The sentiment expressed in The Temptations’ song “Ball of Confusion” is just as applicable to the state of the world today as it was in 1970 when the song was released – only the details have changed. “So, round and around and around we go; Where the world’s headed, nobody knows.”
Given our assumptions, we continue to anticipate that global economic growth forecasts will be lowered and that inflation forecasts will be raised. We believe that financial market volatility will continue for at least as long as this war lasts.
We continue to interpret recent trading in U.S. equities as pricing in an elevated chance of a recession within the next twelve months. This does not mean that such an outcome is inevitable. We surmise that this view has taken hold of the markets along with the assumption that the Russia-Ukraine war will persist for quite some time.
We interpret recent trading in U.S. equities to be pricing in an elevated chance of a recession within the next twelve months. We surmise that this view has taken hold of the markets as the markets seem to be assuming that the war will persist for quite some time. In its Financial Stability Report released this week, the Federal Reserve (Fed) voiced its concerns that diminished liquidity in financial markets has helped to make financial markets more volatile.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, potential variables affecting the real global economies as well as global financial markets continue to proliferate. Forecasting has become increasingly difficult as uncertainties increase.
We understand that many investors and analysts have become “comfortably numb” to the extent any narrative is constantly repeated, such as elevated inflation concerns, likelihood of a recession, supply chain issues, China lockdowns, repercussions from the war and related Russian sanctions, and a hawkish Fed. Every now and then, certain people are awakened from their “comfortably numb” state when they are “surprised.” Volatility can be expected to increase during such times.
We assume continued volatility across virtually all financial markets for at least as long as the war persists. Also, we continue to forecast higher interest rates as part of a volatile trajectory. We suppose that a well-diversified portfolio of selected high-quality stocks that includes some commodity exposure could be the best strategy for many long-term investors. Our preferred approach is to anticipate and recognize “tradable bottoms” in equity markets so that we might take advantage of attractive entry points to purchase selected equities.
Our general approach remains the same. Many long-term investors could strive to maintain a diversified portfolio of high quality stocks of companies that have strong balance sheets, somewhat predictable cash flows and an ability to maintain strong profit margins.
Our basic approach remains constant. Many long-term investors could strive to maintain a diversified portfolio of high-quality stocks of companies that have strong balance sheets, somewhat predictable cash flows and an ability to maintain strong profit margins. Additionally, these portfolios could include at least some exposure to commodities. We remain cognizant of the war’s unknown risk and possible further downside to markets at any time.
We assume under the current circumstances that backward looking means that the Fed will continue to tighten even if it expects inflationary pressures to diminish in the future. This is because inflation might be expected to slow down at some point. But the Fed will be making policy decisions based on actual data, and not on expected data. We postulate that the Fed’s frontloading of the tightening monetary policy could probably take the form of a 50 bps hike in the federal funds rate at the May meeting. Furthermore, we surmise that an announcement and implementation of the beginning of its balance sheet reduction plan might be followed by another 50 bps hike at the June meeting. Powell made it clear that the Fed must act “expeditiously” – promptly – to rein in inflation due to the increasing likelihood of inflation expectations becoming “unanchored” and “entrenched” at “uncomfortably” high levels. We understand that the timing and the nature of how the Russia-Ukraine war and related sanctions (war) will end is “unknowable.” The many outcome possibilities could range from an agreement to end the war on terms acceptable to Ukraine to horrible possibilities of the use of nuclear weapons, chemical and biological warfare, as well as cyberattacks. A March 24 Blomberg headline best describes one of our greatest concerns: “Putin stirs U.S. concern that he feels cornered and may lash out.” Our approach remains the same as last week. Many long-term investors could strive to maintain a diversified portfolio of high quality stocks of companies with strong balance sheets, somewhat predictable cash flows and an ability to maintain strong profit margins.