Global Asset Allocation, Politics & Governance, Ecstrat

John-Paul Smith

Global Asset Allocation, Politics & Governance

Ecstrat

Ecstrat is a consultancy advising on asset allocation between global equity markets, with a focus on the intersection of governments, geopolitics, governance and markets.
 
Over the past few years and more especially since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), investors have become more focused on short-term market movements and real-time returns and have consequently neglected the analysis of the underlying structural themes that underpin longer term performance.
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More specifically we believe that the evolution of governance-based relationships between investors, controlling shareholders, labour and the state is one of the primary determinants of both relative and absolute performance between individual equity markets.
 
We will endeavour to provide investors with some of the context surrounding governance-related issues which encompass many different disciplines including history, economics and political science, as well as the financial metrics which are the most obvious manifestation of the structural characteristics of each market.
 
We will pay particular attention to the shifts and potential inflection points for governance in individual markets as these are often the best lead indicators for both economic and market performance.

Cross Asset Strategy

In January’s ‘Government and Markets’ report, we used the themes in the 2016 GEM overview and China outlooks to introduce our intra-GEM country weightings.We provide more detail on each of these countries in the full version of this report, focusing on the economic, financial and structural governance issues that we believe will be the most important market drivers over the course of this year and beyond.

In January’s ‘Government and Markets’ report, we used the themes in the 2016 GEM overview and China outlooks to introduce our intra-GEM country weightings.We provide more detail on each of these countries in the full version of this report, focusing on the economic, financial and structural governance issues that we believe will be the most important market drivers over the course of this year and beyond.

Governance, Valuations and the Crisis of State Capitalism

Leading Independent Investment Research, Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar

Leading Independent Investment Research

Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. We offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors. 

Morningstar provides data on more than 500,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 16 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with more than $180 billion in assets under advisement or management as of June 30, 2015. We have operations in 27 countries.

Download the Morningstar Fact Sheet : http://corporate.morningstar.com/US/documents/MarketingFactSheets/AboutMorningstarFactsheet.pdf

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's outlook for midterm oil industry fundamentals, we are amending our methodology for forecasting near-term oil and gas prices.Based on our current expectation that oil supply and demand will come into balance in mid-2017, we are launching updated Brent forecasts of $50-$55 for the second half of 2017 and $55-$60 for 2018 (approximately 20% higher than current strip prices on average). We will update our oil and gas producer valuations with this new pricing by the end of the current earnings period.Analyst: Lorraine Tan, CFA

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's outlook for midterm oil industry fundamentals, we are amending our methodology for forecasting near-term oil and gas prices.Based on our current expectation that oil supply and demand will come into balance in mid-2017, we are launching updated Brent forecasts of $50-$55 for the second half of 2017 and $55-$60 for 2018 (approximately 20% higher than current strip prices on average). We will update our oil and gas producer valuations with this new pricing by the end of the current earnings period.Analyst: Lorraine Tan, CFA 

Oil and Gas Price Outlook: Updating Our Near-Term Methodology for Forecasting Prices

Transport Sector, China and Asia-focused Research

Charles De Trenck

Is Gold breaking out?We are coming close to KISS moving average indicators suggesting some further critical breakdowns in equities relative to gold, while gold to oil in the last few trading sessions broke a record set in 1973, and in terms of volatility and “absolutes” oil has probably not been cheaper in real terms.We might not be facing the same order of problem as 2008 at this stage (with the GFC so fresh in our minds), but the price guides are herding us closer to a similar sell-off situation we last saw in 2008. Best not to trade shares and focus trading on volatility (VIX, VXX, etc.) while we keep looking for our long term accumulate opportunities that appear during panic sell-offs.  Gold remains a key portfolio counterweight. Continued evidence enclosed.

