Horizon Handout August 2021

Capital Market Outlook of Berenberg Wealth & Asset Management - compact outlook on capital markets, economy, equities, bonds, economics and currencies.

Economics

  • The economy in the Eurozone is picking up. The inflation rate is still moderate at 2%.
  • Inflation is currently in the spotlight in the US. Both overall and core inflation are rising strongly.
  • Despite the rising inflation rates, central banks continue to maintain their support. Fiscal policy is also providing support.

Equities

  • Strong Q2 reporting season, analysts have increased earnings estimates for all regions and, in particular, Europe.
  • Equities remain expensively valued compared to its own history, especially in the US. However, there is no attractive alternative.
  • We expect a volatile sideways movement over the summer with little upside potential at index level.

Bonds

  • Safe government bonds have recently seen falling yields as well as flatter yield curves.
  • Euro corporate bonds: avoid duration risk, current yield more attractive at the short end.
  • In emerging markets, we favour high-yield government bonds and the local currency segment.

Alternative investments / commodities

  • OPEC production expansion is only a burden in the short term, focus should return to supply shortages in the medium term.
  • Short-term decoupling of the gold price from real interest rates, persistent ETF outflows prevented a strong recovery.
  • Declining economic upswing momentum caused a short-lived correction in the industrial metals in July.

Currencies

  • The US dollar is strong - at least temporarily - and the euro lacks momentum. The ECB is also contributing to this
  • The British pound continues its sideways trend after the bearish first quarter.
  • The euro's jump from 1.08 to 1.11 in the first quarter is a thing of the past - the franc has fought its way back

Read the full article here.