Euro Area Interest Rate Reduction a signal? Euro Area Interest Rate
◻️Reduced from 4.5% to 4.25% as expected
◻️We can acknowledge the pattern & recognize its significance without jumping to any immediate conclusions
◻️Chart will need to be combined with others to make assertions, such as the 10Y/2Y Yield Spread
U.S. 10Y/2Y Yield Spread with U.S. Unemployment rate
The amount of months that have passed prior to recession initiation after the yield curve makes its first turn back up towards 0% level
◻️ Historical Average timeframe is April 2024
◻️ Historical Maximum timeframe would be Jan 2025
No guarantee that history will repeat. Again, just a chart and some data that is worth keeping an eye on. Some people state the bond market is now broken and manipulated, we should know within 12 - 18 months, or sooner.
PUKA
Europe
UPDATE: Euronext hit the first Target price at 1,549It's been a shortish hold for this analysis.
The price broke above the CUp and Handle. The price was above the 20 and 200MA stating a High Probability Trade.
And just yesterday the bulls pushed it up to the first target at 1,549.
I think we will get a bit of consolidation around these levels, but another upside swing is very likely.
I'll let you know
SELL EUR/USDEURUSD is in a downtrend channel on the daily and weekly timeframe.
Double top pattern was broken and retested at its neckline which also is a strong resistance supply zone at area 1.10.
The next target is a possible retest of the upper down channel at area 1.09 before a drop to the next supply support zone at area 0.85 which will be confirmed after break and closure below of area 1.05.
EURO STOXX 50 Already at Target 1. On Way to over 11 thousand.Euro Stonks are raging higher
Euro zone growth has been terrible ever since the inception of the #EU and especially with the introduction of the common currency.
(common currency but uncommon debts)
Why are they going up now
Are they simply playing catch up
Is the ECB going to engage in FED like stimulus and PPT activities?
Currency devaluation
or actual economic goodtimes?
IDK
All I know all the European Bourses have major room to the upsides
#CAC
#DAX
#FTSE
and all the minor index's are positively positioned like I have been saying for quite some time now.
Macro Monday 39 - Euro Area Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI)Macro Monday 39
Euro Area Economic Sentiment Indicator
(Next Release is this Wednesday 27th March 2024)
Last week we covered the the Euro Area ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (the "ZEW Index") and learned that the sentiment data for the ZEW Index comes from 350 economists spanning the Euro Area (20 of the 27 EU member states that use the Euro currency). The ZEW Index attempts to provide a sentiment lead with economists factoring in their 6 month forward projections into the sentiment data.
This week we look at a different more current sentiment indicator, the Euro Area Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI). The data for the ESI is derived from the businesses and consumers of all 27 EU Member States. The ESI therefore has a larger data set to the 20 countries covered in the ZEW Index. The ESI is closer to the truth of what businesses and consumers are currently experiencing on the ground across Europe. The ESI is not forward looking like the ZEW index, the ESI should be considered a coincident indicator presenting the current state of economic sentiment among businesses and consumers across the EU. In any event we can still use the ESI data and the chart to identify trends and to know where sentiment stands when it is released each month.
Interestingly, at present the ESI figure is more negative than the ZEW Index. The ZEW is in positive sentiment territory (forward looking) whilst the ESI is firmly in negative sentiment territory (current outlook). Based on each data sets objective, you would think that the ESI would move into positive territory over the coming 6 months based on the forward looking positive ZEW Index. No guarantees of course. We can watch this as it plays out in real time and see if the ESI follows the ZEW Index.
Lets have a closer look at the ESI
The Euro Area Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) is a measure created by the European Commission to gauge economic confidence across the Euro Area.
The survey data for the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) is initially collected at the national level for each country within the Euro Area. These individual country results are then aggregated to create the overall ESI, which reflects the economic sentiment for the entire EU (all 27 countries). The data is also seasonally adjusted to account for regular seasonal variations and provide a clearer picture of the underlying economic trends.
The data is derived from survey responses from the following economic sectors in each country (with weightings);
1. Industry (40%)
2. Services (30%)
3. Consumers (20%)
4. Retail (5%)
5. Construction (5%)
Balances are constructed as the difference between the percentages of respondents giving positive and negative replies.
The ESI data is scaled to a long-term average of 100 with a standard deviation of 10. This means that the average sentiment over time is set at 100.
