Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist, True Insights

Jeroen Blokland

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist

Build Well-Diversified Multi-Asset Portfolios

True Insights

Our research helps investors build well-diversified multi-asset portfolios and profit from market developments. In addition, our unique and proven Macro – Sentiment – Valuation (MSV) investment framework ensures a consistent flow of new investment opportunities. Together with our market views, these opportunities will be reflected in our live ETF-based Global Multi-Asset Portfolios.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China's reopening is finally showing up in the Macro numbers. But there is still an awful lot of catching up to do.</li>
<li>We look at if the China reopening provides a buying opportunity for Chinese (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-china-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19:1" rel="noopener">iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI US)</a>) and Emerging Market (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:438:1" rel="noopener">iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM US)</a>)  Equities.</li>
<li>Going through the three pillars of our investment framework, Macro, Sentiment, and Valuation, we conclude that the outlook for EM Equities is slightly more attractive than for DM Equities.</li>
</ul>


China's reopening is finally showing up in the Macro numbers. But there is still an awful lot of catching up to do.
We look at if the China reopening provides a buying opportunity for Chinese (iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI US)) and Emerging Market (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM US))  Equities.
Going through the three pillars of our investment framework, Macro, Sentiment, and Valuation, we conclude that the outlook for EM Equities is slightly more attractive than for DM Equities.


From Lockdown to Liftoff? China’s Reopening and the Outlook for Emerging Equities (EEM)

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>The MSCI EM vs.EAFE ratio (local currency) shows EM has outperformed relative to EAFE since the DXY peaked in November 2022, and also shows signs of reversing the 2-year downtrend.</li>
<li>As long as the DXY remains below $103.50-$106, we expect outperformance from EM to continue.</li>
<li>China/Hong Kong, Greece, South Africa, and Mexico stand out as attractive countries. Our top actionable Sectors include Communications, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology. We highlight 76 attractive EM stocks.</li>
</ul>


The MSCI EM vs.EAFE ratio (local currency) shows EM has outperformed relative to EAFE since the DXY peaked in November 2022, and also shows signs of reversing the 2-year downtrend.
As long as the DXY remains below $103.50-$106, we expect outperformance from EM to continue.
China/Hong Kong, Greece, South Africa, and Mexico stand out as attractive countries. Our top actionable Sectors include Communications, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology. We highlight 76 attractive EM stocks.


EM Outperformance to Continue (Vs. EAFE) -- Add on a Pullback; DXY Needs to Hold Below $106

<ul>
<li>We previously discussed our belief that equities were in the midst of a rally/short squeeze, but that the rally is likely to fizzle in the 4100-4165 area on S&amp;P 500</li>
<li>And, as you will see below, countless other indexes and Sectors are testing important resistance levels. We continue to expect 4100-4165 on the S&amp;P 500 to cap upside</li>
<li>Buy ideas highlighted within defensives, including Consumer Staples, Health Care, and Communications: CMCSA, CHTR, UL, KHC, CAG, SJM, CPB, LLY, MRK, and NVO</li>
</ul>


We previously discussed our belief that equities were in the midst of a rally/short squeeze, but that the rally is likely to fizzle in the 4100-4165 area on S&amp;P 500
And, as you will see below, countless other indexes and Sectors are testing important resistance levels. We continue to expect 4100-4165 on the S&amp;P 500 to cap upside
Buy ideas highlighted within defensives, including Consumer Staples, Health Care, and Communications: CMCSA, CHTR, UL, KHC, CAG, SJM, CPB, LLY, MRK, and NVO


Many Indexes/Sectors Testing Resistance; Limited Upside From Here; Buys in Staples and Health Care

<ul>
<li>2023 gameplan remains unchanged; we see limited upside from here for ACWI-US, and we expect a rangebound year of trading on ACWI-US with $93 capping upside and $75-77 capping downside</li>
<li>We also remain overweight Europe/UK, we want to add exposure on pullbacks to China/Hong Kong/EM, and overweight non-U.S. equities (MSCI ACWI ex-US) relative to MSCI ACWI</li>
<li>We highlight buy ideas within Technology, Communications, and Consumer Discretionary. The UK/Europe and Hong Kong/China continue to make up the majority of our buy recommendations</li>
</ul>


