pixel

URGENT ALERT: Please beware of fraudulent WhatsApp groups and other groups across Social Media pretending to be affiliated with Anchor and Anchor staff members. Do not engage with these malicious and fraudulent groups in any way. Please direct all queries to invest@anchorcapital.co.za.

Anchor Fixed Income monthly August 2019: Significant upside to SA bonds

Summary

In the August Anchor Fixed Income monthly, we highlight that the economic story continues to be one of slowing global economic growth and a moderation in inflation. In response, we have seen a risk-off environment, with market jitters about a possible global recession. In a recent Bloomberg survey, 35% of economists were anticipating a US recession over the next twelve months. However, we remain of the view that recession fears are overdone and that there is more resilience to the global economy than is being priced in. That being said, global interest rates have continued to push lower, with the US 10-year bond now yielding less than 1.50%. Conversely, we have seen South African (SA) bonds (which are perceived as risk assets) caught up in the sell off. As a result, our domestic fixed-income assets are now extremely cheap compared to global peers and history, both in relative and absolute terms. We think that this manifest itself to investors as an attractive interest yield, earned over time.

Introduction

The SA bond market sold off in August, while policy surprises meant that global yields have pulled lower, often into negative territory. This slowdown in global economic growth and inflation will keep global yields lower for longer. The divergence between SA and US bonds has also increased, making domestic bonds look attractive in both absolute and real terms. We expect that the current pricing will persist for a while, meaning investors will benefit from attractive interest accrual on the asset class. Should a search for yield reignite global interest in SA bonds, then there is significant upside to the asset class, in our view.

Concerns around growth remain

Global economic growth continues to slow with purchasing managers indices (PMIs) on a downward trend for a while. Changes over the past year are quite stark with developed market (DM) PMIs, in particular, showing significant declines.

Figure 1: Global manufacturing PMIs:

Source: Thomson Reuters

Figure 2: PMI changes in the past 12 months:

Source: Thomson Reuters

Consumers remain positive

Nevertheless, against this backdrop, consumers remain positive, probably partly in response to declining levels of global unemployment.

Figure 3: Consumer confidence indicators:

Source: Thomson Reuters

SA growth lags

Overall, global economic growth is slowing down, partly in response to the uncertainty around the direction of global policies. This slowdown is impacting both DMs and emerging markets (EMs). Unfortunately, SA growth has been lagging its EM peers and putting the country at more risk.

Figure 4: SA GDP growth relative to select EM economies:

Source: Thomson Reuters

DM yields lower, SA yields higher

Global yields pressing lower

Globally, interest rates have been trending lower as a result of slower growth and the absence of inflation. The US yield curve inverted in August, which usually portends a recession. While our base view remains that the US is unlikely to enter a recession in the next twelve months, it is also clear to us that the risk of a recession is increasing.

Figure 5: Global interest rates:

Source: Thomson Reuters

Negative yields

As this risk of a recession increases, bond yields have been pushing below zero. The EU, Japan and Switzerland all have negative rates. We believe that this will incite a search for yield amongst dividend-paying stocks and riskier bonds. For now, though, risk-off sentiment dominates markets and risk assets (such as local bonds) have sold off.

Figure 6: Global bond yield curves

Source: Thomson Reuters

Pulling the FAIR yield on SA bonds lower

Although SA bond yields have been rising, lower global inflation and yields have pulled the fair yield on SA bonds significantly lower. This trend of a lower fair yield on local bonds has been the story of the last few years, with lower domestic inflation and lower global rates.

Figure 7: SA 10-year fundamental bond:

Source: Thomson Reuters

Conclusion: SA bonds have BECOME attractive

The yield on local bonds is attractive – both in absolute and real terms. We expect that this will play out as an attractive interest accrual for now. However, when risk aversion abates and the search for yield ignites, we see significant opportunity for gains in SA bonds. We have been accumulating duration assets in our fixed income portfolios over the month.

Figure 8: Real yields comparison:

Source: Thomson Reuters

Figure 9: Growth vs real yields:

Source: Thomson Reuters

OUR LATEST NEWS AND RESEARCH

INVESTING IN YOUR NEEDS

Submit your details and we’ll give you a call back to assist and advise you on your investment.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

Subscribe to our newsletters to receive regular market commentary, research and updates from the Anchor team. Select between our Individual or Financial Advisor newsletters by selecting the relevant tab below.

WEBINAR | The Navigator – Anchor’s Strategy and Asset Allocation, 2Q24

Anchor CEO and Co-CIO Peter Armitage will host the webinar, provide an introduction to current global and local market conditions and give his thoughts on offshore equities. Together with Head of Fixed Income and Co-CIO Nolan Wapenaar, Pete will also discuss Anchor’s strategy and asset allocation for 2Q24, focusing on global equities and bonds. In addition, Fund Manager Liam Hechter will provide insights into local equities, highlighting some investment ideas; Global Equities Analyst James Bennet will discuss Ferrari and give an update on Tesla, and finally, Analyst Thomas Hendricks will participate in a Q&A with Peter, explaining the 10-year US Treasury to attendees.