As the ESI’s scale centers around a mean of 100 values above this suggest higher-than-average confidence, while those below indicate lower confidence. It’s seasonally adjusted to reflect consistent economic trends.
The Chart (above subject chart)
The chart follows the structure discussed above and we have split the chart by color as follows:
>100 = Above Average Economic Sentiment🟢Green
<100 = Above Average Economic Sentiment🔴 Red
▫️ As you can see on the chart we made a record low in pessimism in May 2020 at 58.7 which was closely followed by a record high in optimism in Oct 2021 at 119.5.
▫️ The chart has arrows that are 17pts in length. You will see the arrows across the chart whereby if there was a greater than 17pt drop from the green zone into red the red zone, this historically has coincided with recession
▫️ The most recent drop from🟢119.5 in Oct 2021 to 🔴93.9 in Oct 2023 is a drop of 25.6pts, greater than the 17pt typical recession drop. "This time might be different" may actually apply because we had all time highs in sentiment in Oct 2021, however that does not detract from the fact we are currently firmly in negative economic sentiment sub 100 at 95.4.
▫️ You can see that any time we have fallen below the 85 level (red dotted line) we have confirmed a recession. This does not mean that you need a sub 84 reading for a recession, only that when this has occurred in the past, it only occurred during some of the deeper recessions.
A quick note on the Euro Area terminology as this was bugging me as the ESI covers all 27 EU member states
Euro Area Terminology?
The term “Euro Area Economic Sentiment Indicator” can be somewhat misleading because the ESI indeed covers all 27 EU Member States, not just those in the 20 in the Euro Area or Eurozone. The name likely persists because the ESI is particularly significant for the Euro Area, where economic policies are closely aligned and the shared currency means that economic sentiment has direct implications for monetary policy. However, the ESI’s broader EU-wide scope allows for a comprehensive view of economic sentiment across the entire European Union, which is valuable for comparative analysis and policy-making at the EU level.
Thank for coming along again, if you like the content and find it informative please let me know
PUKA
If Germany is the sick man of Europe. #Bayer looking deathlyThe #EU is Marxist, Socialist, and is involved in Price setting
That didn't work out too well for USSR as economic powerhouse
and so too we see the once great German economy being brought to it's knees.
It is being de-industralized and being brought down in a great economic levelling of the union
Such a shame
Bayer Pharmaceutical is arguably a company we could do without .. so this chart does not upset me too much ...
But it is major component of the #DAX and highlights the economic pain that Germany may indeed go through in the next recession.
Crypto Regulations: How MiCA Will Affect EU TradersIn the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, the European Union has taken a significant and important step forward with the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This groundbreaking regulatory framework marks a pivotal moment for the crypto market within the EU, promising to bring much-needed clarity and stability to an industry that has long been likened to the Wild West due to its volatility and lack of standardization.
The European Union is a leader in creating legislation for emerging technologies. This became clear with the introduction of GDPR, which protects internet users’ personal data, the AI Act that aims to protect citizens of the EU from malpractice, such as cognitive manipulation of people and social scoring, and now - MiCA. Paving the way forward for others, the EU is evolving its digital legislation frameworks faster than other unions or countries.
This article delves into how MiCA will reshape the landscape for EU traders, impacting everything - from the way they interact with crypto assets to the broader market dynamics they navigate daily.
Why do we need regulations like MiCA?
If there are no regulations, markets can run wild and experience giant increases, however when the fun is over and people lose money to fraud and even large-scale bankruptcy of exchanges - investors, especially institutional ones, will not dare place their money in crypto projects and companies. And since for investors, money is trust - the cryptocurrency market is doomed without proper regulation.
On the flip side, extremely stringent and disorganized legislation can lead to the same outcome. Countries struggle with the abstract nature of cryptocurrencies, and many have expressed an outright desire to ban them, seeing as it is the easier option. That is why MiCA is a well-devised framework for others to follow - It is focused and comprehensive.
Some may argue that cryptocurrencies are meant to be decentralized, unregulated and follow a laissez-faire approach. While this is possible, more so for some cryptocurrencies than others, there can be no growth in these markets as new projects need to have banking and investors behind them to realize their blockchain-based ideas. It is also unrealistic to think that such a clandestine financial system will never cross paths with the regular banking system.
What exactly is MiCA?
