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>The awkward and conflicting statement of the ECB accompanying the tenth and likely final rate increase.</li>
<li>Chinese credit growth remains tepid at best, signaling downside risks for equities and the Euro.</li>
<li>Three ugly UK recession charts this week will put additional pressure on the British Pound. And our Fear &amp; Frenzy is agonizingly close to Frenzy territory, triggering a sell signal.</li>
</ul>


The awkward and conflicting statement of the ECB accompanying the tenth and likely final rate increase.
Chinese credit growth remains tepid at best, signaling downside risks for equities and the Euro.
Three ugly UK recession charts this week will put additional pressure on the British Pound. And our Fear &amp; Frenzy is agonizingly close to Frenzy territory, triggering a sell signal.


The Weekly Market Monitor – The ECB’s Unreasonable Hike While the UK Falls into Recession

<ul>
<li>Why did the seemingly marginally negative Apple news coming from China erase a whopping USD 200 billion in market cap? </li>
<li>It seems like the US labor market has wrongfooted investors again, judging from the latest ISM Services and claims data.</li>
<li>The Chinese Yuan has also rejoined its downward trend after a brief revival, and this does not bode well for equities.</li>
</ul>


Why did the seemingly marginally negative Apple news coming from China erase a whopping USD 200 billion in market cap? 
It seems like the US labor market has wrongfooted investors again, judging from the latest ISM Services and claims data.
The Chinese Yuan has also rejoined its downward trend after a brief revival, and this does not bode well for equities.


The Weekly Market Monitor – Valuation Woes and Currency Moves

Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Global equities had a strong week, with the MSCI World Index +2.62% and the S&amp;P 500 +2.55%.</li><li>The NASDAQ jumped 3.25%, while small caps led the rally this week, finishing up 3.69%.</li><li>The advance was driven by signs of a softening labor market that may make the Fed pause further interest rate hikes.</li></ul>

Global equities had a strong week, with the MSCI World Index +2.62% and the S&amp;P 500 +2.55%.The NASDAQ jumped 3.25%, while small caps led the rally this week, finishing up 3.69%.The advance was driven by signs of a softening labor market that may make the Fed pause further interest rate hikes.

The Highlights - Cannabis News for the Week Ending September 1, 2023

<ul>
<li>This week, we look at the skewed US personal income and spending data, concluding that wage growth must take over quickly to keep spending afloat. </li>
<li>This week, we look at the skewed US personal income and spending data, concluding that wage growth must take over quickly to keep spending afloat. </li>
<li>We discuss the latest developments surrounding Bitcoin and a spot Bitcoin ETF. While approval odds steadily rise, low attention and trading volumes reveal that investors are preoccupied with AI. </li>
</ul>


This week, we look at the skewed US personal income and spending data, concluding that wage growth must take over quickly to keep spending afloat. 
This week, we look at the skewed US personal income and spending data, concluding that wage growth must take over quickly to keep spending afloat. 
We discuss the latest developments surrounding Bitcoin and a spot Bitcoin ETF. While approval odds steadily rise, low attention and trading volumes reveal that investors are preoccupied with AI. 


The Weekly Market Monitor – Spending Pressure, Labor Lull, and Bitcoin Fatigue

<ul>
<li>August and September are the weakest for Equities relative to Treasuries. Staying out of equities during those months would have significantly improved the risk-return profile of a multi-asset portfolio.</li>
<li>September high yield returns are mediocre at best, underpinning that the equity component of the asset class is the return-determining factor most of the time.</li>
<li>September is the only month in which Bitcoin realized a negative return on average. Finally, Gold returns have been solid in September.</li>
</ul>


August and September are the weakest for Equities relative to Treasuries. Staying out of equities during those months would have significantly improved the risk-return profile of a multi-asset portfolio.
September high yield returns are mediocre at best, underpinning that the equity component of the asset class is the return-determining factor most of the time.
September is the only month in which Bitcoin realized a negative return on average. Finally, Gold returns have been solid in September.


Seasonality: September Is a Bad Month for ALL Risky Asset Classes

United States

The MSCI World Index is a free-float weighted equity index. It was developed with a base value of 100 as of December 31, 1969. MXWO includes developed world markets, and does not include emerging markets. MXWD includes both emerging and developed markets.

MSCI World Index (MXWO INDEX)

The Weekly Market Monitor – The ECB’s Unreasonable Hike While the UK Falls into Recession

Markets got a dovish ECB hike but wrapped in a highly conflicting message, and one that will likely qualify as a policy mistake in hindsight.

Jeroen Blokland

The Weekly Market Monitor – Valuation Woes and Currency Moves

Apple erasing USD 200 billion in market cap on marginally negative news confirms (US) Equities are priced for perfection.

Jeroen Blokland

The Highlights - Cannabis News for the Week Ending September 1, 2023

Global equities had a strong week, with the MSCI World Index +2.62% and the S&P 500 +2.55%. The NASDAQ jumped 3.25%, while small caps led the rally...

Water Tower Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – Spending Pressure, Labor Lull, and Bitcoin Fatigue

Wage growth vs. excess savings. Will the US labor market start to weaken and cause a recession? Grayscale vs. the SEC and what it means for Bitcoin.

Jeroen Blokland

Seasonality: September Is a Bad Month for ALL Risky Asset Classes

September returns for Equities, High Yield, Corporate Bonds, and Bitcoin tend to be weak, while Treasury and Gold returns are solid.

Jeroen Blokland