Search
- Asset Allocation Insights
- Maintaining a Cautious Approach
- 2021-10-04 11:08
- Key Insights
-
- Recent market crosscurrents have bolstered our Asset Allocation Committee’s view to maintain a slight underweight to stocks relative to bonds.
- The global economic recovery shows signs of continuing, but key hurdles include fading fiscal and monetary stimulus and the potential for negative economic surprises.
Global equity markets have posted strong returns this year. However, the T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Committee has maintained a slight underweight to stocks relative to bonds since March 2021, taking into account elevated stock valuations, moderating economic growth, and fading fiscal and monetary stimulus. These issues have become more pressing.
Indeed, the Citi Global Economic Surprise Index (Figure 1), which measures the degree to which economic data compare with estimates among economists, has declined since mid‑June 2021 and entered into negative territory in late August.
The downward trend has been primarily driven by a few main factors. The global resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic attributed to the delta variant has dampened reopening plans and disrupted supply chains, while fading growth in China amid uncertainty over the country’s regulatory policy changes has also weighed on expectations. While we expect these pressures to potentially dissipate in the intermediate term, they are likely to remain sources of volatility in the near future.
Fiscal stimulus continues to support economies, though funding levels have decreased significantly since 2020 as economic activity has largely normalized. Further, substantial new fiscal spending in the U.S. faces legislative hurdles and is likely to be below previous estimates. Spending proposals on infrastructure and climate change are being debated, as are corporate tax rate increases to pay for them. Meanwhile, monetary stimulus is likely approaching a notable inflection point, with the U.S. Federal Reserve signaling intentions to begin tapering its asset purchase program. Historically, reduced liquidity has coincided with weaker equity market performance (Figure 2).
We believe that the global economy remains relatively strong, but our committee’s determination to retain a slight underweight to equities is based on our view that economic headwinds over the near term could cause volatility.
Economic Surprises Have Turned Negative
(Fig. 1) Citi Global Economic Surprise Index
September 21, 2016, through September 21, 2021.
Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.
Fading Stimulus
(Fig. 2) Change in assets of the four largest central banks1 vs. equity market performance
December 31, 2010, through August 31, 2021.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Sources: Bloomberg Finance L.P. and MSCI. T. Rowe Price analysis using data from FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. See Additional Disclosures.
1 The four largest central banks are U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Central Bank of China.
-
Additional Disclosures
MSCI. MSCI and its affiliates and third party sources and providers (collectively, “MSCI”) makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI. Historical MSCI data and analysis should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance analysis, forecast or prediction. None of the MSCI data is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such.
Financial data and analytics provider FactSet. Copyright 2021 FactSet. All Rights Reserved.
Important Information
This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investment advice or a recommendation to take any particular investment action.
The views contained herein are those of the authors as of October 2021 and are subject to change without notice; these views may differ from those of other T. Rowe Price associates.
This information is not intended to reflect a current or past recommendation concerning investments, investment strategies, or account types, advice of any kind, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or investment services. The opinions and commentary provided do not take into account the investment objectives or financial situation of any particular investor or class of investor. Please consider your own circumstances before making an investment decision.
Information contained herein is based upon sources we consider to be reliable; we do not, however, guarantee its accuracy.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. All investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. All charts and tables are shown for illustrative purposes only.
T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc.
© 2021 T. Rowe Price. All Rights Reserved. T. ROWE PRICE, INVEST WITH CONFIDENCE, and the Bighorn Sheep design are, collectively and/or apart, trademarks of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
