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 US economy grew much faster than expected in Q4, raising questions about whether yields will ever hurt economic momentum. The secret: fight higher interest burdens with more debt.</li>
<li>Employees of the ECB are happy to work there. We get that, Christine, but this doesn’t make you a great leader. Let’s talk again when the ECB must cut rates before Summer.</li>
<li>When it comes to Macro policies, China is just like everyone else. Whenever there is a problem, don’t solve it; just throw debt and liquidity at it. Chinese stocks are outperforming this week!</li>
</ul>


The US economy grew much faster than expected in Q4, raising questions about whether yields will ever hurt economic momentum. The secret: fight higher interest burdens with more debt.
Employees of the ECB are happy to work there. We get that, Christine, but this doesn’t make you a great leader. Let’s talk again when the ECB must cut rates before Summer.
When it comes to Macro policies, China is just like everyone else. Whenever there is a problem, don’t solve it; just throw debt and liquidity at it. Chinese stocks are outperforming this week!


The Weekly Market Monitor – Growth = Debt, China's Liquidity Wave & Earnings Not Falling off a Cliff

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>Changes to WTR-CMI. Following the completion of Livent’s merger of equals with Allkem, the new company, with the new name Arcadium Lithium plc, is now trading under the symbols ALTM-NYSE and LTM-ASX, and has replaced LTHM in our index.</li><li>WTR-CMI last week. The S&amp;P 500 appreciated 1.2% last week, while the broader Russell 2000 managed to stay relatively flat, losing 0.3% of its value.</li><li>Our WTR-CMI Index declined 1.2%, dragged down by double-digit losses in lithium stocks and the continuing decline in the value of synthetic graphite maker EAF. </li></ul>

Changes to WTR-CMI. Following the completion of Livent’s merger of equals with Allkem, the new company, with the new name Arcadium Lithium plc, is now trading under the symbols ALTM-NYSE and LTM-ASX, and has replaced LTHM in our index.WTR-CMI last week. The S&amp;P 500 appreciated 1.2% last week, while the broader Russell 2000 managed to stay relatively flat, losing 0.3% of its value.Our WTR-CMI Index declined 1.2%, dragged down by double-digit losses in lithium stocks and the continuing decline in the value of synthetic graphite maker EAF. 

Mat-Chem Notes - For the Week Ended January 19, 2024

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>US LEI release for December signals a weakening US economy</li>
<li>The annual growth rate of US LEI is deeply negative</li>
<li>December Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply indicating slower growth worldwide</li>
</ul>


US LEI release for December signals a weakening US economy
The annual growth rate of US LEI is deeply negative
December Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply indicating slower growth worldwide


Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

<ul>
<li>Despite the rise and rise of the Magnificent 7, clues that this has made the S&amp;P 500 Index, and hence US stocks riskier, are limited.</li>
<li>However, looking at betas against other stock market indices and other asset classes reveals that risk associated with US stocks is trending slightly higher.</li>
<li>The key takeaway from this analysis, however, is that Treasuries - showing higher volatility and less diversification benefits - ARE quickly losing their appeal within a multi-asset portfolio.</li>
</ul>


Despite the rise and rise of the Magnificent 7, clues that this has made the S&amp;P 500 Index, and hence US stocks riskier, are limited.
However, looking at betas against other stock market indices and other asset classes reveals that risk associated with US stocks is trending slightly higher.
The key takeaway from this analysis, however, is that Treasuries - showing higher volatility and less diversification benefits - ARE quickly losing their appeal within a multi-asset portfolio.


Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was down by 6.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (54.6% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 8.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 10.0%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: FE, CPWHF, GPHOF, WUC, EGT, BRDS, EOSE, BNET, GCEI, VECO</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was down by 6.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (54.6% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 8.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 10.0%.Top 10 Performers: FE, CPWHF, GPHOF, WUC, EGT, BRDS, EOSE, BNET, GCEI, VECO

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

The Weekly Market Monitor – Growth = Debt, China's Liquidity Wave & Earnings Not Falling off a Cliff

Welcome to the Weekly Market Monitor, keeping you updated on last week’s most important charts and developments in financial markets.

Jeroen Blokland

Mat-Chem Notes - For the Week Ended January 19, 2024

WTR-CMI last week. The S&P 500 appreciated 1.2% last week, while the broader Russell 2000 managed to stay relatively flat, losing 0.3% of its value.

Water Tower Research

Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...

Rikki Malik

Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

The quick answer is that the Magnificent 7 are not a significant threat to the risk-return characteristics of your portfolio. However, the case for...

Jeroen Blokland

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).

Water Tower Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – Growth = Debt, China's Liquidity Wave & Earnings Not Falling off a Cliff

Welcome to the Weekly Market Monitor, keeping you updated on last week’s most important charts and developments in financial markets.

Jeroen Blokland

Mat-Chem Notes - For the Week Ended January 19, 2024

WTR-CMI last week. The S&P 500 appreciated 1.2% last week, while the broader Russell 2000 managed to stay relatively flat, losing 0.3% of its value.

Water Tower Research

Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

​US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...

Rikki Malik

Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

The quick answer is that the Magnificent 7 are not a significant threat to the risk-return characteristics of your portfolio. However, the case for...

Jeroen Blokland

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).

Water Tower Research

US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...