Developed Countries
So Much For Détente?
Talks of a détente are premature and there is no domestic political basis in China or the US to support a true détente. Investors should not underappreciate global risk, on the basis of a détente, and should avoid Greater China equities in the next 18 months.
The Conference Board’s US Leading Economic Indicator continues to warn about the economic outlook. The month-on-month rate of change and the six-month rate of change showed the index declining at a faster pace. Weaker consumer expectations for business…
The Bank of England surprised markets with a larger-than-anticipated 50bps rate hike on Thursday, raising its policy rate to 5% versus expectations of 4.75%. Seven of the nine MPC members voted in favor of the rate increase. In particular, the rate hike is…
Oil Prices have gone through a dramatic boom bust cycle over the past 18 months. After rising almost 80% in the first quarter of 2022 following the war in Ukraine, Brent has fallen all the way back towards $70/bbl – where it was at the start of last year. …
BCA Research’s US Bond Strategy service recommends investors maintain above-benchmark portfolio duration. However, the team is monitoring bond positioning as a potential catalyst that could push yields higher. JP Morgan’s Treasury Investor Sentiment Survey…
Recent economic data reveal that Canadian household conditions remain resilient. Retail sales surprised to the upside in April. The 1.1% m/m increase follows two consecutive monthly declines and beat expectations of a 0.4% m/m rise. Similarly, the Bank of…
The Japanese yen is typically a counter-cyclical currency. As shown in the chart above, the correlation between global stock prices and the yen is usually negative. However, over the past year, the yen’s correlation with risky asset prices has shifted…
Industrial metals have been rallying in recent weeks. The London Metals Exchange Metals Index (LMEX) – a weighted index that captures the price movement of primary aluminum, zinc, nickel, lead, copper, and tin – has increased by 6.3% since late-May. Notably,…
For the most part, the US equity rally has been rather narrow this year – concentrated among stocks that investors perceive will be the key winners of recent AI developments. In the first five months of the year, only three S&P 500 sectors were in the…
According to BCA Research’s US Bond Strategy service, when the Fed’s interest rate and balance sheet policies are sending opposite signals, listen to interest rates. There seems to be some worry among investors that the coming increase in Treasury cash…