Weekly Economic And Market Update

Originally published by AMP Capital

Investment markets and key developments over the past week

• Most share markets (with the exception of Chinese shares) fell over the last week on the back of a some soft US earnings reports, nervousness ahead of a likely Fed rate hike in December as the $US broke decisively higher and as investors fret about a Democrat clean sweep in the coming US election. Bond yields were flat to up slightly, oil prices rose but metal prices fell, the $US rose further but the $A was little changed.
  
  
• Seven reasons why a Fed rate hike in December and the $US breaking higher are unlikely to cause a re-run of the market scare we saw late last year/early this year. The US money market is now pricing in a 66% probability of a December Fed rate hike and this is putting renewed upwards pressure on the value of the $US and on bond yields with the latter weighing on defensive high yield share market sectors like REITs and listed infrastructure. While this could contribute to a corrective pull back in shares in the short term, a return to the turmoil seen through the second half of last year and into early this year is unlikely.

• First, the global growth outlook is a bit more positive now.

• Second, there is now a greater level of understanding and confidence that the Chinese Renminbi is not going to crash as the Chinese are targeting a relatively stable trade weighted level for the Renminbi and capital outflows from China have not accelerated.

• Third, last year poor supply/demand dynamics and a rising $US were causing a double whammy for commodity prices, which in turn was weighing on commodity producers whereas now commodity prices appear to have bottomed. This in turn is adding to confidence that the profit recession in both the US and Australia has likely ended.

• Fourth, worries about a $US funding crisis in the emerging world have receded as commodity prices have stabilised and emerging market growth is looking a bit healthier.

• Fifth, the back-up in bond yields is likely to remain gradual as global growth remains subdued, the Fed will likely remain gradual in hiking rates and any handover from monetary to fiscal policy in will also be gradual.

• Sixth, the Fed has made it clear that it is aware of the impact of US rate hikes globally and that a stronger $US does part of its job for its so there should now be greater confidence that it won't just blindly hike interest rates to the point that it threatens US/global growth.

• Finally, while defensive yield share market sectors may see more downside, cyclical share market sectors are likely to strengthen with this rotation already evident.

• From worries about a Trump presidency to worries about a Clinton/Democrat clean sweep. With the Trump campaign falling into disarray again as his fitness for presidency is once again called into question their support there is now an increasing risk that a backlash against Republicans could see them lose not just their Senate majority but also control of the House of Representatives. Such a scenario would worry investors to the extent that it would make it easier for less business friendly tax and regulation policies to be put in place that might weigh on health, energy and financial companies. The polls are clearly moving in Clinton's favour again, but it’s doubtful that it’s enough to generate a wave of support strong enough to see the Democrats take both houses of Congress. While there is a good chance the Democrats will gain a majority in the Senate (but not necessarily the 60 seat control) it’s hard to see them winning the 30 seats necessary to control the House. Current polling suggests they will pick up only around 10 seats. Sure Obama's victory in 2008 saw a Democrat clean sweep, but back then the Democrats already had small minorities in both houses of Congress which they built on whereas this time around they are starting well behind and don't have the GFC to help them. So while the probability of Clinton becoming president has gone up (from around 55% a few weeks ago to now around 70%), a Democrat clean sweep is possible but I would only raise the probability of it occurring from 5% to 10%. History shows that the best combination for shares is a Democrat president and a Republican House.\

• Finally, there is more good news on the commodity price front for Australia with the more than doubling in average coal prices flowing through to coal contract negotiations with Japan. While coal prices may not ultimately settle at current high levels they do look to have bottomed and the rise in coal prices is another sign that the terms of trade and national income have seen the worst. Higher bulk commodity prices if sustained will also see a big improvement in the Federal budget deficit and could eliminate the trade deficit. Given this along with reasonable economic growth and the rising prospect of a December Fed rate hike taking upwards pressure off the $A, the probability of a November RBA rate cut is rapidly collapsing.

Major global economic events and implication

• The minutes from the Fed's last meeting reinforced the impression that the Fed is on track to hike rates in December. But by the same token the minutes were not really hawkish with ongoing reference to "few signs of emerging inflation pressures" leaving the impression that the Fed expects to remain gradual in raising rates. US data releases were inconsequential with a slight fall in small business optimism and a fall in job openings but continuing high levels for hiring and people quitting for new jobs and jobless claims running around their lowest since 1973. Its early days in the September quarter earnings reporting season with only 30 S&P 500 companies reporting so far, but while Alcoa (NYSE:AA) kicked off with disappointment 77% of companies have so far surprised on the upside.