The inception of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is rooted in the European Union's recognition of the growing significance of cryptocurrencies and the associated risks in an unregulated environment. The primary catalyst for MiCA's development was the need for regulatory clarity in the burgeoning crypto market, which had been expanding rapidly without a standardized regulatory framework since the birth of Bitcoin in 2009. This lack of regulation posed risks such as fraud, market manipulation and financial instability.
These concerns were heightened by incidents like the surge in initial coin offerings (ICOs), the capitulation of multiple large exchanges and the ironic instability of stable-coins.
MiCA was proposed to provide a harmonized regulatory framework for crypto-assets that are not covered under existing EU financial legislation. The objective was to safeguard investors, maintain financial stability, and promote innovation within a secure and transparent environment. By introducing clear rules, MiCA aims to legitimize the crypto market, making it safer and more attractive for investors and consumers while mitigating the potential for financial crime and market manipulation.
This move towards regulation reflects a global trend of governments and financial authorities worldwide striving to balance the benefits of innovation in the digital asset space with the need for consumer protection and market integrity. As such, MiCA represents a significant step by the EU in establishing a comprehensive regulatory regime for crypto-assets, setting a precedent that could influence global standards in cryptocurrency regulation.
Key Points of MiCA
MiCA introduces several key provisions that are set to transform the crypto-asset landscape in the European Union. The areas that are discussed and regulated the most are the areas where incidents have happened and people have lost their funds. It is important not to make the same mistakes as before.
Exchanges & Brokerages
One of the primary aspects of MiCA is the establishment of stringent authorization requirements for crypto-asset service providers. Under MiCA, any entity aiming to offer services related to crypto-assets, including trading, custody, or advisory services, must obtain authorization from one of the EU's national financial regulators. This process is designed to ensure that providers adhere to high standards of operational conduct, governance, and consumer protection outlined in the legislation. Crypto exchanges have gone bankrupt, been hacked or shut down abruptly in crypto’s short history. The aim of legislatures is to prevent these collapses or stop them in their tracks.
Initial Public / Coin Offerings
Another fundamental component of MiCA is the regulation of public offerings of crypto-assets. Companies intending to offer crypto-assets to the public are required to publish a detailed white paper. This document must provide clear, fair, and comprehensive information about the risks involved, ensuring that potential buyers are well-informed. The regulations aim to prevent misleading practices and enhance transparency in the market. Until now, many ICOs do publish white papers, however they can be purely fictional, written to trick the untrained eye into thinking the project is professionally done. Furthermore, this official process of submitting a white paper will ensure that the people behind the project are known. This will prevent people from faking their identities in order to anonymously scam their clients.
Stablecoins
MiCA also specifically addresses the regulation of stablecoins, which are categorized as either e-money tokens (EMTs) or asset-referenced tokens (ARTs). EMTs are stablecoins pegged to the value of a fiat currency, such as USDT, USDC and BUSD. ARTs are linked to other assets, such as WETH, WBTC. MiCA mandates that stablecoins must maintain adequate reserves and adhere to governance standards. Furthermore, there are stringent rules for stablecoins not pegged to EU currencies, including a cap on the number of transactions per day, aimed at preventing these assets from undermining the Euro. This approach to stablecoins is a response to concerns about their potential impact on financial stability and monetary policy. These concerns are justified, following the collapse of a few large market cap stable-coins during 2022.
Through these provisions, MiCA aims to establish a secure and transparent environment for the trading and use of crypto-assets, ensuring that the rights of investors are protected while fostering innovation in the sector.
Conclusion
The introduction of MiCA by the European Union represents a watershed moment for the crypto-asset market. By establishing a harmonized regulatory framework, MiCA seeks to provide clarity, enhance market integrity, and protect investors, all while fostering an environment conducive to innovation. For EU traders, these regulations offer a more secure and transparent trading landscape, albeit with increased compliance obligations.
The provisions on stablecoins, in particular, demonstrate a nuanced approach to different types of crypto-assets. As MiCA comes into full effect, its influence is expected to extend beyond the EU, potentially setting a precedent for global crypto-asset regulation. For traders and investors, staying informed and adapting to these regulatory changes will be key to navigating the evolving crypto market landscape.
AUD/JPY Re-TryWell, last trade did not go well... they appear to be seeking a higher area, so I'll try a re-entry short to get some money back. "Chart Idea" trading is not really my thing, but I'm giving it a try and see if I can't get better at it. A lot of what I do is very real time and I make a lot of adjustments, so this is a challenge for me, but I'll keep at it. Anyways, here goes the re-entry.
