The digest
Global equity markets were fairly mixed last week, ahead of a big week for central bank policy announcements. The MSCI World Index closed the week up 0.4%, while regionally, the S&P 500 Index closed up 0.4% and the STOXX Europe 600 Index was down 0.5%, whilst the MSCI Asia Pacific outperformed, up 1.7%.1
There were very few market catalysts last week, with a lot of the focus on upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and European Central Bank (ECB) interest-rate decisions. The Bank of Canada (BoC) and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) both surprised with 25 basis-point (bp) hikes, giving a hawkish feel to markets ahead of this week’s announcements.
The CBOE VIX dipped to 13.50 on Friday, its lowest level since January 2020,2 which could imply that the market is feeling relaxed heading into this week (and possibly complacent).
In terms of fund flows, there was another big weekly inflow into cash as investors took advantage of higher yields. An inflow of US$70.6 billion took year-to-date inflows into cash to US$837 billion, almost as large as the record US$917 billion in 2020.3 European-focused equity funds saw their 13th consecutive weekly outflow, shedding another US$2.6 billion.4 US equities saw a second weekly inflow of US$0.5 billion, Japan saw inflows resume (US$1.8 billion), whilst emerging markets saw another inflow of US$2.6 billion).5
FOMC and ECB preview
Focus shifts quite firmly this week to some key central bank policy decisions. On Wednesday, the FOMC holds its policy meeting, and the market currently sees a 70% chance of a pause/skip in the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) tightening cycle.6 Then, on Thursday, the market sees a 94% chance of a 25 bp ECB rate hike,7 basically a done deal.
FOMC
Before the FOMC went into its blackout period, the rhetoric from board members was on the dovish side. Also, recent data showed a downturn in regional Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs) and a jump in the national unemployment rate. The May employment report showed the largest percentage increase in unemployment since April 2020. Jobless Claims came in at their highest level since November 2021, suggesting a slowdown in the jobs market.
However, the Fed will likely be torn, with the April core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report at 0.4% and the employment report showing 339,000 new jobs added in May. All-in-all, some fairly mixed signals.
Ahead of Wednesday’s announcement, the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for May will be released. The report is expected to show that inflation cooled as gasoline prices fell. The CPI report is usually highly correlated with the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Service Prices report.
Whilst the market pricing is in a “hawkish skip”, there are some analysts calling for another rate hike—so it could prove an interesting week.
ECB
The ECB then takes centre stage on Thursday and the market view is that it will almost certainly raise all three of its key rates by 25 bps. With recent hawkish tones, focus will be on any signals from the Governing Council on when the hiking cycle may come to an end. In the lead-up to this week’s announcement, the May eurozone CPI fell sharply. But despite the welcome easing in inflation, ECB officials have continued to push the hawkish messaging of late, appearing fully committed to a June hike and possibly a further 25 bps in July, too. This represents the most aggressive hiking cycle for the ECB ever.
Moreover, ECB Governing Council member Klaas Knot suggested that market pricing of ECB rate cuts in 2024 is misguided. Knot added that once the ECB reaches its desired terminal rate then it should stay there for a “significant” period of time.8 The hawkish rhetoric has been fairly broad-based at the ECB of late. ECB President Christine Lagarde has spoken of inflationary pressures remaining “high” and that there is “no clear evidence that underlying inflation has peaked”.9
Also, the Bundesbank’s Joachim Nagel had indicated recently that “several” more rate hikes were still required.10
Last week’s eurozone macroeconomic data appeared to paint a gloomy picture. The Eurozone Citi Economic Surprise Index is back towards levels seen in July 2022, when gas was 10 times the price.11
Meanwhile, first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised lower to -0.1% month-on-month, down from the previous estimate of +0.1%, meaning the eurozone is now in a technical recession. The Composite PMI number was also revised lower to 52.8 from a flash estimate of 53.3, with readings in France and Germany both revised lower. April Factory Orders saw a sharp decline and a notable miss, down 0.4% on the month. April’s Retail Sales also missed expectations, coming in flat month-on-month.
