Inflation Expectations Reach Record Levels
Global investors have regained a strongly bullish stance on the
outlook for equity markets in the second half of 2014, according to
the BofA Merrill Lynch Fund Manager Survey for July.
A net 61 percent of global asset allocators are now overweight
equities. This ranks as the survey’s highest reading on this
measure since early 2011 and represents the panel’s
second-strongest response ever.
This aggressive positioning for recovery in H2 reflects a
significant increase in investors’ inflation expectations. A net 71
percent expect global core CPI to be higher in 12 months, up 13
percentage points since last month. This marks a cyclical high for
the survey. Exposure to commodities, an asset class especially
sensitive to inflation, has risen to its strongest in more than a
year.
A growing number of investors now see inflation moving above
trend levels while global growth remains below-trend. Confidence in
macroeconomic performance still remains fairly high, though. A net
69 percent forecast that the world economy will strengthen over the
next year.
Neither valuation nor tail risks deter fund managers from their
optimism. A net 21 percent regard stock markets as overvalued – the
survey’s highest reading since 2000. Concerns over potential
Chinese debt defaults, “asset manias” and eurozone deflation have
all faded since last month. The prospect of geopolitical crises now
stands out as the greatest tail risk and threat to financial market
stability.
“Improving investor sentiment on global growth, inflation,
equities and risk-taking are all testament to a potential macro
normalization in the second half. This could eventually feed into a
normalization of rates. If growth does pick up, volatility will
rise too,” said Michael Hartnett, chief investment strategist at
BofA Merrill Lynch Research. “As Europe's recovery falters the
region is becoming a global passenger as investors pin their hopes
on growth elsewhere,” said Obe Ejikeme, European equity and
quantitative strategist.
Qualms over core Europe
Regional investors now see global re-acceleration as the
likeliest source of eurozone growth. Thirty-three percent of
respondents point to this driver after a rise of eight percentage
points month-on-month. It has overtaken a renewed stimulus program
as the panel’s primary driver of regional recovery.
Global survey respondents have further postponed the timing of
anticipated quantitative easing by the European Central Bank.
Twenty-five percent now expect QE to take place in 2015, up from
June’s 15 percent, while only 12 percent see it starting in Q3.
Against this background, the panel has lost conviction towards
European equities. Only a net 10 percent would now most favor
overweighting the region across the next year, down 11 percentage
points from June’s reading.
German equities have lost favor in particular. Only a net 12
percent of regional fund managers would overweight this market over
the next 12 months, compared to a net 31 percent last month.
Periphery appetite fading
Investors’ appetite for exposure to the eurozone periphery is
also declining. U.S. high-yield has overtaken EU peripheral debt
(down nine points month-on-month) as the investment trade that fund
managers regard as most crowded.
Confidence in periphery equities has fallen, too. Most notably,
only a net 3 percent of regional investors now see Italy as one of
the European equity markets they will seek to overweight over the
next year, down 16 percentage points from last month. Appetite for
Spain has barely weakened, however.
Call for capex
For the seventh month in a row, investors’ call for companies to
invest more in capital spending has again reached a record high.
The reading now stands at an unprecedented 65 percent and is
mirrored by a record net 71 percent judging that companies are
under-investing – the highest reading since the survey began asking
this question in 2005.
Conversely, those wanting companies to return surplus cash are
at their lowest level in five years. Only 18 percent of fund
managers are looking to companies to institute buybacks or dividend
payments – or to make acquisitions for cash.
Fund Manager SurveyAn overall total of 228 panelists with US$674
billion of assets under management participated in the survey from
3 July to 10 July 2014. A total of 179 managers, managing US$524
billion, participated in the global survey. A total of 113
managers, managing US$293 billion, participated in the regional
surveys. The survey was conducted by BofA Merrill Lynch Global
Research with the help of market research company TNS. Through its
international network in more than 50 countries, TNS provides
market information services in over 80 countries to national and
multi-national organizations. It is ranked as the fourth-largest
market information group in the world.
BofA Merrill Lynch Global ResearchThe BofA Merrill Lynch Global
Research franchise covers more than 3,500 stocks and 1,180 credits
globally and ranks in the top tier in many external surveys. Most
recently, the group was named Top Global Research Firm of 2013 by
Institutional Investor magazine; No. 1 in the 2014 Institutional
Investor All-Europe survey; No. 1 in the 2014 Institutional
Investor All-Asia survey for the fourth consecutive year; No. 1 in
the Institutional Investor 2014 Emerging EMEA Survey; No. 2 in the
2013 Institutional Investor All-America survey; No. 2 in the 2013
All-Latin America survey; and No. 2 in the 2013 All-China survey.
The group was also named No. 2 in the 2014 Institutional Investor
All-Europe Fixed Income Research survey; and No. 2 in the 2013
All-America Fixed Income survey for the second consecutive
year.
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