EURO Area Consumer Confidence - Confidence SLUMPSEURO Area Consumer Confidence - ECONOMICS:EUCCI
The lower the minus figure on this chart the better the confidence is in the EU area (closer to zero the better).
Rep: -16.10 🚨 Worse than Expected🚨
Exp: -14.30
Pre: -15.00
The Chart
▫️ We have a long term general downtrend in EU Consumer Confidence since 1985.
▫️ Prior to recessions we formed lower highs (red arrows on the chart)
▫️ We have not made a new all time high since Jan 2000
▫️ Confidence has currently stalled and turned slightly lower coming in lower than expectations of -14.3 and instead coming in at -16.10.
What's driving the data and how to read it?
The Consumer Economic Sentiment Indicator (Consumer ESI) gauges the optimism levels among consumers in the EU. Conducted through phone surveys, the indicator encompasses 23,000 households, with variable sample sizes across the region. The survey includes questions on the current economic and financial conditions, savings intentions, and expectations related to consumer price indexes, the general economic situation, and major purchases of durable goods.
The Consumer ESI is measured on a scale from -100 to 100, where -100 represents an extreme lack of confidence, 0 signifies neutrality, and 100 indicates an extreme level of confidence.
Final Word
The ESI indicator provides valuable insights into consumer sentiment, reflecting perceptions and expectations that can influence economic behavior and decision-making in the EU.
Consumer sentiment is low in Europe with sentiment remaining below March 2022 levels with little sign of recovery as it stands coming in lower than expectations.
Obviously with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, EU migrant crisis and Germany having full year of GDP decline for 2023 (Europe's largest economy), one can understand why the sentiment is so low. WE can watch for a turning point and a new high lower than -15 for a change in the right direction.
PUKA
EURUSD|The probability of breaking the support zoneHello friends, I hope you are doing well, let's go to the popular currency pair EURUSD.
In EURUSD, the selling pressure seems to be more, we can understand this from the powerful candles, broken trends.
For this reason, short positions have a higher winning percentage.
By reaching the supply area (1.1015), we can enter a sell position with confirmation until the price (1.90).
In the future, if it can break the demand area, we expect the price of 1.080 to continue falling
EURUSD (A huge Earthquake is Coming)
Hello my friends, how are you doing?
I hope you will fulfil your ambitions ❤️❤️❤️
Today, I want to talk about EURUSD.
What a chart! wow.
Before that, I want to remember It's not financial advice. so, just see and think about it.
I'm just sharing my view and opinion of the chart. Please do your own research.
Don't waste time and Let's go into details 🌺🌺🌺
Based on the Elliot wave, we can count waves. each wave includes 5 microwaves and today I want to count the waves at EURUSD.
That's all we do. there is a very very important point in this chart and I want to tell you that.
Based on Elliot's theory, the second wave can retrace the first wave to a maximum of 0.618 Fibonacci. and if this retracement takes longer, we would expect to see an extended third wave.
Exactly, in EURUSD we see this situation.
Please check the first photo 👆👆👆
The second wave retraced the first one till 0.886 Fibonacci and it's so dangerous. so we expect to see an extended third wave.
in this case, we see the third wave moved to 4.618 Fibonacci. and it sounds strange. it's happened. exactly such as I said.
Please check all these photos.
And the Fourth wave can retrace to a maximum of 0.618 Fibonacci of the 3rd wave and the last wave (the fifth wave) will begin.
Now, it's time to calculate the last PRZ for the end of the fifth wave.
I did it for you guys.
And I expect the fifth wave to drop to 0.85-0.88.
it means that the worth of EURUSD drops to a zone between 0.85-0.88 and if this happens, all markets will drop soon.
please, for God's sake, watch the market. the situation is so complicated. don't forget to save your profit.
SP500, BTC, NDX and so on will drop soon more than you think.
✔️ ✔️ it was my duty to warn you about this earthquake.
I'm sure you are confused right now. But it's ok and there is no problem. Time Proves Everything.
If you have any questions, or if you need to know more details please don't hesitate to contact me.
🙏🙏 Please don’t forget to like 👍, follow ✌️, and share 👌 this analysis with your friends. Thank you so much for your attention and participation 🙏🙏
Wish you the best 🧞♀️
Sincerely Yours 🙏🙏
Ho3ein.mnD
AI's EUR/USD Pattern & Scalping Range, Local European SentimentAI's EUR/USD Falling Channel & Breakout Odds with Scalping Range
D ear Valued Investors,
Introduction
I would like to provide you with an update on the trading bots' activity. They have been diligently following a short position initiated at 1.101, see the idea above the chart, and I am pleased to inform you that the trade has been successful, as indicated by the success of the forecast on the left side of the chart.
