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SystematicEdge Monthly Market Overview September 2020

October 6, 2020

Market Context: Financial markets show resilience despite a deteriorating pandemic and geopolitical situation

Global Macro:

China is the first major economy where the Covid-19 pandemic has virtually ended and a clear economic recovery is under way. As a result, it is the only major economy that could end the year with slight positive growth in 2020, potentially +1%. For the rest of the world, the situation is seemingly aggravated with a pandemic peak in some parts of Europe, the US, and emerging countries. Trump’s Covid-19 contamination adds uncertainty to the presidential election outcome and to the schedule of the additional fiscal stimulus to be voted in the US.

Financial Markets:

Equity markets sold off globally in September (S&P 500 -5.6%) before stabilizing as investors bought the dips. The market resilience can be attributed to the fact that investors believe the economic stimulus from the US government will be approved and the Fed will maintain its accommodative stance amid the pandemic. We believe the market will unlock its upward potential when an effective Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out. Most investors are not positioned for the economic recovery and high levels of cash are still on the sidelines. We think this situation is rather positive for the equity market in case of positive news regarding both clear US election results and the end of the pandemic.

Equity: Month to date the S&P 500 lost 5.6%, Euro Stoxx 50 -2.6%, Hang Seng -6.8%. Fixed Income: 10-year US yield decreased 5bps in September to 0.65%. Emerging market government bonds dropped 3.1% in USD and 2.8% in local currencies. High-yield corporate bonds were down 2.7% in EUR and 2.2% in USD. Currencies: USD strengthened in September: EUR -2.0%, CNY +0.5%, AUD -3.6%; safe haven JPY +0.3%, CHF -2.2%. Commodities: Oil and gold prices contracted: WTI Oil -9.3%, Gold -4.4%.

Risks:

Covid-19: As the number of daily new cases further increases in several countries, new restrictions and potential lockdowns may further delay the global economic recovery.
US fiscal stimulus delay: Disagreements between Republicans and Democrats are impeding the roll-out of a new fiscal stimulus package in the US.
US election: We expect the upcoming US presidential election to result in increased volatility in the financial markets. Democrats are looking to raise the tax rate on companies (around +10%), which would put S&P 500 valuations under pressure.
US-China tensions: US-China trade frictions remain strong. An aggravation of the tensions would have a negative impact on the economy.
Bankruptcies: The number of bankruptcies has been rising amid the economic recession and is expected to worsen in the coming months.
Tech bubble: Tech stocks are under pressure, given high valuations, the ongoing US-China trade tensions, and the challenging of tech companies’ light taxation in several countries.
UK-specific Brexit risk: The absence of an agreement between the UK and the EU could have a significant negative impact on the British economy.

Opportunity:

The HSCEI (Hang Seng China Enterprise Index) trades -16% YTD and 30% below its 2018 level, due to the US-China tensions and Hong Kong unrest. However, the index component companies have their main activity in mainland China. Moreover, the index is progressively being reshuffled as the proportion of Tech stocks, currently representing 10% of the index, goes up to 30% in the coming months as a number of Chinese Tech companies are now using Hong Kong as their sole listing or alternative listing to the US. We believe the low valuation of the index, its high dividends, and the growth potential of the new joiners will underpin its price appreciation.