The Fed is the new macro
Stock markets have rallied significantly and consistently since 2009 when central banks cut interest rates to zero and increased the money supply through quantitative easing (QE) programs. Ten years later, these measures are largely still in place. Even though it is not their mandate, central banks have been supporting financial assets while promoting risk-taking without consequence. With no end in sight, economists have described this as the “new normal.”
Every now and then, central banks may attempt to bring us back to the “old normal.” In that world, lenders got paid a decent interest rate – ideally above inflation – and bad businesses got flushed out as they failed to adjust to competition and higher borrowing costs. It sounds fair, but it does not suit the objective of governments that want economic growth now, no matter the cost. So far, central banks have failed to achieve the old normal as individuals, businesses and governments are unwilling to accept higher borrowing costs and tighter credit conditions. We continue to see many companies with no earnings continue to survive because of low-cost loans. Instead of letting them fail, central banks have aided in their continued existence.
The underperformance of many stock pickers has coincided with the use of QE by central banks since the 2008-09 financial crisis. The markets have done well over this period, but those strong gains were not accompanied by strong gross domestic product. Instead, most markets’ returns have been the result of an expansion of price-earnings ratios, not earnings growth or dividends. The rising tides have lifted many companies, making individual company selection less important, even when they’re better “boats.” In this environment, passive stock selection has benefited from the rising prices of weaker companies.
It’s not hard to imagine that as the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) and other central banks around the globe start to wind up their QE programs, this trend may reverse. Weak companies will fail and stock picking will matter again. However, it seems we will be waiting a while for this. After a significant stock market decline in the fourth quarter of 2018, the Fed turned dovish at its January 2019 meeting, a 180- degree change from its message just one month before. We see this as a bailout for weak hands and a punishment for strong hands. The S&P 500 Index has posted a strong performance with benign volatility. From the Fed meeting on January 30 to March 13, 2019, the S&P 500 Index returned 7% and did not have any day with a 1% loss.
As an investor, you may start to believe that investing is no longer about the quality of a company or its earnings. Is it just about what the Fed says and does? It was not true prior to 2008, but it now seems to be the case as the Fed has become the biggest lender with a balance sheet of almost US$4 trillion. The need to restore confidence and boost economic activity was why the Fed and other central banks became more active in financial markets. Ten years later, their actions are still the dominant force in those markets.
There are a growing number of investors that pay more attention to Fed statements than company income statements or balance sheets.
At the macro level, we are respecting the possibility that the current economic cycle could last longer, and valuations and fundamentals are not the only factors to consider. While we are not in the business of guessing what the Fed’s next move is, we are paying attention to its actions and the implications for capital markets. Ultimately, interest rates and the availability of credit do affect earnings and valuations. We welcome the time when central banks bring QE to an end, share prices reflect company fundamentals and the overall performance from stock pickers improves.
Thankfully, active management is about more than stock selection. There is also opportunity to generate incremental excess returns from active asset allocation. In the portfolio construction process, we also closely examine other factors that can impact returns, including industry, country and style exposures. We will continue to manage all the variables that can influence an investor’s total return, with the goal of obtaining strong long-term results.
By Alfred Lam, CFA, Senior Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, Multi-Asset Management and Marchello Holditch, CFA, Vice-President, Multi-Asset Management.
This document is intended solely for information purposes. It is not a sales prospectus, nor should it be construed as an offer or an invitation to take part in an offer. This report may contain forward-looking statements about one or more funds, future performance, strategies or prospects, and possible future fund action. These statements reflect the portfolio managers’ current beliefs and are based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including economic, political and market changes and other developments. United pools are managed by CI Investments Inc. Assante Wealth Management is a subsidiary of CI Investments Inc. Neither CI Investments Inc. nor its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees or advisors are responsible in any way for damages or losses of any kind whatsoever in respect of the use of this report. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investments in mutual funds and the use of the Asset Management Service. Any performance data shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions or dividends and does not take into account sales, redemption or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the fund prospectus and consult your advisor before investing. Assante Wealth Management and the Assante Wealth Management design are trademarks of CI Investments Inc. This report may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any manner whatsoever, without prior written permission of Assante Wealth Management. Copyright © 2019 Assante Wealth Management (Canada) Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stock markets have rallied significantly and consistently since 2009 when central banks cut interest rates to zero and increased the money supply through quantitative easing (QE) programs. Ten years later, these measures are largely still in place. Even though it is not their mandate, central banks have been supporting financial assets while promoting risk-taking without consequence. With no end in sight, economists have described this as the “new normal.”