News Trading - Natural Language Processing Results
- The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to raise interest rates in July, which could strengthen the euro. The ECB has been signaling for months that it will need to raise rates to combat inflation, and the latest data suggests that inflation is still running high in the eurozone. A rate hike would make the euro more attractive to investors compared to the dollar, which is currently yielding very little.
- The eurozone economy is showing signs of resilience. The eurozone economy grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2023, and the latest data suggests that growth is continuing in the second quarter. This suggests that the eurozone economy is more robust than many economists had expected, which could support the euro in the near term.
- The risk of a recession in the United States is increasing. The US economy is facing a number of headwinds, including high inflation, rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine. These factors could lead to a recession in the US, which would likely weaken the dollar and strengthen the euro.
Personal Comment
I live in the EU, and as a consumer, I don't see any sign of recession here. To me, it seems that the US economy bears the bigger weight in the news of the war are about. Objectively, the US economy might be stronger, but the prices don't necessarily reflect the current power. Investors try to speculate which economy will suffer harder and pool value into those that seem resilience. I believe in the resilience of the EU economy, and I experience the local sentiment. While prices are rising, people don't FUD yet. Many seek opportunities to make a profit that can cover the inflation costs. EUR has seemed more resilient so far to the difficulties than the other European currencies. If you live in the EU, you know that many countries still have their national currencies (not EUR), but you can pay with EUR everywhere here. So, it makes sense that many sell their national currencies to EUR. EUR is more resilient, and they can pay with it as smoothly as with their national currencies.
Pattern Recognition AI's Results
Through my pattern recognition algorithms, I have identified a falling channel pattern on the chart. This pattern is characterized by purple trendlines. Despite its bearish implications, the price broke above this pattern on December 11th, suggesting potential bullish momentum.
Scalping Possibilities
Currently, the EUR/USD is in a consolidation phase, trading between the support level at 1.072 and the resistance level at 1.082. These levels align with the EMA 100, and the support line is denoted by the color green, while the resistance line is represented by red. Shorting opportunities may arise from resistance to support.
Neural Network's Prediction
Based on the current technical indicators, I anticipate a scenario in which the EUR/USD gains momentum from the support level and breaks out above the channel. This potential trajectory is depicted by the white lines. In the event of a successful breakout, my neural networks suggest target prices of 1.095 or even 1.100.
Technical Indicators
The fluctuating volume below the channel indicates increasing volatility. Noteworthy bullish indications include the price consolidating above EMA 20, the RSI crossover below on the RSI indicator, and the strong uptrend of MACD since December 7th.
Disclaimer:
I would like to emphasize that this communication does not constitute investment advice. I strongly urge you to conduct thorough research before making any trading decisions. It is essential to recognize that your funds are your responsibility, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sincerely,
Ely
EURUSD Pair Projections for Q1, Q2, and Q3 2024Financial Analysis: EURUSD Pair Projections for Q1, Q2, and Q3 2024
Disclaimer : This analysis is based on the information available as of the provided date and is subject to change. It should not be considered as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before making investment decisions.
Ifo Report and Current Business Climate
The recent Ifo report reflects a clouded sentiment in the German business landscape, with companies expressing dissatisfaction with their current business situations and heightened skepticism regarding the first half of 2024. Notably:
Manufacturing
The Business Climate Index in manufacturing witnessed a noticeable decline, with companies perceiving their current business situation as significantly worse.
Expectations in the manufacturing sector grew more pessimistic, particularly affecting energy-intensive industries.
Service Sector
The service sector experienced a slight improvement in the business climate, driven by increased satisfaction with current business situations.
Service providers displayed reduced skepticism about the outlook for the next six months, although expectations in restaurants and catering saw a nosedive.
Trade
The trade sector suffered a setback, as companies assessed their current situations as notably worse. Holiday trade for retailers, in particular, disappointed.
Construction
The Business Climate Index in construction hit its lowest level since September 2005, with companies reporting a worsened current situation. Approximately half of the companies anticipate further deterioration in the months ahead.
