal wrong-doing by Trump, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is very unlikely to move to impeach him. Of course, a Democrat House post the 2018 mid-terms may try but by then tax reform/tax cuts should be passed. Meanwhile, momentum continues on the tax reform-front, with the House releasing its tax reform bill. There were no great surprises, with a 20% corporate tax rate, 12% deemed repatriation tax rate on corporate overseas cash and reduced personal tax rates. There is still a long way to go to iron out the details, however continue to expect it to be passed (with a 70% probability) by the March quarter next year.

• So much for the Catalan independence quest causing chaos in Europe! The Spanish Federal Government has smoothly taken control of the Catalan administration, new elections will be held in December, Catalan leader Puigdemont and much of his cabinet have left the country and the pro-independence movement looks to be fragmenting.

• Australia’s All Ordinaries Index finally broke back above 6,000 again in the last week but it’s still well below its 1 November 2007 peak of 6,854 whereas the US share market surpassed its 2007 high back in 2013. Why the big lag? Firstly, the Australian share market rose very strongly into the 2007 peak on the back of the mining boom, whereas the US share market just spun its wheels last decade after first getting smashed by the ‘tech-wreck’. So the 2007 high was a much higher high for our market and hence a higher hurdle to get back to. Secondly, Australian resource shares have been hit by the collapse in commodity prices since 2011. Thirdly, Australian shares have also been hit by a bit of foreign investor scepticism regarding the outlook for China and perennial fears about a crash in property prices. Fourthly, US and many global markets benefitted from zero interest rates and money printing whereas Australia has had neither. Finally, it should be noted that Australian companies pay higher dividends than US and foreign companies and, once dividends are allowed for, the Australian share market has surpassed its 2007 peak, albeit it’s still underperformed global shares in the period since the Global Financial Crisis.

• Given the 10-year anniversary of the start of the Global Financial Crisis, in terms of its share market impact, which saw 50%-plus plunges in share markets, it’s worth recalling the lessons it provided for us as investors. Here is a list of the main ones:
  • At a time when many were talking of the “great moderation” and the death of the business cycle, it reminded us that the economic and investment cycle lives on;
  • The collapse of higher-returning investments including high yielding “yield funds” – provided a reminder that higher returns come with higher risk; for example, by early 2009 when shares had become substantially undervalued and underloved.
  • It provided a reminder to be sceptical of investments that are hard to understand remember Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDOs)?
  • It provided a reminder of the dangers of too much gearing and debt of the wrong sort (like margin loans).
  • It provided a reminder of the importance of having assets that provide true diversification to shares like government bonds, as opposed to assets that may be lowly correlated to shares in good times (commodities and high yield debt) but highly correlated in bad times.
  • The post Global Financial Crisis recovery showed that fiscal and monetary policy do work, but that it can take longer to return to normal after major financial crises.
  • It highlighted the importance of asset allocation, as opposed to agonising about stock picking and manager selection.
  • And finally, history tells us another financial crisis is inevitable at some point as each new generation forgets the lessons of the past and has to (re)learn them.

Major global economic events and implications

• US data remained strong and points to 4% or so growth this quarter. The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index fell but remains very high at 58.7 while the non-manufacturing version of this index rose to a very strong 60.1. Other data releases included consumer confidence rising to its highest since 2000, personal spending was very strong in September, payroll employment rebounded by 261,000 in October and previous months’ payrolls were revised up by 90,000, unemployment fell further to 4.1% and home prices continue to rise. While core private consumption deflator inflation remained low at 1.3% year-on-year in September, the September quarter Employment Cost Index confirmed some acceleration in wages growth. Wages growth in October fell back to 2.4% year-on-year from 2.8%, however this looks distorted by the hurricanes. Meanwhile, September quarter earnings reports have continued to surprise on the upside, with 77% beating on earnings and 67% beating on sales. While General Electric and hurricane-affected earnings results have weighed on earnings growth in the quarter, estimates for the quarter have now pushed back up to 5% year on year after originally starting at 4%.

• Eurozone data was remarkably strong with economic sentiment at its highest since 2001, gross domestic product growth rising to its fastest since 2011 and unemployment falling to 8.9% – still high but that’s down from 12% just a few years ago! Despite this, core inflation slipped back to just 0.9% year-on-year, highlighting the ongoing lack of inflationary pressure and why the European Central Bank will remain very gradual in slowing monetary stimulus.

• The Bank of England raised interest rates by 0.25%, but only to 0.5% and its concerns around Brexit suggest it’s not hawkish.