Every now and then, central banks may attempt to bring us back to the “old normal.” In that world, lenders got paid a decent interest rate – ideally above inflation – and bad businesses got flushed out as they failed to adjust to competition and higher borrowing costs. It sounds fair, but it does not suit the objective of governments that want economic growth now, no matter the cost. So far, central banks have failed to achieve the old normal as individuals, businesses and governments are unwilling to accept higher borrowing costs and tighter credit conditions. We continue to see many companies with no earnings continue to survive because of low-cost loans. Instead of letting them fail, central banks have aided in their continued existence.
The underperformance of many stock pickers has coincided with the use of QE by central banks since the 2008-09 financial crisis. The markets have done well over this period, but those strong gains were not accompanied by strong gross domestic product. Instead, most markets’ returns have been the result of an expansion of price-earnings ratios, not earnings growth or dividends. The rising tides have lifted many companies, making individual company selection less important, even when they’re better “boats.” In this environment, passive stock selection has benefited from the rising prices of weaker companies.
It’s not hard to imagine that as the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) and other central banks around the globe start to wind up their QE programs, this trend may reverse. Weak companies will fail and stock picking will matter again. However, it seems we will be waiting a while for this. After a significant stock market decline in the fourth quarter of 2018, the Fed turned dovish at its January 2019 meeting, a 180- degree change from its message just one month before. We see this as a bailout for weak hands and a punishment for strong hands. The S&P 500 Index has posted a strong performance with benign volatility. From the Fed meeting on January 30 to March 13, 2019, the S&P 500 Index returned 7% and did not have any day with a 1% loss.
As an investor, you may start to believe that investing is no longer about the quality of a company or its earnings. Is it just about what the Fed says and does? It was not true prior to 2008, but it now seems to be the case as the Fed has become the biggest lender with a balance sheet of almost US$4 trillion. The need to restore confidence and boost economic activity was why the Fed and other central banks became more active in financial markets. Ten years later, their actions are still the dominant force in those markets.
There are a growing number of investors that pay more attention to Fed statements than company income statements or balance sheets.
At the macro level, we are respecting the possibility that the current economic cycle could last longer, and valuations and fundamentals are not the only factors to consider. While we are not in the business of guessing what the Fed’s next move is, we are paying attention to its actions and the implications for capital markets. Ultimately, interest rates and the availability of credit do affect earnings and valuations. We welcome the time when central banks bring QE to an end, share prices reflect company fundamentals and the overall performance from stock pickers improves.
Thankfully, active management is about more than stock selection. There is also opportunity to generate incremental excess returns from active asset allocation. In the portfolio construction process, we also closely examine other factors that can impact returns, including industry, country and style exposures. We will continue to manage all the variables that can influence an investor’s total return, with the goal of obtaining strong long-term results.
By Alfred Lam, CFA, Senior Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, Multi-Asset Management and Marchello Holditch, CFA, Vice-President, Multi-Asset Management.
This document is intended solely for information purposes. It is not a sales prospectus, nor should it be construed as an offer or an invitation to take part in an offer. This report may contain forward-looking statements about one or more funds, future performance, strategies or prospects, and possible future fund action. These statements reflect the portfolio managers’ current beliefs and are based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including economic, political and market changes and other developments. United pools are managed by CI Investments Inc. Assante Wealth Management is a subsidiary of CI Investments Inc. Neither CI Investments Inc. nor its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees or advisors are responsible in any way for damages or losses of any kind whatsoever in respect of the use of this report. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investments in mutual funds and the use of the Asset Management Service. Any performance data shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions or dividends and does not take into account sales, redemption or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the fund prospectus and consult your advisor before investing. Assante Wealth Management and the Assante Wealth Management design are trademarks of CI Investments Inc. This report may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any manner whatsoever, without prior written permission of Assante Wealth Management. Copyright © 2019 Assante Wealth Management (Canada) Ltd. All rights reserved.