• Chinese export and import data for September were weaker than expected, after several months of improvement. Its a bit too early to tell whether this is a concern. In other activity data power consumption slowed to 6.9% year on year in September but auto sales rose 26% yoy. Meanwhile consumer price inflation picked up to 1.9% yoy mainly due to higher food prices and producer prices rose 0.1% yoy, their first rise in over four years. The improvement in producer price inflation is suggestive of stronger nominal economic growth in China.

Australian economic events and implications

• Both consumer and business confidence are now above long term average levels which is consistent with ongoing reasonable economic growth. Meanwhile housing finance was soft in August which appears to contrast with strong auction clearance rates, but its noteworthy that while auction clearances are high it is on declining volumes so maybe they a not as strong as they appear.

• The RBA’s Financial Stability Review indicated some lessening in concern regarding household debt as lending standards have strengthened and credit growth has slowed but it does appear to be increasingly (& understandably) concerned around the risks flowing from large increases in the supply of apartments. Overall though it see Australian banks as remaining resilient to shocks.

What to watch over the next week?

• In the US, the focus is likely to remain on election with the final presidential debate on Wednesday, consumer price inflation data will likely remain consistent with a December Fed rate hike and September quarter earnings reports will start to flow in earnest. On the data front in the US, expect to see a partial bounce back in September industrial production (Monday), a further rise in CPI inflation (Tuesday) to 1.5% year on year as the plunge in the oil price drops out but core inflation remaining around 2.3% yoy, continued strength in home builder conditions (also Tuesday) and gains in housing starts (Wednesday) and existing home sales (Thursday). Manufacturing conditions surveys for the New York and Philadelphia regions will also be released along with the Fed’s Beige Book of anecdotal evidence on the economy.\

• In Europe the focus will be on the ECB meeting (Thursday) but no change in policy is likely. A decision on extending its quantitative easing program beyond its March 2017 expiry is unlikely until the December meeting. Inflation is below target but with growth okay and the current program still having a while to run there is no reason for the ECB to decide now.

• Chinese economic data is expected to remain consistent with a stabilisation in growth. September quarter GDP growth is expected to be unchanged at 6.7% yoy and September data is expected to show a slight pick-up: in industrial production to 6.4% yoy (from 6.3%), in retail sales to 10.7% (from 10.6%) and for fixed asset investment to 8.2% (from 8.1%).

• In Australia the minutes from the last RBA Board meeting and a speech by Governor Lowe (both Tuesday) will be watched for any clues regarding the outlook for interest rates but are likely to reinforce the impression that the RBA is comfortably on hold for now. On the data front expect a 20,000 gain in employment for September but the unemployment rate to rise back to 5.7% from 5.6%.

Outlook for markets

• October is often a rough month for shares and we remain cautious on shares in the short term as event risk is high for the months ahead including ongoing debate around the Fed and ECB, issues around Eurozone banks, the US election on November 8 and the Italian Senate referendum & Austrian presidential election re-run (both on December 4). However, after any short term weakness, we anticipate shares to trend higher over the next 12 months helped by okay valuations, continuing easy global monetary conditions and moderate global economic growth.

• Ultra-low bond yields point to a soft medium term return potential from them, but it’s hard to get too bearish on bonds in a world of fragile growth, spare capacity, low inflation and ongoing shocks.

• Commercial property and infrastructure are likely to continue benefitting from the ongoing search for yield by investors.

• Dwelling price gains are expected to slow, as the heat comes out of Sydney and Melbourne thanks to poor affordability, tougher lending standards and as apartment supply ramps up which is expected to drive 15-20% price falls for units in oversupplied areas around 2018.

• Cash and bank deposits offer poor returns.

· Increasing confidence that the Fed will hike rates again by year end has taken some pressure off the $A in the short term and we continue to see the longer term trend remaining down as the interest rate differential in favour of Australia narrows as the RBA continues cutting rates and the Fed eventually resumes hiking, commodity prices remain low and the $A sees its usual undershoot of fair value.