This commentary reflects the views of the Wealth Management Group of Standard Chartered
Outlook 2017The year of the #pivot?
Source: Standard Chartered, Global Investment Committee
Fast changing world where information/misinformation travels at an ever-increasing speed through cyber-space
Pivot can be defined as ‘keeping one
foot firmly grounded while you shift the
other in a new direction’
Degree of uncertainty surrounds the
magnitude and pace of the pivots
The year of the #pivot?
From Pax Americana to multi-polarity
The rise of China and the relative decline of the US
will likely lead to rising tensions, especially in Asia,
which infers a potential Asian pivot away from the US
towards China. History has taught us that multi-
polarity can often lead to ‘black swan’ events
From monetary to fiscal
Ever since 1999,
economies have been
supported by extremely
loose monetary policy
settings. However, the US
is now taking a leading
role in boosting fiscal
policies via tax cuts and
increased infrastructure /
defense spending to spur
economic activity
From deflation to inflation
Deflationary fears against the backdrop of sluggish
growth and high debt levels are fading. Recent
economic data and rising oil prices have supported
the case for rising inflation.
From globalisation towards protectionism
Globalisation has been a key feature for many
decades. However, the rise in populism risks a
swing towards increased protectionism in global
trade. The US is at the forefront of this shift.
Source: Standard Chartered, Global Investment Committee
Our four pivots
Macro: Inflation expectations are rising amid tighter labour markets and higher commodity pricesLong-term market-based inflation expectations in the US, UK and the Euro area
5-year, 5-year inflation swap rates
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
Macro: Emerging Markets are recovering
EM-DM growth differential is likely to widen for the first time since the financial crisis
EM and DM growth trend and consensus estimate for 2017 (%); Growth differential between EM and DM
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
%%
Macro: Asian exports have been under pressure for the past two years, but there are nascent signs of an upturnExport growth trend for major Asian exporters
% y/y
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
Singapore: Job creation has softened, but wage growth has accelerated% y/y (LHS); ’000 (RHS)
Source: WTO, CEIC, Standard Chartered
*Note that probabilities do not add up to 100% as all scenarios are not captured here. Figures in brackets represent GIC probabilities in June 2016 while figures outside represent current probabilitiesSource: Standard Chartered, Global Investment Committee
‘Reflation’ and
‘Muddle-through’
are most likely,
with ‘Stagflation’
and ‘Deflation’
as outside risks Mediocre growth
Low inflation
Accommodative monetary policies
Neutral fiscal policies
Accelerating growth and rising inflation
Easier fiscal policies
Still-accommodative monetary policies
Slower growth
Rising inflation
Eventually lead to tighter monetary policies
Mediocre or slowing growth
Falling inflation
Eventually lead to easier monetary policies
Muddle-through
Probability30
% (45%)
Reflation
Probability35
% (15%)
Stagflation
Probability
20% (20%)
Deflationary
downside
Probability
10% (20%)
Our core scenarios
Source: Standard Chartered, Global Investment Committee
MULTI-ASSETMulti-asset income allocation
to deliver positive absolute
returns
Balanced allocation (mix of
50% Global Equity & 50%
Global Fixed Income) to
outperform multi-asset
income allocation
BONDSCorporate bonds
to outperform government bonds
DM High Yield bonds to outperform
broader bond universe
US floating rate senior loans to
deliver positive returns
EQUITIESUS, Japan (FX-hedged)
to outperform global
equities
India, Indonesia to
outperform within Asia ex-
Japan
COMMODITIESBrent crude oil
price to be higher
by end 2017
ALTERNATIVE
STRATEGIESOur alternative strategies
allocation to deliver
positive absolute returns
in 2017
FXEUR/USD to fall
AUD/USD to rise
USD/CNY to rise
Our asset class views at a glance
Multi-asset: Pivot towards a reflationary scenarioTrends in multi-asset investing (2009 – Today)
Source: Standard Chartered
Multi-asset income: Performance strong, but weakened in Q4 as US interest rate expectations rosePerformance of multi-asset income
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
This commentary reflects the views of the Wealth Management Group of Standard Chartered
Outlook 2017: BondsThe year of the #pivot?
Bonds: Corporate credit to outperform government bondsFocus on lowering interest rate sensitivity and maintain maturity profile around 5 years
Bond preference in a rising yield environment
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
Bonds: DM HY corporate bonds and US floating rate loans are our preferred sub-asset classesWe like their lower interest rate sensitivity, attractive yield and correlation to equities
High Yield bonds and Floating Rate Senior loans total return index. Rebased to 100 on 1 Jan 2013
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
Jan-13 Oct-13 Jul-14 Apr-15 Jan-16 Oct-16
Index
US HY Total Return
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Total Return
Spike inYields
This commentary reflects the views of the Wealth Management Group of Standard Chartered
Outlook 2017: EquitiesThe year of the #pivot?
Equities: Country Preferences
Source: Standard Chartered
US
Japan
Euro area
UK
HKSGSA RUMX
Korea
India
ChinaAustralia
LATAM
AxJ
IDTW
BZ
MA
Overweigh
t
Neutral
Underweight
Our preferred markets as we enter 2017 include US, Japan (on a FX-hedged basis) globally, and India and Indonesia within Asia
Equities: US is one of our preferred markets
US earnings recover, led by energy
US earnings growth expectations
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
Equities: Japan also preferred on an FX-hedged basisNikkei rises and falls with USD/JPY
Japanese Nikkei Index and USD/JPY
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
This commentary reflects the views of the Wealth Management Group of Standard Chartered
Outlook 2017: FXThe year of the #pivot?
USD: Riding on higher US rate expectations
Source: Standard Chartered
Fed hikes ahead
of inflation
Global central banks
maintain stimulus
Political risk in
EU and UK
Strong EM
growth rebound
Stimulus
withdrawal outside
US
US rates lower
for longer
Strength Weakness
Balance of factors still supportive of USD strengthHowever, this depends on how the Fed responds to resurgent inflationary pressures
FX: At a Glance
Moderate USD strength, further downside in EUR and CNY, constructive on AUD
Key drivers/factors underlining our view
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
Legend: Bullish | Neutral | Bearish | � Not Supportive | � Neutral | � Supportive
Currency Outlook
Real Interest
Rate
Differentials
Risk
Sentiment
Commodity
Prices
Broad USD
StrengthComments
USD � � � n/a
Higher US rates coupled with
maintenance of policy easing in major
economies
EUR � � n/a n/aWidening rate differentials as ECB
maintains easy policy settings
JPY � � n/a n/aWidening rate differentials amid BoJ’s
yield curve control policy
GBP � � n/a n/a
Weak sentiment amid post Brexit
uncertainty and weak balance of
payment fundamentals
AUD, NZD � � � �
Moderately higher commodity prices to
be supportive while easing cycle has
likely troughed
EM FX � � � �
Modestly stronger USD is a headwind,
but moderately higher commodity
prices and stable China growth to limit
downside
CNY: Further weakness expected
Continued monetary easing in China to drive USD/CNY higher
China monetary conditions index and USD/CNY
Source: Bloomberg, Standard Chartered
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