The Digest
Global equities traded broadly higher last week despite a mixed US election result. The MSCI Global Index up 7.7% on the week, the S&P Index was up 7.3%, the Stoxx Europe 600 was up 7% and the MSCI Asia Pacific Index was up 6.3%.1
Joe Biden’s US presidential election victory was confirmed over the weekend, yet the likelihood that Congress will be split—with Republicans in control of the Senate—has buoyed markets. This would reduce the chances increased corporate taxes and regulations on technology would pass. It should also mean that we are not too far away from some sort of fiscal stimulus package. It is worth noting that in each US election year for the last 70 years, November has been the best month for stock market performance. Meanwhile, the VIX index was down 34% on the week, suggesting uncertainty has eased.
US Election in View
Whilst a “blue wave” is still technically possible, the base case is now for a split Congress and a Republican Senate alongside a Joe Biden presidency. What does this mean for equities? Blue-wave infrastructure spending hopes may have faded a bit (which would have boosted value/cyclicals/small caps, building/construction, etc.), but stimulus certainly will come in some form from the United States (as well as Europe) and arguably, some of it has to be in these areas in order to boost the real economy.
A Biden presidency is also more favourable to these areas than a second term for Donald Trump would have been, but there is potential downside risk on moving too early and being disappointed by the eventual package if the fiscal proportion disappoints. The split Congress will likely limit any extreme skews to the distribution of stimulus, but speedy implementation would overall be positive for global equities. Less focus on fiscal spending means continued monetary easing likely, and we would expect the momentum trade to receive a boost.
A split Congress could be supportive for technology stocks, as it limits the Democrats’ ability to increase regulation. Tech is likely to resume its market leadership globally, which in turn is likely to set back the Europe/value trade. Even with a Biden win, any real change for health care/drug prices is now unlikely, given the probable split in Congress. The health care sector was one of the outperformers in global equity markets last week.
Thinking specifically on how the election result impacts equities in Europe, US defence spending is extremely important for UK and European stocks. We can arguably expect less under Biden than current president Trump, but the split Congress could be helpful here again, and geopolitical tensions remain. This means it is unlikely that spending would decline significantly, and it is already at very elevated levels.
Trade/China-exposed stocks could also do better on hopes that tensions between the United States and China are significantly reduced under a Biden presidency. Trump’s departure from the White House will be seen as a positive for China, with Trump’s successor expected to be far less combative in his approach to trade relations.
The lack of a blue wave is short-term negative for the green-deal trades, but we would guess this is short lived given the longer-term trajectory of the green trade. The structural inflows here are likely to continue, particularly in Europe where fiscal stimulus is tied into green industry—suggesting that any weakness in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)/renewables is a potential buying opportunity.
Looking ahead, there is an interesting dynamic for European political relationships. Trump has a much better relationship with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson than Biden has had in the past. In addition, the Irish Democratic caucus would likely push Biden to support a hard line on Brexit talks re Ireland, etc. However, from a European Union (EU) perspective, you would imagine German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, et al. to have breathed a sigh of relief over the weekend on the news of Biden’s victory, as the trade narrative most likely becomes less confrontational.
Europe’s COVID-19 Resurgence
COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise across Europe, prompting fresh lockdown measures and an EU growth downgrade. France posted a record number of new virus cases on Friday (58,046) as the health minister warned of a “violent” second wave sweeping the country. Virus patients now account for more than 85% of French hospitals’ initial intensive-care capacity. Daily deaths in Europe continue to climb higher and new cases in the region now far exceed the United States.
With that, the EU slashed its 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast from 6.1% to 4.1%, stating the pandemic could leave “deeper scars” than anticipated, “primarily from higher numbers of corporate bankruptcies and hysteresis effects on labour markets”.2In addition, the EU stated that “Europe’s rebound has been interrupted due to the resurgence in COVID-19 cases. In the current context of very high uncertainty, national economic and fiscal policies must remain supportive”.
It also warned that member states could follow “rather different growth trajectories” depending on the structure of their economies. Spain’s economy is forecast to contract by more than 12% this year, the biggest hit in the currency bloc and more than previously anticipated. That compares with a euro-area average of -7.8%.
Week in Review
Europe
European equities were higher across the board last week, with the STOXX Europe Index closing the week up 7%. In terms of the major indices, the Italian FTSE MIB outperformed, up 9.7% on the week. The UK FTSE 100 underperformed on the week, but still closed up 6.0%, with some of the heavier-weighted constituents lagging the broader market.
The UK exporters weren’t helped by the stronger British Pound (GBP), which was up 1.6% on the week vs. the US dollar (USD). Momentum stocks traded better in Europe, with the Momentum Index up 1.4%, whilst the Value Index was down 0.9% on the week. Sector moves throughout the week have been driven by the implications around the US election result, as noted.
With regards to Brexit negotiations, big differences remain in relation to the “level playing field” and the fisheries, according to press statements from Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. With the new US president-elect, the UK government will be very keen to resolve any Brexit-related issues regarding the Irish border, as we would expect this to be a sticking point for Biden. Nonetheless, it is likely that a trade deal with the United Kingdom may not be an immediate priority for the new US administration. Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU continue this week.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England (BoE) kept deposit rates unchanged at 10 basis points,3 and UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the government’s job-retention scheme until the end of March 2021.