Projections for EURUSD in Q1, Q2, and Q3
The Ifo report's insights into the German business sentiment set the stage for assessing the FX:EURUSD pair's projections:
Q1: Sluggish Momentum
The current scenario suggests a sluggish start for EURUSD in Q1. The clouded business sentiment in Germany may contribute to a sideways market, marked by cautious trading.
Q2: Anticipating Improvement
As Q2 unfolds, there is an expectation of an improvement in the financial situation in Europe. Despite the challenging Q1, signs of stabilization and potential positive developments could influence a more favorable outlook for the EURUSD pair.
Q3: Inverse Head & Shoulders Pattern
An analysis of the larger fractal, specifically the Inverse Head & Shoulders pattern forming in the EURUSD pair, points towards robust bullish momentum. This projection aligns with a potential turnaround by the end of Q2 and the beginning of Q3, indicating a shift towards a more positive market sentiment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EURUSD pair is likely to face challenges in the early part of 2024, reflecting the clouded sentiment in the German business landscape. However, signs of improvement are anticipated in Q2, with the formation of an Inverse Head & Shoulders pattern suggesting a strong bullish momentum in the currency pair by the end of Q2 and the beginning of Q3. Traders and investors should closely monitor economic indicators, global events, and the evolving business climate for timely decision-making in the dynamic forex market.
EURUSD in on the way finding breakoutAs my analysis for EURUSD, The price stuck on the weekly support which highlighted based on the chart. The Weekly trend still in bullish position but still find out the direction either down or more higher for long term position.
As the US want to keep their monetary policy, keep going fight the inflation, probably, USD will take an advantage to keep them strong. Whatever it is, i will looking for any breakout happen at the current price based on its support and resistance, accompany by the trendline waiting for break or not.
ITALY PREPARING FOR NEXT LEG TO THE BULL MARKETThe Italy 40 index, or the FTSE MIB, is considered the benchmark for the national Italian stock exchange, the Borsa Italiana. The index consists of the 40 most capitalized and liquid stocks that are listed on the Borsa Italiana.
The IT40 now seems to have begun rising in what is expected to be the wave iii of 3 for the index. This particular wave is expected to take the index towards the 40K mark from the current 29k mark(a hefty 40% move).
The index of the European country is one more global index to be added to list of several others on the move in a bull market that can go on for several more years to come(of course with regular corrections and pauses on the way).
Note*- This chart is for educational purpose only
SHORT EURUSDEURUSD is still in its downtrend channel on the weekly and monthly timeframes.
On the weekly timeframe, a retest of the double top neckline was established at the resistance area and a reach of the upper channel of the downtrend and a triple top at smaller scale was formed and retested, which all possibly confirms its downtrend continuation with a break of area 1.04 to 1.03 and later to its previous low 0.95 and into the lower of the downtrend channel at 0.90.
Previous ideas:
Monthly timeframe
Weekly timeframe
Critical 4 weeks for DAX Following weekly chart.
The last time when I get a short signal to in weekly chart was 4 weeks before COVID crash. (red area in the chart)
Now I got the same signal and unfortunately this is the most trustworthy signal for me.
I think this 4 weeks are really critical and what I expect is we might way to go to gaps below.
Be careful and be careful!
Soft landing calls for tough choices2023 has been a tough year for stock pickers. The gap between equity factor styles has been vast over H1. Growth, riskier in nature, posted the best performance up 24% year-to-date (YTD) followed closely behind by quality up 20% YTD1. The excitement around artificial intelligence (AI) reached a fever pitch in H1 2023, supporting growth-oriented technology stocks.
As we enter H2 2023, we remain constructive on select areas of global equity markets. The resilience of the US economy has defied all odds. The strength of the US consumer (accounting for 70% of GDP), alongside the fiscal impulse, has been the cornerstone of the US’ extraordinary resilience. While inflation has shown encouraging signs of decline in the US, strong economic momentum alongside a rebound in commodities raises the risk of a re-acceleration of inflation. In turn, rates could remain higher for longer, resulting in Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts being delayed until Q1 2024. In such an environment, an enhanced equity income approach could fit well. Even if the earnings outlook weakens in China, proactive policy support via rate cuts could support its stock multiples.
In Europe, where we are likely to witness a mild recession, we believe adopting a more cautious and defensive approach is warranted. Earnings revision ratios remain the strongest in Japan while they are the weakest in emerging markets.