2023 gameplan remains unchanged; we see limited upside from here for ACWI-US, and we expect a rangebound year of trading on ACWI-US with $93 capping upside and $75-77 capping downside
We also remain overweight Europe/UK, we want to add exposure on pullbacks to China/Hong Kong/EM, and overweight non-U.S. equities (MSCI ACWI ex-US) relative to MSCI ACWI
We highlight buy ideas within Technology, Communications, and Consumer Discretionary. The UK/Europe and Hong Kong/China continue to make up the majority of our buy recommendations


Major Top on U.S. Dollar; Overweight Non-U.S. And Europe/UK; Buys in Tech, Comm., Discretionary

Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Life Insurance Co H / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The Chinese insurance sector has mounted a strong turnaround on hopes that it will be an early beneficiary of the pivot towards reopening. China Life-H has led the rally.</li>
<li>We have seen some resistance at HKD15/share, but there is still potential for a 30% gain in a blue-sky scenario. We also expect its A/H premium to narrow further.</li>
<li>That said, we believe HKD19/share is as far as the stock will go this year, as credit risks in the insurer's investment portfolio are back in the spotlight. </li>
</ul>


The Chinese insurance sector has mounted a strong turnaround on hopes that it will be an early beneficiary of the pivot towards reopening. China Life-H has led the rally.
We have seen some resistance at HKD15/share, but there is still potential for a 30% gain in a blue-sky scenario. We also expect its A/H premium to narrow further.
That said, we believe HKD19/share is as far as the stock will go this year, as credit risks in the insurer's investment portfolio are back in the spotlight. 


China Life (2628 HK): Rally to Top Out at HKD19/Share as Credit Risks Loom Large

China

iShares MSCI China ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks to track the performance of the MSCI China Index. The Index is a free float adjusted market cap weighted index designed to measure the performance of equity securities in the top 85% in market cap of Chinese equity markets, as represented by the A-Shares, H-Shares, B-Shares, Red Chips, & P-Chips.

iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI US)

From Lockdown to Liftoff? China’s Reopening and the Outlook for Emerging Equities (EEM)

Is the China reopening a buying opportunity for Chinese/EM equities? This research note provides you with 20+ charts covering Macro, Sentiment, and...

Jeroen Blokland

EM Outperformance to Continue (Vs. EAFE) -- Add on a Pullback; DXY Needs to Hold Below $106

EM vs. EAFE ratio (local currency) shows EM has outperformed relative to EAFE since the $DXY peaked in November 2022. If the DXY remains below...

Vermilion Research

Many Indexes/Sectors Testing Resistance; Limited Upside From Here; Buys in Staples and Health Care

We continue to expect 4100-4165 on the $SPX to cap upside. Many other indexes and Sectors are also testing important resistance levels dating back...

Vermilion Research

Major Top on U.S. Dollar; Overweight Non-U.S. And Europe/UK; Buys in Tech, Comm., Discretionary

The $DXY broke below 5-year support at $103, signaling a major top in place. This is bullish for risk assets, and is another sign suggesting the...

Vermilion Research

From Lockdown to Liftoff? China’s Reopening and the Outlook for Emerging Equities (EEM)

Is the China reopening a buying opportunity for Chinese/EM equities? This research note provides you with 20+ charts covering Macro, Sentiment, and...

Jeroen Blokland

EM Outperformance to Continue (Vs. EAFE) -- Add on a Pullback; DXY Needs to Hold Below $106

EM vs. EAFE ratio (local currency) shows EM has outperformed relative to EAFE since the $DXY peaked in November 2022. If the DXY remains below...

Vermilion Research

Many Indexes/Sectors Testing Resistance; Limited Upside From Here; Buys in Staples and Health Care

We continue to expect 4100-4165 on the $SPX to cap upside. Many other indexes and Sectors are also testing important resistance levels dating back...

Vermilion Research

Major Top on U.S. Dollar; Overweight Non-U.S. And Europe/UK; Buys in Tech, Comm., Discretionary

The $DXY broke below 5-year support at $103, signaling a major top in place. This is bullish for risk assets, and is another sign suggesting the...

Vermilion Research

China Life (2628 HK): Rally to Top Out at HKD19/Share as Credit Risks Loom Large

China Life has been a star as investors embrace the reopening trade. We believe the rally still has legs, but as the dust settles, it may remain a...

Stanley Tsai, CFA