United States
As discussed, major indices made impressive gains last week in the wake of the US election. The S&P 500 Index closed up 7.3%, whilst the NASDAQ Index outperformed, up 9.4% on the week. The election noise largely overshadowed other news, but the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting took place on Thursday.
As expected, the Federal Reserve (Fed) kept interest rates on hold. The Fed did strike a dovish tone, signalling it is prepped and ready to act. Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that the Committee members had a discussion about ways to increase monetary stimulus by changing the parameters of the balance-sheet policy, but that amendments were not yet necessary. The likelihood of some manner of tweaking at the December meeting is on the rise.
The monthly employment report on released on 06 November didn’t muster the attention it usually does given the obvious distractions, but nonfarm payrolls came in at +638,000 for the month of October, ahead of estimates. The unemployment rate was better than anticipated as well, coming in at 6.9%.
Global manufacturing data was also strong, with the US ISM Manufacturing Index improving sequentially and beating estimates, helped by a sharp upturn for new orders.
We are well on our way through the US earnings season now, with 90% of the S&P 500 companies having reported; 85% of those companies have beat earnings-per-share (EPS) estimates.
Asia
As with other regions, last week saw a strong performance for Asian equity markets, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index up 6.3%. Hopes of a clear outcome to the US election certainly helped sentiment later in the week. Whilst Biden is likely to continue a tough stance on US-China trade talks, he is predicted to take a less confrontational and volatile approach compared with Trump. With this move higher, the MSCI China Index is nearing all-time highs.
US election aside, the main story in Asia last week was the cancellation of the Ant Group IPO. This US$37 billion deal was the largest IPO globally and set to launch last Wednesday. At the last minute, the Chinese authorities pulled the plug on it, stating the deal failed to meet “the issuance and listing conditions or information disclosure requirements”. From a market perspective, if there were US$37 billion of funds set aside for this deal, the flow of that capital back into the market could have also underpinned indices last week.
In Japan, the Nikkei Index is now trading at levels last seen in 1991, as strong corporate earnings from the likes of Toyota helped the push higher.
Last week saw Australia’s central bank cut interest rates to a fresh record low (the rate is now 0.1%) and announced an AUD$100 billion bond-buying program as it seeks to help drive a rapid economic recovery. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) went on to state: “If the circumstances require, the board is prepared to do more and undertake additional purchases”.
In terms of macro data, the standout was stronger Chinese Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) figures. We had Caixin China Manufacturing 53.6; Services at 56.8 and the Composite at 55.7.
Week Ahead
A second wave of COVID-19 infections and a return to stricter containment measures will continue to cast a heavy shadow over Europe. Inflation data and eurozone GDP will be in focus, with the latter expected to confirm a third-quarter rebound. Still, the pace of the recovery was slowing even towards the end of the quarter, and industrial production data are likely to show slow progress in September.
While GDP figures for the United Kingdom will likely also show a healthy recovery in the third quarter, the economy will likely be almost 10% below its pre-crisis peak. With the country now in a second lockdown, GDP is set to contract in the fourth quarter.
On 9 November, talks between the United Kingdom and EU on a Brexit trade deal are scheduled to continue in London. Tuesday is EU’s target date for triggering tariffs on as much as US$4 billion of US goods in retaliation over illegal aid to Boeing Co.
Monday 9 November
- Economic/Political:
- UK-EU Brexit trade-deal talks continue. Johnson’s Internal Market Bill continues its passage through parliament (the Committee stage in the House of Lords); the World Trade Organisation plans to announce a new leader.
- ADIPEC 2020 virtual strategic conference: speakers include the energy ministers of Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Key speakers: BoE’s Andrew Bailey & Andy Haldane; ECB’s Olli Rehn & Yves Mersch.
- Data: Germany Trade & Current Account Balance.
Tuesday 10 November
- Economic/Political:
- EU’s target date for triggering tariffs on up to US$4 billion of US goods in retaliation over illegal aid to Boeing.
- Key speakers: ECB’s Knot.
- Data: Germany ZEW; France unemployment rate; UK Claimant Count & ILO unemployment rate; France Manufacturing & Industrial Production; Italy Industrial Production; US JOLTS Job Openings Rate.
Wednesday 11 November
- Economic/Political:
- OPEC monthly Oil Market Report released.
- Key speakers: ECB’s Christine Lagarde (@ ECB Forum on Central Banking)
- Data: Sweden unemployment rate.
Thursday 12 November
- Economic/Political:
- Key speakers: ECB’s Lagarde, BoE’s Bailey, Fed’s Powell at ECB Forum.
- Data: UK monthly GDP & trade balance; UK Industrial & Manufacturing Production; Germany CPI; eurozone industrial production.
Friday 13 November
- Economic/Political:
- G-20 finance ministers and central bankers meet.
- Key speakers: BoE’s Bailey; ECB’s Jens Weidmann.
- Data: France CPI; Spain CPI; eurozone GDP & trade balance.
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3. One basis point is equal to 0.01%.