Despite a waning macro picture, most observers see a rate hike at Thursday’s monetary policy meeting as a done deal.
Week in review
Europe
Last week was fairly uninspiring for equity markets in Europe, with investors on hold ahead of the ECB and FOMC policy announcements. The STOXX Europe 600 Index closed the week down 0.5%. Market volumes have been poor too, each day down 20% versus 100-day averages. Most of the market drivers this week came from outside of the region.
The deterioration of market breadth has been a hot topic the last couple of weeks. In Europe, the five largest stocks have accounted for 41% of the move higher in the Euro STOXX. We saw that reverse last week with investors favouring cheap value stocks. With that, and given continued Chinese stimulus hopes, basic resources stocks were market leaders last week.
Auto stocks also rose last week on news that China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a nationwide campaign promoting vehicle sales, telling banks to offer credit support for car purchases. In terms of the underperformers, chemical stocks lagged last week following a late profit warning from Croda. The insurers continued their recent weakness. Wildfires in Canada were not helping that space. Defensives were unloved again last week, with personal and household goods and food and beverage stocks declining.
United States
Last week felt like a lull between notable events—the debt ceiling situation was resolved the prior week and this week holds the release of the CPI report and Fed meeting. Trading volumes were lighter and having broken through resistance at 4200, the path of least resistance was higher for the S&P 500, which ended the week up 0.4%. Looking at the chart for the S&P 500, it is now testing 4300, where it failed to break through last summer.
Since the start of June, there has been something of a reversal to the recent outperformance of technology stocks. This was evident last week as the Nasdaq was down 0.1% and the more value-orientated, small-cap Russell 2000 was up 1.9%. Given the extent of the tech sector’s recent outperformance, the NSYE FANG+ index is up 67% year-to-date.12 It is perhaps not surprising to see some tech-sector profit taking.
Meanwhile, consumer discretionary stocks outperformed, rising last week. With the VIX at lowest level since January 2020 and the CNN Fear & Greed Index hitting “Extreme Greed” territory,13 some question whether markets are becoming complacent ahead of the CPI data release and the Fed meeting this week.
In terms of macro data, the ISM Service data fell to 50.3, the weakest level this year, from 51.9 in April. New orders declined to 52.9 from 56.1 a month earlier.
Asia Pacific
Last week was another decent one for markets in Asia, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index closing the week up 1.68%.
Equity markets in Hong Kong and Japan were the best performers, with Australia’s market again underperforming after its surprise 25 bps rate hike on Tuesday.
Looking ahead, we have a big macro week ahead in Asia. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have interest-rate decisions on Thursday, and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) makes its rate decision on Friday. In Japan, rates are expected to remain on hold with yield curve control policy maintained. Trade figures from Japan, India, and Indonesia on Thursday will show the latest state of global demand, while New Zealand also reports on its first-quarter GDP growth that day.
China
Last week was mixed for equities in China given concerns about the pace of the country’s recovery, as May inflation data indicated deflation risk.
China’s May exports came in at -7.5% year-over-year, whilst imports came in at -4.5% year-over-year. May CPI was in line with expectations at +0.2%, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) fell 4.6%.
This comes on top of weaker home and abroad demand, worrying unemployment and of course the continued sluggishness of the property sector.
The rebound has been disappointing. Chinese crude oil stockpiles provide evidence, rising to two-year highs in May as demand fell well short of expectations.
Having said that, the private Caixin/S&P Global survey of services activity rose to 57.1 in May versus April’s 56.4, its fifth successive monthly expansion since Beijing lifted pandemic restrictions in December. The Caixin survey of manufacturing activity, released the prior week, also unexpectedly rose to 50.9 in May. The bullish Caixin data countered the official PMI, which contracted in May for a second consecutive month.
People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Yi Gang played down the threat of deflation, but all this softer data has increased the likelihood the PBOC could introduce further support measures to bolster growth, with some commentators predicting that the PBOC will reduce the reserve requirement ratio and interest rates later this year to boost demand.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s equity market started the week strongly, seeing its biggest rally in three months amidst expectations that the BoJ will roll out measures to support an economic recovery.
