March 2024

Global Asset Allocation Viewpoints

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Welcome to our latest Asset Allocation Viewpoints - your monthly source for actionable insights on portfolio positioning from our Asset Allocation Committee and Multi-Asset team. 

Market Perspective

As of February 29, 2024

  • Firming in global growth expectations, with recent data tilted more positively, while inflation continues to decelerate across most regions.
  • U.S. growth remains most resilient amongst developed economies while weak European growth potentially bottoming. Emerging markets growth outlook improving, with hopes for stabilization in China driven by policy support.
  • While progress on inflation gives support for the U.S. Fed to pivot towards cuts, resiliency in the economy could delay the start. European Central Bank moving closer to easing amid fragile growth and as inflation has moved past its peak. Bank of Japan cautiously eyes exiting negative rate policy in the first half of this year.
  • Key risks to global markets include impacts of geopolitical tensions, central banks’ policy divergence, a retrenchment in growth, resurgence in inflation, and trajectory of Chinese growth and policy.

Portfolio Positioning

As of February 29, 2024

  • We shifted to a modest overweight position in equities, funded from cash and bonds, supported by a firming growth and disinflation backdrop, positive earnings trends, and reasonable valuations outside of large-cap growth.
  • We continued to add to large-cap value across global developed markets as we think a firming cyclical environment, where both growth and inflation stabilize from here, could favor value stocks.
  • Within fixed income, we remain modestly overweight cash relative to bonds. Cash continues to provide attractive yields and liquidity to take advantage of potential market dislocations.
  • Within fixed income, we remain overweight high yield and emerging market bonds on still attractive absolute yield levels and reasonably supportive fundamentals.

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Market Themes

As of February 29, 2024

Getting Back Together

Heading into 2024, the consensus view was the U.S. Fed was going to be the leader in cutting interest rates among developed market central banks, given its progress on inflation and higher current rates, while the ECB was seen as a laggard given stickier inflation and despite weaker growth. Fast forward to today, U.S. growth has surprised to the upside and the pace of disinflation has slowed, and the labor market has remained resilient, pushing out rate cut expectations. Conversely, a quickening in disinflation, now below the U.S., and fragile growth in the Eurozone, has pulled forward expectations of an ECB rate cut. Although, the ECB appears to also be taking a patient approach, cautiously monitoring wage growth and upcoming labor negotiations to assure that inflation pressures are abating. Ironically the diverging dynamics between the two, appears to be bringing the Fed and ECB back together again at least from a timing standpoint, with markets now pricing in rate cuts to start in June for both. And while more synchronized moves by the central banks could help mitigate volatility, there remains a lot of uncertainty between now and June, that could push them back apart.

Inflation: Eurozone Catching Down with U.S.1

As of 29 February 2024

Graph 1

Source: Bloomberg L.P.
1 U.S. Inflation represented by the U.S. Consumer Price Index Headline (Year-over-Year). Eurozone inflation represented by the Eurozone Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (Year-over-Year).

No Bull!

Within fixed income markets, the bull steepening of the yield curve has been a consensus trade among bond managers that has proven elusive thus far this year. With everyone betting that the Fed would soon be embarking on cutting rates, sending short-term yields falling faster than longer-term yields–a positive for short-term bond prices–as the curve re-steepened. The yield curve has now been inverted for a record number of months, typically a harbinger of an impending recession. The resilience of the U.S. economy and still gradual progress with disinflation is increasing the odds that the economy skirts a recession this time around. While welcomed news on the economic front, it has given the Fed breathing room to stick with the “higher for longer” plan to ensure inflation is indeed under control, and an unwelcome development for those betting short rates were coming down soon. Those hopes also extended to equity investors, bullishly expecting falling short-term yields would entice the over $6 trillion pile of cash parked in money market funds back into risk assets. While the bet on the bull steepening has proven elusive thus far, we do expect it–albeit later and more gradually playing out.

Yield Curve: Short Yields Remain Anchored

As of 29 February 2024

Graph 2

Source: Bloomberg L.P.

Regional Backdrop

As of February 29, 2024

Regional Backdrop

Click each region below for more details

Neutral
 
Positives
 
  • Federal Reserve expected to cut this year
  • Consumer spending remains strong
  • Labor market has been very resilient
  • Earnings expectations are increasing

Negatives

  • Lagged effects of monetary policy remain a risk
  • Stock valuations have become challenging
  • Wage growth could pressure corporate margins

Neutral
 
Positives

  • Bank of Canada likely to begin cutting this year
  • Labor market has been resilient
  • Inflation is gradually moderating

Negatives

  • Economic growth has slowed significantly
  • Consumer savings balances are fading sharply
  • Elevated interest rates remain a drag on spending

Underweight
 
Positives
 
  • Inflation has been steadily declining
  • European Central Bank expected to cut soon
  • Labor market has been resilient

Negatives

  • Monetary policy is restrictive
  • Economic growth remains weak
  • Geopolitical uncertainty is heightened

Neutral
 
Positives

  • Inflation has been steadily declining
  • Bank of England likely to cut this year
  • Labor market has been resilient

Negatives

  • Fiscal consolidation may need to be accelerated
  • Tight labor markets could keep wage inflation elevated
  • Bank of England may be forced to keep rates higher

Overweight
 
Positives

  • Economy welcomes inflation after decades fighting deflation
  • Corporate governance continues to gradually improve
  • Weak yen has made export prices more competitive

