Faced with today’s challenging environment, investors should focus on quality across all asset classes, and favor investments that continue to generate strong cash flows and income, combined with more reasonably valued structural growth stories as well as tools to shield portfolio returns.
1. Keep a quality bias in portfolios
Faced with the current complex environment, we focus on quality across all asset classes. We favor investments with strong cash-flow generation and low leverage as the cost of capital rises, combined with more reasonably valued structural growth stories as well as tools to shield portfolio returns.
2. Upward pressure on credit spreads, prefer investment grade
We began 2022 with a cautious outlook for fixed income that has slowly turned more constructive as interest rates rise and corporate credit spreads widen. We stay up-in-quality in corporate credit with a focus on income, where investment grade credit and government bonds appear increasingly attractive for a variety of scenarios. Yields for global investment grade credit are at their highest levels in over a decade and we have built positions in this segment. As the risk of recession rises, so does the risk of defaults for the most indebted corporates. Investors should remain cautious on high yield credits for now. In emerging markets, we remain broadly neutral, with an underweight in Chinese government debt, that has seen its yield advantage over US Treasuries reverse, and are overweight Brazilian sovereign bonds, which should continue to provide attractive return.
3. Also favor value and quality in equities
Global equity valuations have declined in line with higher capital costs, while earnings have continued to grow strongly. Any earnings disappointment or higher real rates threaten the outlook. Profitability, strong cash flow generation, low debt and liquidity needs, high and stable margins, are some of the elements we look for in equities. We prefer value names in energy, financial services, industrials, materials, miners and the defensive sectors of healthcare and utilities. We have cut small capitalization, European and emerging market exposures outside China. Higher inflation and tighter financial conditions, plus the strong dollar, are weighing on emerging market growth and earnings expectations. Value stocks and the UK market remain more insulated, and may benefit from high commodity prices. It is important to differentiate within technology names, favoring companies that are better placed to pass on higher costs to clients, enjoy strong cash flows and predictable earnings.
4. Build asymmetric portfolio profiles
Options strategies such as put spreads on US and European equity indices can offer a portfolio some shelter from further drawdowns. We believe that it makes sense to remain neutral on equity markets. If central banks manage to tighten policy without triggering a recession, markets should gradually rebound from here given the degree of repricing that has already taken place. If on the other hand they fall into recession, further losses cannot be ruled out. We want to shield portfolios for the latter. Our hedging solutions have proven valuable portfolio additions to date, and we continue to extend them based on market conditions.
5. Favor Chinese equities over broader emerging market exposures
China’s equities offer a rare bright spot in markets. Earlier in the year, they had underperformed other emerging markets and valuations fell. The situation has now improved. China’s central bank is cutting interest rates, a regulatory crackdown appears to be waning, disruptions from Covid are healing, housing market debt levels are improving and the government is working to stabilize the economy ahead of its Congress later this year. In mid-May, we sold a 2% allocation to emerging market equities in favor of Chinese stocks.
6. Invest in a diversified basket of commodities
As a tool against the effects of high inflation in portfolios, we continue to favor exposure to a diversified basket of commodities. In contrast with the past 20 years, commodity markets are now more supply-driven, meaning that prices could remain supported even if demand slows. Raw materials have suffered from supply disruptions following the Ukraine war, with prices spiking in many commodities. Specifically, we like industrial metals, which continue to benefit from governments’ investments into developing infrastructure projects and the economic transition to decarbonize sources of energy, a multi-year trend. China’s reopening economy should also support demand tactically. We remain underweight gold, which is being pushed and pulled by higher inflation, market uncertainty, rising rates and the dollar’s strength.
7. US dollar strength is set to continue
The US currency is likely to remain strong in the second half of 2022 as interest rates rise. The dollar should stay well supported by uncertainties and as markets price in tighter monetary conditions. Historically, the dollar has proven a hedge against stagflation risks. A long-dollar exposure should offer a cushion in portfolios, and we expect the euro-dollar to reach 1.02 towards the end of 2022 as liquidity tightens and growth slows worldwide.
8. Volatility to persist - tactical, active portfolio strategies remain critically important
Tighter financial conditions, political instability and the risk of a monetary policy misstep mean that market volatility will persist. We believe in expressing convictions through active management. This demands a broader set of investment tools to combat the threats to a portfolio’s returns, including alternatives such as hedge funds, convex credit strategies, and a focus on sustainability. These strategies can provide de-correlated sources of performance from broader public markets. As always, tactical discipline remains key as asset allocations need to adapt quickly to reflect rapidly evolving market conditions and opportunities.
9. European direct real estate as an inflation buffer
Direct investments in European residential real estate offer another tool to lower portfolio volatility and combat the impact of inflation. In addition, exposure to the asset class can provide a regular revenue stream and the logistics sector in particular is in short supply, and so offers interesting yields.
10. Sustainability will continue to drive portfolio opportunities
Most sustainability-oriented firms that offer longer-term engineering solutions and earnings growth suffered as the cost of capital rose. The energy transition is accelerating, not slowing down, following the Ukraine war. European governments will invest in alternative energy sources, and as a result, we expect renewable energy firms to report positive earnings. Today’s volatility offers a window of opportunity to position portfolios to benefit from the de-carbonization transition in years to come. Sustainability remains the greatest investment opportunity of our generation.
The author is the Chief Investment Officer of the Swiss bank Lombard Odier, which specializes in private banking and wealth management.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on July 10, 2022.
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