Vescore Global Market Outlook November 2023

Several noteworthy changes have emerged in the output of our risk model, SDRM⁵, in recent weeks. While the late 80s continue to stand as a crucial reference point in our model's search for a risk environment comparable to today’s, other periods, specifically 2006 and 2018, have become increasingly significant in identifying historical parallels. This shift is attributed to the gradual retreat of some variables from extreme levels⁶, such as the term spread, which is subtly reverting to normalcy as the inversion of the yield curve diminishes.

In each of these referenced years, the US and other major developed markets witnessed the conclusion of extended policy-tightening cycles, followed by weak growth. Such cycles even escalated to recessions in 2007/08 and the 1990s. The SDRM model's current identification of similarities with the 1990s, and a subtle shift of focus from the late 80s to the 90s, signifies potentially escalating risks of a recession. The historical context reinforces this, given the severe recession that engulfed the US in the late 1990s following a banking crisis. Associated with looming recession threats is the propensity for heightened market volatility. In alignment with this, our SDRM model forecasts a modest rise in market volatility in the impending 21 days."

The global wave⁷ indicates that the global economy is maintaining its recovery trajectory. However, the foundation of this recovery appears tenuous due to two predominant factors. Firstly, there's a lack of universal momentum in the recovery process, as depicted by significant growth disparities within regions such as the Eurozone and the US. Secondly, the persistent rigor in monetary conditions, as underscored by our transition model, hampers optimistic projections of the near-term economic pathway. An exemplar of this is the historical tight liquidity, tracked by our prime global liquidity indicator (real M1), which shrunk by -8.2% year-over-year. This keeps the risk of a relapse into economic contraction for the global economy at 37%, and for developed markets even at 43%.

Developed markets: Sustained growth disparities

Developed markets exhibit a continuance in their recovery phase, albeit plagued by persistent growth divergences, particularly between the US and Europe. The Eurozone data augments the recession probability within Europe, juxtaposed with the US where economic indicators such as the Atlanta Fed nowcast have surged above 5% in October. A notable exemplification of economic resilience is evident within sectors like the labor market and therefore the consumer⁸. However, the Eurozone’s core nations like France and Germany have witnessed significant declinations in economic momentum. Analysis reveals that stringent lending criteria are increasingly impinging on growth trajectories within both Europe and the US, primarily affecting sectors sensitive to interest rates like housing and banking⁹ (Figure 2).

Emerging markets: Indications of economic revitalization in China

China’s economic landscape is displaying promising signs of stabilization, affirmed by its recent GDP release for the third quarter, with a recorded 4.9% year-over-year growth, surpassing initial consensus estimates of 4.5%. Various economic sectors such as retail and investments have bolstered this performance, with even the beleaguered housing sector exhibiting stabilization symptoms. Given these positive indicators, government aspirations for a 5% growth in 2023 appear achievable again. These developments have contributed to an economic uplift in October, minimizing disparity with other emerging markets. Regions such as Latin America manifest a robust growth momentum, whereas regions proximal to economically weakened European zones like Eastern Europe are experiencing reciprocal economic sluggishness.

Since July, our equity allocation model, GLOCAP, has been methodically diminishing its equity allocation, as illustrated in Figure 3. The primary catalyst for this month’s reduction has been the term spread, complemented to a minor degree by modifications in the credit spread and the dividend yield. There has been a slight augment in the negative contribution emanating from the latter.

October witnessed the continuation of the bear steepening of yield curves, characterized by a more rapid ascent at the long end compared to the short end. This has been instrumental in perpetuating the decline in the positive allocation contribution attributable to the term spread. A resurgence in risk aversion in October eradicated the positive contribution previously imparted by the credit spread. Persistently stringent monetary conditions are indicated by the Ted spread’s enduring negative contribution.

Our bond allocation model remains underweight in government bonds but has incrementally reduced the underweight stance, as shown in Figure 4. Momentum continues as the primary influence of the prevailing underweight position. An increasing contribution from the mean reversion model component is playing a role in lessening the underweight, while the impact of the carry component remains essentially neutral. In geographical terms, the model maintains a pronounced underweight in North America, with allocations of -10% in the USA and -9% in Canada. The UK stands as an exception, where our model maintains a slight overweight position.

Yield curves trended upwards in October, extending their bear steepening, with US 10-year yields nearing 5%, a level previously seen in 2007. Strong US economic data, a consistently tight US labor market, and sustained hawkish communication from the Fed have been pivotal in driving the rise in US yields in October. While the mean reversion's increasing positive contribution suggests bonds are becoming attractive from a valuation standpoint, persistent negative momentum indicates that further adjustment in rate expectations may still be forthcoming.