The property and auto sectors both saw potential stimulus from the government and rallied near the end of the week. Also, the auto sector saw some positive May vehicle numbers, which helped sentiment.
Chinese authorities asked the largest biggest banks there to cut deposit rates, leading to a rally in the banks and property sectors.
Today, a Hong Kong court will decide whether to issue the government with a court order to ban a popular pro-democracy anthem, which has appeared on YouTube.
Japan
Last week marked another impressive week for Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei closing the week up 2.35%, supported by an upward revision to first-quarter economic growth.
The yen weakened further as the ongoing monetary policy divergence versus other major economies continues.
Revised GDP numbers released last week for the first quarter showed the economy grew 0.7%, which was more than expected.
On Friday, we have the BoJ rate decision. The market is still anticipating that the bank will again tweak its yield curve control policy, but these expectations have fallen a bit as Governor Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly stated that the bank will patiently continue with monetary easing until it achieves its 2% price stability target in a sustainable and stable manner, accompanied by wage increases.
Australia
Australian equities fell after last week’s surprise RBA decision to resume its campaign of interest-rate hikes. The RBA, concerned about the pace of wage inflation in the Australian economy, surprised markets by raising rates from 3.85% to 4.10%. Markets are now expecting another rate hike, increasing the probability of a recession in the next 12 months.
This week, business confidence and employment numbers will be released.
The week ahead
As discussed, investor focus is very much on the Fed, ECB and BoJ rate decisions due this week. In terms of macro data, the US CPI will be the main focus. From a European perspective, UK GDP and eurozone Industrial Production reports are key to watch. In Asia, keep an eye out for Chinese Industrial Production and Retail Sales.
Tuesday 13 June
- UK Unemployment Rate
- Germany ZEW Expectations Survey; Germany CPI revision
- Spain CPI revision
- US CPI
Wednesday 14 June
- UK Monthly GDP; UK Industrial Production
- Sweden CPIF Inflation
- Euro-area Industrial Production
- China FAI, IP and Retail Sales
- US Mortgage Applications; PPI; FOMC Rate Decision
Thursday 15 June
- ECB Main Refinancing Rate; ECB Deposit Facility Rate
- US Retail Sales; Import/Export Price Index; Jobless Claims; Empire Manufacturing and Philadelphia Manufacturing; Industrial Production; TIC
Friday 16 June
- Euro-area final CPI Inflation
- Italy Foreign Trade
- Japan BoJ rate decision
- US University of Michigan Sentiment Survey
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1. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not include fees, expenses or sales charges. Past performance is not an indicator or a guarantee of future results.
2. The CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) measures market expectations of near-term volatility conveyed by S&P 500 stock index option prices. Often called the “fear gauge”, lower readings suggest a perceived low-risk environment, while higher readings suggest a period of higher volatility.
3. Source: Bloomberg, “AI Frenzy Stalls as Tech Stocks See First Outflows in Two Months”. 9 June 2023.
4. Ibid.
5. Sources: Bank of America, EPFR data.
6. Source: Bloomberg, as of 12 June 2023. There is no assurance that any estimate, forecast or projection will be realised.
7. Ibid.
8. Source: Bloomberg, “ECB’s Knot Says Rates Must Rise, Stay High For Some Time”. 25 May 2023.
9. Source: Bloomberg, “ECB’s Lagarde Sees No Clear Evidence Core Inflation Has Peaked”. 1 June 2023.
10. Source: Reuters, “ECB may need to keep raising rates beyond summer, Nagel says”. 5 June 2023.
11. The Citigroup Economic Surprise Index represents the sum of the difference between official economic results and forecasts. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not include fees, expenses or sales charges. Past performance is not an indicator or a guarantee of future results.
12. The NYSE® FANG+™ Index includes 10 highly liquid stocks that represent industry leaders across today’s tech and internet/media companies. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not include fees, expenses or sales charges. Past performance is not an indicator or a guarantee of future results.
13. CNN’s Fear & Greed Index tracks seven indicators of investor sentiment. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not include fees, expenses or sales charges.