• The Bank of Japan left monetary policy on hold as expected, with quantitative easing and the zero 10-year bond target to remain in place for a long time yet, given ongoing core inflation near zero. Meanwhile, Japan’s economic data was mixed, with strong labour market indicators, weak household spending and some slowing in industrial production. A solid purchasing managers’ index reading and rising consumer confidence suggest growth should remain reasonable in Japan.

• China’s business conditions purchasing managers’ indices were mixed for October but are within their recent ranges and consistent with 6.5-7% growth.

Australian economic events and implications

• Australian economic activity data was messy. On the one hand business conditions purchasing managers’ indices were mixed but point to okay growth, home building approvals remain solid, non-residential building approvals are pointing up and net exports look set to contribute around 0.3% to September quarter gross domestic product growth. Against this backdrop, credit growth slowed, home sales are falling pointing to slower building approvals ahead and, most importantly, retail sales growth stalled in the September quarter, with flat volumes and falling prices highlighting the ongoing pressure on households from weak wages growth, high underemployment and surging energy costs. Growth in consumer services and other parts of the economy including trade volumes will likely have kept the economy growing in the September quarter, but overall Australian growth is likely to remain sub-par in contrast to the strengthening we are seeing globally.

• Meanwhile, evidence continues to build that the property price boom in Sydney is over, with CoreLogic data showing a further decline in prices in October. Auction clearance rates in Sydney are now falling towards levels of around 55%, which are usually associated with price declines on an annual basis, and expect Sydney home prices to fall around 5-10% over the next year or so. Across Australia though the picture is very mixed: Perth is showing signs of bottoming; Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra are seeing moderate growth; Melbourne is cooling a bit; and Hobart is rising solidly.

Source: Domain, CoreLogic, AMP Capital

What to watch over the next week?

• It will be a quiet week on the data front in the US, although data on job openings and hiring (Tuesday) will likely show continued labour market strength and the preliminary November reading for consumer sentiment (Friday) is likely to show that consumer confidence remains strong. US September quarter earnings results will continue to flow.
• Chinese trade data (Wednesday) is likely to show exports up 8% and imports up 18%, inflation data (Thursday) is expected to show consumer price index inflation rising to 1.7% but producer price index inflation dipping to 6.7%. Credit data will also be released.

• In Australia, the Reserve Bank of Australia (Tuesday) is expected to leave interest rates on hold for the 15th month in a row. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s forecasts for stronger growth, along with solid business conditions and employment growth argue against rate cuts, but ongoing low inflation, record low wages growth, uncertainty around consumer spending as highlighted by very weak retail sales, signs that the housing cycle is slowing and the still strong A$ argue against a rate hike. Views remain that the Reserve Bank of Australia will leave the cash rate on hold until a probable rate hike late next year at the earliest. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy (Friday) is likely to see the central bank revise down its inflation forecasts, reflecting the lower-than-expected September quarter outcome, ongoing signs of weak pricing power and the latest consumer price index re-weighting. A shift to providing point forecasts is also likely to highlight a slower than expected path for inflation and maybe also growth. This, along with likely ongoing central bank wariness regarding the outlook for wages and inflation, is expected to reinforce the its short-term neutral bias on interest rates.

• On the data front in Australia, ANZ Banking Group’s job advertisements (Monday) may be worth watching, given a softening in job vacancies seen recently, while September housing finance data (Thursday) is expected to show modest growth.

Outlook for markets

• US shares remain overdue a correction, but looking beyond short term uncertainties we remain in a sweet spot in the investment cycle with okay valuations particularly outside of the US, solid global growth and improving profits but still benign monetary conditions so views remain that the broad trend in share markets will remain up. Australian shares are likely to continue to participate in the global share rally, but remain a relative laggard thanks to a more constrained earnings outlook.

• Bond yields look to be starting to break higher again, led by US bonds. Low starting point bond yields and a likely rising trend in yields will likely drive poor returns from bonds.

• Unlisted commercial property and infrastructure are likely to continue benefitting from the ongoing search for yield, but this will wane eventually as bond yields trend higher.

• Residential property price growth in Sydney and Melbourne looks to have peaked with a slowdown likely over the next year or two, but Perth and Darwin are likely close to the bottom, Hobart is likely to remain strong and moderate price gains are expected to continue in Adelaide and Brisbane.

• Cash and bank deposits are likely to continue to provide poor returns, with term deposit rates running around 2.25%.

• Expect the Australian dollar to fall to around US$0.70. With the RBA on hold for the next year or so and the Fed on track to hike in December with another three or so hikes next year under Jerome Powell the interest rate differential will continue to move against Australia which should result in further weakness in the A$.

Source: AMP CAPITAL ‘Weekly Market Update’

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