Is Gold breaking out?We are coming close to KISS moving average indicators suggesting some further critical breakdowns in equities relative to gold, while gold to oil in the last few trading sessions broke a record set in 1973, and in terms of volatility and “absolutes” oil has probably not been cheaper in real terms.We might not be facing the same order of problem as 2008 at this stage (with the GFC so fresh in our minds), but the price guides are herding us closer to a similar sell-off situation we last saw in 2008. Best not to trade shares and focus trading on volatility (VIX, VXX, etc.) while we keep looking for our long term accumulate opportunities that appear during panic sell-offs.  Gold remains a key portfolio counterweight. Continued evidence enclosed.

Are We Moving from Industrial Crisis to Financial Crisis? (2008 Being a Property to Financial Move)

Global Macro Strategy

Callum Henderson

Macroeconomics

* CNY remains under pressure given the economic slowdown, concerns about debt and capital outflows* China's FX reserves look more than enough, but true adequacy depends on the nature of the FX regime* China can go forward or back on the FX regime; loosening controls on foreign flows sends a bold message* Expect greater flexibility of the CNY basket and wider bands, sooner rather than later, ahead of SDR* CNY will be a basket currency not a basket case and short-term weakness against the USD will not last

* CNY remains under pressure given the economic slowdown, concerns about debt and capital outflows* China's FX reserves look more than enough, but true adequacy depends on the nature of the FX regime* China can go forward or back on the FX regime; loosening controls on foreign flows sends a bold message* Expect greater flexibility of the CNY basket and wider bands, sooner rather than later, ahead of SDR* CNY will be a basket currency not a basket case and short-term weakness against the USD will not last

Asia Calling: CNY - A Basket Currency, Not a Basket Case

CEO, CIO, ClearMacro

Mike Simcock

CEO, CIO

Strategic & Tactical Asset Allocation Global Macro

ClearMacro

CIO, & CEO ClearMacro Ltd
An institutional investor with over 25 years experience, laterly having spent 10 years at GIC Singapore SWF. Managng Director, managing Global Macro, FIxed Income (Europe) and Global Credit businesses.
Passionate about utilising technology to enhance portfolio idea generation across global, multi-asset classes and optimisation of the investment process.

After the recent global sell off across risk assets, we ask 'is there value from a tactical allocation perspective? ClearMacro's virtual tactician "Alex" suggests not. The oil market remains firmly streteched because of the supply-demand imbalance right now offering no suggestion of a sustainable rebound. Hold-off entering tactical longs in risky assets for now.

After the recent global sell off across risk assets, we ask 'is there value from a tactical allocation perspective? ClearMacro's virtual tactician "Alex" suggests not. The oil market remains firmly streteched because of the supply-demand imbalance right now offering no suggestion of a sustainable rebound. Hold-off entering tactical longs in risky assets for now.       

China

China Shenhua Energy Company Limited is an integrated coal-based energy company focusing on the coal and power businesses in China.  The Company also owns and operates an integrated coal transportation network consisting of dedicated rail lines and port facilities.

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China Shenhua Energy Co H (1088 HK)

Governance, Valuations and the Crisis of State Capitalism

In January’s ‘Government and Markets’ report, we used the themes in the 2016 GEM overview and China outlooks to introduce our intra-GEM country...

John-Paul Smith

Oil and Gas Price Outlook: Updating Our Near-Term Methodology for Forecasting Prices

Given the large discrepancy that has emerged between 2017-18 Brent futures prices (currently $40-$47 per barrel) and the Morningstar energy team's...

Morningstar, Inc.

Are We Moving from Industrial Crisis to Financial Crisis? (2008 Being a Property to Financial Move)

Is Gold breaking out?We are coming close to KISS moving average indicators suggesting some further critical breakdowns in equities relative to...

Charles De Trenck

Asia Calling: CNY - A Basket Currency, Not a Basket Case

* CNY remains under pressure given the economic slowdown, concerns about debt and capital outflows* China's FX reserves look more than enough, but...

Callum Henderson

'Should You Trust the Bounce? '

After the recent global sell off across risk assets, we ask 'is there value from a tactical allocation perspective? ClearMacro's virtual tactician...

ClearMacro

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