Asset Allocation

The steady rise in massive deficits and debt-to-GDP ratios has made public debt a staple of the financial press. However, in the wake of European elections and the opening of excessive deficit procedures, this topic - neglected by previous governments - is once again becoming a political issue. By 2025, there will be no getting around the issue of fiscal rebalancing in developed countries.

Before the measures recently announced, China was confronted with significant deflationary forces and was struggling to meet its 5% GDP growth target. Youth unemployment rate reached 24%, consumer confidence has been at rock bottom levels for years, household consumption has remained well below pre-pandemic trends and the real estate market has been falling for four years.

We maintain a constructive outlook on equities but proceed cautiously in the short term.

The MSCI World (developed countries index) hit an all-time high in mid-July, following an almost uninterrupted 33% rise since its low point at the end of October 2023. Only a correction of around 5% in April 2024 enabled some reactive investors to jump on the bandwagon if they hadn't done so since the last quarter of last year.

After focusing on the elections in France and the UK, investors’ attention is rapidly shifting towards the United States. The first presidential debate has increased the likelihood of a second Donald Trump presidency, implying a potential risk of higher inflation in 2025.

2024 was already a key election year, with more than half of the world’s population going to the polls. French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve his own legislature in response to the European Parliament elections added to the list.

The price of gold has risen by over 17% since the beginning of the year, making it one of the best-performing assets this year. After hovering between US$1,800 and US$2,000 in 2023, the price of gold surged in March and April 2024, rapidly reaching US$2,400.

Markets got over the near-term consolidation, as both bottom-up and top-down elements were helpful: from a micro level, the Q1 earnings season was supportive on both sides of the Atlantic, following a stronger-than-expected global economy at the start of the year.

In our opinion, it is time to add cyclicity to the portfolio to benefit from an improving environment.

On April 13, Iran decided to strike Israel with 300 drones and missiles following an attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria. Regional escalation and oil price are at risk. This tail risk cannot be ignored. We are closely monitoring the unfolding situation.

Japanese equities have enjoyed a positive run since the start of the year (+20.8% performance to 27 Mar 2024 ), with the Nikkei recently hitting all-time highs, surpassing the peak of the 1989 bubble .

The transatlantic debate on central banks’ monetary policy has evolved to being just a question of timing and magnitude as the odds remain undoubtedly in favour of a soft landing.

The US market rally since October is exceptional compared to historical observations. Only once in the last 50 years, in 1989, has the S&P 500 Index risen in 15 of the last 17 weeks.

The global outlook for 2024 is complex, marked by the dual forces of economic resilience and evolving challenges. In the United States, robust growth throughout 2023, culminating in a 3.3% annualised expansion rate in Q4, sets a compelling precedent.

2022 was a landmark year for monetary policy, with Central banks shifting priority from supporting growth to taming inflation.

Following the strong rebound in financial markets in November and December of 2023, the assets most closely correlated with interest rates have partially retraced their exceptional end-of-year performance.

As financial assets performed particularly well in the final part of last year, our portfolios are now positioned to weather a consolidation phase.

We acknowledge that several tail risks have receded over the past few weeks, bringing relief to financial markets.

Our asset allocation has turned more cautious as several risks have started to materialise.

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