Mike Pyle, Global Chief Investment Strategist, Scott Thiel, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, Beata Harasim, Senior Investment Strategist and Natalie Gill, Portfolio Strategist, all part of the BlackRock Investment Institute, share their insights on global economy, markets and geopolitics. Their views are theirs alone and are not intended to be construed as investment advice.

We recently moved to a strategic overweight on credit after being underweight for the past year. Cheaper valuations compensated for the risk of corporate defaults and downgrades in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, in our view. We also prefer credit over equities on a tactical basis. Extraordinary central bank easing, including renewed purchases of corporate debt, underpin the asset class.

This information is not intended as a recommendation to invest in any particular asset class or strategy or as a promise – or even estimate – of future performance. Source: BlackRock Investment Institute. Notes: Chart shows 5-year expected returns for credit asset classes as at 31 Dec 2019 (Q4 2019) and as of April14, 2020 (Q1 2020). The total expected return is broken down in to expected loss due to default and downgrades and expected returns due to carry, valuation and rolldown or reinvestments of coupon income. Indexes used: Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Investment Grade Credit index and Bloomberg Barclays U.S. High Yield Index. Indexes are unmanaged and not subject to fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. There can be no guarantee any forecasts made will come to pass.

The pandemic has accelerated key structural trends, and calls for a wholesale review of strategic asset allocation. Valuations in investment grade credit had cheapened significantly as of mid-April, and looked set to be less of a drag on future returns than they were in late 2019. See the shrinking yellow bars in the chart above. This effect more than outweighed the negative drag from an expected rise in losses resulting from corporate downgrades and defaults (the orange bars). In high yield, valuations swung to a modest tailwind for expected returns. Valuations have since risen, but still look fair to us.

We maintain a modest pro-risk stance overall on a tactical basis, given our macro assessment of the virus shock and the strong policy response. This is balanced by a preference for assets that are high up the corporate capital structure and have policy backstops in the U.S. and Europe. These backstops go beyond investment grade credit and European peripherals, with the Federal Reserve for the first time purchasing “fallen angels” that have lost investment grade status. We prefer credit over equities as a result and are overweight in investment grade credit, high yield and euro area peripheral debt. These sectors offer attractive income in a world where decently yielding assets are hard to find. Credit (particularly high yield corporate debt) has lagged equities in the comeback rally, making it more attractive on a relative basis, in our view. Credit and equities also offer different sector exposures. Financials have a greater weight in credit, while tech has an outsized weight in equities. We prefer to take financials exposure in credit due to the strong policy backstop. Financial equities face challenges such as low rates and curbs on dividend payouts that could limit upside. And our overweight in the quality factor – even as we stay neutral overall in equities – gives us exposure to large-cap tech stocks riding secular trends.

The Federal Reserve is buying more assets relative to U.S. GDP than in the three rounds of quantitative easing that followed the global financial crisis combined. The Fed and European Central Bank look set to purchase roughly the equivalent of all the net supply across European and U.S. sovereign and corporate debt this year, by our calculations. To date, these purchases have been mostly of government debt, but the credibility of central banks’ corporate debt backstop has helped underpin credit markets. As such, investors have easily digested the highest run rate of new bond issuance since 1980 in global investment grade credit. We see issuance easing over the summer, providing a strong technical backdrop for credit.

Have credit markets already run too far? For now, we do not think so. Investment grade and peripheral bond spreads remain wider than pre-Covid levels. To be sure, the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. poses near-term risks. But overall, we see the policy revolution and a strong investor appetite for income underpinning credit markets. Equity markets look more vulnerable to sagging corporate earnings, as well as any deterioration in the key signposts we are watching: how successful economies are at the activity restart while controlling the virus spread; whether stimulus is still  reaching households and businesses in sufficient scale; and whether any signs of lasting economic scarring are emerging.

Market Updates

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of current or future results. It is not possible to  invest directly in an index. Sources: BlackRock Investment Institute, with data from Refinitiv Datastream , July 2020. Notes: The two ends of the bars show the lowest and highest returns versus the end of 2019, and the dots represent year to date returns. Emerging market (EM), high yield and global corporate investment grade (IG) returns are denominated in U.S. dollars, and the rest in local currencies. Indexes or prices used are: spot Brent crude, MSCI USA Index, the ICE U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), MSCI Europe Index, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Broad Corporate Index, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global High Yield Index, Datastream 10 year benchmark government bond (U.S. , German and Italy), MSCI Emerging Markets Index, spot gold and J.P. Morgan EMBI index.

Measures to contain the virus are being gradually eased in many developed economies, and lifted activity and employment in June. A surge of COVID-19 cases in many U.S. states threatens to undermine a recovery in mobility, which we see as closely tied to economic activity. The unprecedented policy response has boosted risk assets, leaving the U.S. resurgence of infections and policy implementation as key market risks. U.S. Congress is headed for a fiscal cliff as jobless benefits, state support and payroll protection measures are expiring soon.

Week Ahead

• July 14th:  ZEW economic sentiment survey
• July 15th: Bank of Japan policy decision
• July 16th: European Central Bank policy decision; U.S. Philly Fed business survey
• July 17th to 18th: EU Summit; University of Michigan consumer sentiment (prelim)

Leaders of the 27 EU member states are scheduled to hold their first physical summit since the coronavirus lockdown began. The two-day meeting will see leaders discuss an economic recovery package and the EU’s next seven-year budget. Europe has ramped up its stimulus efforts in line with a much needed global policy revolution to cushion the coronavirus shock.

BlackRock’s Key risks & Disclaimers:

This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of July 13th, 2020 and may change. The information and opinions are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by BlackRock, its officers, employees or agents. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader.

The information provided here is neither tax nor legal advice. Investors should speak to their tax professional for specific information regarding their tax situation. Investment involves risk including possible loss of principal. International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation, and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks are often heightened for investments in emerging/developing markets or smaller capital markets. 

Issued by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2DL.

MeDirect Disclaimers:

This information has been accurately reproduced, as received from  BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. No information has been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. This information is being distributed by MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to its customers. The information contained in this document is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or other professional advice nor does it commit MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to any obligation whatsoever. The information available in this document is not intended to be a suggestion, recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell, any securities and is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial instruments discussed in the document may not be suitable for all investors and investors must make their own informed decisions and seek their own advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments or implementing strategies discussed herein.

If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. A commission or sales fee may be charged at the time of the initial purchase for an investment and may be deducted from the invested amount therefore lowering the size of your investment. Any income you get from this investment may go down as well as up. This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rate movements thereby affecting your investment return therefrom. The performance figures quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance or a reliable guide to future performance. Any decision to invest in a mutual fund should always be based upon the details contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Document (KIID), which may be obtained from MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc.