Equities

European equity markets continued their uptrend over the past four weeks on the back of positive economic surprises and a sharp fall in headline inflation as base effects in energy started to drag. The positive market trend was clearly driven by large caps and defensive growth sectors.

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European equity markets have rebounded strongly since mid-March after the sell-off due to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the United States and the financial turmoil around Crédit Suisse.

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The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, the 16th largest bank in the United States, triggered a shockwave through financial markets. Despite their resilience, European equity markets nevertheless also had to give away some ground in this environment. During this correction, and especially since the beginning of March, growth stocks outperformed value stocks, and large caps outperformed small caps.

Portfolios managed by Candriam have no exposure to any Credit Suisse security, OTC exposure or stock-lending exposure.

The year of 2022 proved to be one of the most challenging and volatile for emerging market (EM) equities.

European equity markets made a very strong start to the year, supported by easing inflation figures, both in the US and Europe, the surprisingly quick end to the zero-Covid policy in China and the relatively mild winter that has defused the energy crisis in Europe and thus the risk of a deep winter recession.

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Despite a fairly significant rally beginning in October, European equity markets, battered by major outflows since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, recorded a correction over the year 2022 (-9.5%). Although European equities finished the year on a relative outperformance compared with the United States (-13.4%) and emerging markets (-15.1%)1, the year was still a source of concern for investors, who are now asking questions about what may arise in 2023.

European equity markets registered a significant rebound from the previous month. This was mainly driven by China’s decision to ease its zero COVID-19 policy.

After a slightly hesitant start, European stock markets continued their recovery from the October lows and ended November well into the green.

European equities have rebounded over the past four weeks. The rebound was mainly driven by value stocks that have outperformed growth stocks since the last Equity Committee.

European equities closed September lower. In Europe, the energy crisis continued to dominate the headlines, as Russia completely halted gas flows through the key Nord Stream 1 pipeline at the beginning of the month.

Central banks’ commitment to bringing inflation under control, despite the inherent risks to the growth outlook, shook both equity and bond markets in August. While the summer brought historical droughts and heatwaves to many parts of the world, the global economy nevertheless continued to cool. All in all, the level of uncertainty about the outlook for the global economy remains high. This uncertainty is especially elevated in Europe, where after six months of war in Ukraine, there is no sign of a ceasefire, and where a recession seems increasingly likely this winter as the region’s energy crisis continues to intensify.

Global equity markets further corrected in June, delivering the worst first half-year returns in over 50 years (for developed markets).

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Since the beginning of the year, the European market – like its peers - has suffered a severe correction. Market participants are watching out for the low point, the green light that will allow the market to reposition itself for the long term.

Global equity markets stabilised somewhat in May after the significant correction since the beginning of the year. However, there are not a lot of new elements to digest. The Fed walked the talk and increased its rates.

The first quarter of the year was difficult for investors and April proved no different. The war in Ukraine, lockdowns in China and the prospect of substantially tighter US monetary policy all weighed on sentiment.

Global equity markets had a difficult start to the year due to inflation and interest rate fears, and the Russian invasion in Ukraine, that has resulted in a spike of both energy and raw material prices. Unfortunately, also climate-related investments haven’t been spared from the global market turmoil.

At the beginning of 2022, economic activity returned to its pre-pandemic level and the omicron wave had less of an impact on activity than previous ones.

For the second month in a row, global equity markets suffered. In the first half of February, investors were mainly focused on the pace of rate increases in the US and Europe.

Starting in record territory at the beginning of January, the global stock market corrected aggressively in tandem with rising interest rates.