Negatives

  • Economic data has been mixed, challenging the reflation theme
  • Political turmoil could derail the economic policy agenda
  • Expectations are high, raising the bar for upside surprises

Neutral
 
Positives
 
  • Labor market tightness may have peaked
  • Fiscal stimulus to alleviate loss of real income
  • Economic data appears to be bottoming

Negatives

  • Reserve Bank of Australia remains more hawkish
  • Higher rates and inflation weighing on consumer confidence
  • Earnings likely to disappoint due to lack of pricing power

Overweight
 
Positives

  • Monetary tightening in most emerging markets has peaked
  • Equity valuations are attractive relative to the U.S.
  • Chinese economy incrementally improving

Negatives

  • Chinese property deleveraging continues to weigh on activity
  • Chinese consumer and business confidence fragile

Asset Allocation Positioning

As of February 29, 2024

These views are informed by a subjective assessment of the relative attractiveness of asset classes and subclasses over a 6- to 18-month horizon.

Positioning Key

Asset Classes

Sentiment remains positive as firming economic and inflation outlook should continue to drive earnings higher. Valuations are challenging, but reasonable, notably outside of large-cap growth.

Yields remain attractive, although volatility could persist as markets price in central bank expectations, as well as growth and inflation outlooks. Credit fundamentals remain supportive; however, spreads remain tight.

Cash continues to offer attractive yields and provides liquidity should market opportunities arise.

Equities

Regions

Earnings expectations improving as economic activity remains resilient and financial conditions are improving. Technology and pharmaceutical innovation is a key differentiator. However, valuations will need to be supported by strong earnings growth.

Valuations are very attractive on a relative basis. European equities remain challenged but improving with inflation falling sharply and some economic indicators bottoming. However, Chinese economic growth remains sluggish.

Valuations and currencies are attractive and monetary easing could provide support and other regions are benefitting from a rebound in exports. Chinese equities face headwinds from housing, employment, and consumer sentiment.

Style & Market Capitalization

Improving economic outlook and better financial conditions could be supportive for value. A steepening yield curve and improving prospects for energy demand should be positive for value-oriented sectors.

Growth stock valuations are challenging particularly considering weaker consumer demand from both China and Europe. Value stocks are cheap and could benefit from steeper yield curves.

Small-caps offer attractive relative valuations and stand to benefit more if rates fall from here. Heightened economic and monetary uncertainty warrants higher-quality bias.

Small-caps offer very reasonable valuations against a muted global growth profile and could benefit from any improvement in economic growth expectations.

Inflation-Sensitive

Commodity-related equities are cheap and offer an attractive hedge to potentially stickier inflation. Additionally, oil prices may be set for structural increases due to peaking productivity over an intermediate-term and over the near-term could be driven higher by rising geopolitical tensions.

Bonds

Yields remain broadly attractive. Favoring core/shorter duration as we near Fed cuts, while long-term bonds could remain vulnerable to increased supply. Credit fundamentals remain supportive.

Global central banks cautiously eyeing rate cuts as inflation and growth continue to slow. Yields look attractive on a USD hedged basis.

Longer term yields remain vulnerable to increased supply and stubborn inflation. However, sector offers ballast amid potentially weakening macro backdrop, although a sharp recession appears to be less likely.

Sector offers a hedge against sticker inflation, especially within services, and the potential that inflation rises from current levels.

Attractive absolute yield levels remain supportive, but tight spreads may be reflecting too optimistic of a backdrop. Default rates likely to rise to historical long-term averages although much appears to be priced in.

Valuations and yields remain attractive. Loans’ rate resetting feature and lower duration profile becoming less attractive as Fed looks toward rate cuts.

Yields still look modestly attractive. With central banks embarking on easing cycles and inflation continuing to moderate, EM bonds may benefit from longer duration profile.

Yields close to historical averages as expectations for central bank easing, lower inflation, and a softer dollar could be supportive of local rates and currencies.

*For pairwise decisions in style & market capitalization, positioning within boxes represent positioning in the first mentioned asset class relative to the second asset class.

The asset classes across the equity and fixed income markets shown are represented in our Multi-Asset portfolios. Certain style & market capitalization asset classes are represented as pairwise decisions as part of our tactical asset allocation framework.

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Portfolio Implementation

As of February 29, 2024

Equity

Tactical Allocation Weights

Chart1b
Chart1

Fixed Income

Tactical Allocation Weights

Chart2b
Chart2

1 U.S. small-cap includes both small- and mid-cap allocations.

Source: T. Rowe Price. Unless otherwise stated, all market data are sourced from FactSet. Copyright 2024 FactSet. All Rights Reserved.

These are subject to change without further notice. Figures may not total due to rounding.

Neutral equity portfolio weights representative of a U.S.-biased portfolio with a 70% U.S. and 30% international allocation; includes allocation to real assets equities. Core fixed income allocation representative of U.S.-biased portfolio with 55% allocation to U.S. investment grade.

Important Information

Any specific securities identified and described are for informational purposes only and do not represent recommendations.

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Information and opinions presented have been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable and current; however, we cannot guarantee the sources’ accuracy or completeness. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. The views contained herein are as of the date noted on the material and are subject to change without notice; these views may differ from those of other T. Rowe Price group companies and/or associates. Under no circumstances should the material, in whole or in part, be copied or redistributed without consent from T. Rowe Price.

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