US equities are the belle of the ball
It was the narrowest market in history, with just 25% of stocks outperforming the S&P 500. Expectations of cooling inflation aiding the Fed to end its current tightening cycle supported the performance of higher-duration growth stocks. For investors calling for a soft landing, rates are likely to remain at current levels or higher for a longer duration of time. A tight US labour market, with unemployment at historic lows and rising wages, is likely to slow the downward pricing momentum in the service sector. As the market regime transitions, it should provide a ripe opportunity for market breadth2 to improve. Markets may begin to favour value and dividend-paying stocks. History has shown us that breadth tends to improve as the economy recovers from a downturn.
Peak pessimism towards China
China’s reopening rebound has faded. The transition to a less debt-fuelled, less property-reliant and more consumer-driven economy is an important adjustment. We expect government stimulus policies to be aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the private sector. Further iterations of policy rate cuts by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) are likely to follow; however, outright quantitative easing won’t be on the cards, as it is likely to further weaken the yuan, which the PBOC would like to avoid. With a low correlation to US equities (at 20x P/E)3 coupled with a high valuation discount, pockets of China continue to provide good investment prospects.
Pockets of opportunity in non-state-owned enterprises
Non-state-owned enterprises, particularly within the Technology, Communication Services and Health Care sectors, faced the brunt of China’s regulatory crackdown. These regulatory interventions stifled growth in key sectors such as e-commerce, mobile payment, ride-hailing, and online education. It also resulted in the suspension of initial public offerings (IPOs) and delisting of Chinese internet companies. Growing political frictions in supply chains are incentivising China to regain independence in the semiconductor and hardware space. Chinese technology companies are trading at a significant discount compared to US peers, offering plenty of room to catch up.
Prefer defensives over cyclicals as Europe runs out of steam
Nearly six months back, investors marvelled at how the euro-area economy had emerged from the energy crisis. That momentum appears to be fading as China’s recovery slows down, consumer confidence declines, and the impact of tighter monetary policy gains a stronghold on the economy. Higher inflation over the past year is holding back demand from households, which is hurting growth.
The monetary tightening over the past year not only triggered an increase in real rates, it also impacted borrowers’ credit metrics. Owing to this, eurozone banks have tightened their lending standards.4 Banks remain the primary source of corporate funding in Europe. The credit impulse—that is, the annual change in the growth of credit relative to GDP—in the euro area reached its lowest point since 2010.
TINA is alive in Japan
There is no alternative (TINA) to equities is still alive in Japan. This is evident from higher equity risk premiums of 2.97% for Japan compared to 0.41% in the US.5 While the rest of the world has been busy trying to quell the inflation fires, Japan has emerged from the COVID-19 lockdowns with a faster pace of growth and higher inflation. A combination of higher equity risk premiums, a weaker yen supportive of the Japanese export market, corporate reforms, and attractive valuations have been important catalysts for equities.
Policy shift still remains loose
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) took a significant step towards normalisation in July by announcing a further adjustment to its yield curve control (YCC) regime. The BOJ formally changing its course constitutes an acknowledgement that inflation is returning to the Japanese economy. Yet the BOJ lowered its (median) inflation forecast for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to +1.9% and left its FY 2025 projection unchanged at +1.6%, in effect justifying ongoing easing by the BOJ. With Japan’s nominal growth rising over the coming years, the revised policy by the BOJ still remains loose, supporting the case for Japanese equities. Historically, a weaker yen has benefitted the performance of Japanese exporters as it enhances their competitive advantage. Adopting a tilt towards dividend-paying Japanese equities is likely to reap the benefits of not only a weaker yen but also corporate governance reforms.
Conclusion
As we progress into year-end, the outlook remains more nuanced. In the US, we favour value and dividend stocks as equity market breadth improves. While China’s problems in the housing sector are likely to remain a drag on domestic demand, we do see pockets of opportunity in undervalued sectors – technology and healthcare. Given the strong manufacturing headwinds facing Europe, we expect weak growth in the eurozone for the remainder of 2023, potentially favouring a tilt towards defensive stocks.
Sources
1 Bloomberg as of 11 October 2023.
2 Breadth is measured by comparing the equal weighted performance versus the market cap-weighted performance of the US stocks listed on the S&P 500 Index.
3 P/E = price to earnings ratio.
4 Euro area Bank Lending Survey (BLS), April 2023.
5 Bloomberg, WisdomTree, as of 29 September 2023. Equity risk premium is the difference between the earnings yield and the respective 10-Year Government Bond Yield.
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