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May 2022 / MULTI-ASSET SOLUTIONS

PULSe Indicator Spikes Again in Q1 2022

Amid geopolitical and pandemic concerns.

Key Insights

  • In the first quarter of 2022, the PULSe indicator spiked in March because of the Russia‑Ukraine conflict and the omicron wave of the coronavirus in China.
  • The Pandemic factor also surged in March, as China reported the highest number of daily new cases since March 2020 and the BA.2 variant of omicron hit Europe.
  •  The Uncertainty and Liquidity factors fell in March as markets started to digest the implications of the Russian sanctions on earnings and credit spreads.

PULSe is a composite indicator that is designed to monitor the state of global financial markets since the coronavirus crisis. It stands for Pandemic, Uncertainty, Liquidity, and Sentiment—four factors that we believe encompass much of the market’s dynamics. High positive values of PULSe are typically a negative sign for market stability.1

The PULSe composite indicator reached another post‑pandemic high in March as the geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe escalated sharply after Russia invaded Ukraine and while the omicron variant of the coronavirus spread in China. It has been abating since, ending the quarter only a little higher than at the start of the year.

The PULSe indicator decreased from its peak in early March, thanks to improvements in the Uncertainty (U) and the Liquidity (L) factors. PULSe was characterized as stable as of March 31, 2022.

The Pandemic (P) factor spiked above the crisis zone before edging back as the BA.2 omicron variant hit Europe and omicron spread rapidly in China. Positive test ratios rose in Europe, indicating the spread of the virus might be broader than reported. Consumer activities were negatively affected as reflected in lower Google retail mobility data.

The economic Uncertainty factor decreased as U.S. oil inventories destocked, long‑term government bond yields surged, and earnings forecasts continued to be revised higher.

The Liquidity factor plummeted as the spreads of U.S. 3‑month commercial paper, Euro IG financials, and U.S. high yield all contracted after their initial surge following the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia.

The Sentiment (Se) factor also climbed (i.e., worsened) in March due to the increased equity put/call ratio and extreme S&P 500 Index daily price movements before falling back.

Visualizing the PULSe Indicator

(Fig. 1) Expressed as an average of the four component indicators

A visual representation of the PULSe indicator

As of March 31, 2022.
Sources: Haver Analytics/Bloomberg Finance L.P. Analysis by T. Rowe Price.
For illustrative purposes only. Subject to change. The PULSe indicator has been developed by T. Rowe Price. Using different underlying indicators and data could yield different results. Future outcomes may differ significantly. Note that positive indicator values are typically a negative sign for market stability. The division of PULSe into zones is subjective, based on historical data and statistical assumptions. “Trends” represent the change in the given indicator over the stated period. Please see additional disclosures on the PULSe indicator at the end of this paper.

Radar Chart Showing the PULSe Indicator and Its Components

(Fig. 2) Radial axes expressed as z‑scores (number of standard deviations from the mean)

Chart of PULSe Indicator and Its Components

As of March 31, 2022.
Sources: Haver Analytics/Bloomberg Finance L.P. Analysis by T. Rowe Price.
For illustrative purposes only. Subject to change. The PULSe indicator has been developed by T. Rowe Price. Using different underlying indicators and data could yield different results. Future outcomes may differ significantly. “5 days,” “1 month,” and “3 months” represent the z‑score readings at those time periods prior to the current value. Please see additional disclosures on the PULSe indicator at the end of this paper.

The Four Components of PULSe

(Fig. 3) Currently only Pandemic is elevated

Line graphs showing trends of 4 PULSe components

As of March 31, 2022.
Sources: Haver Analytics/Bloomberg Finance L.P. Analysis by T. Rowe Price.
Indicator level on left‑hand side expressed as a z‑score and subjective stability zone on right‑hand side of each chart.
For illustrative purposes only. Subject to change. The PULSe indicator has been developed by T. Rowe Price. Using different underlying indicators and data could yield different results. Future outcomes may differ significantly. Note positive indicator values are typically a negative sign for market stability. The division of PULSe into zones is subjective, based on historical data and statistical assumptions. Please see additional disclosures on the PULSe indicator at the end of this paper.

Background Note

In this note, we highlight two factors that contributed meaningfully to the PULSe indicator over the month: The omicron variant spread in China showed signs of peaking, and U.S. oil inventories destocked.

1. The Omicron Variant Spread in China Showed Signs of Peaking

In late March, China reported the highest number of daily new cases since March 2020. More than 40 million people in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Jilin province came under lockdown. This confirmed the Chinese government’s determination to stick to the dynamic zero‑COVID policy at the expense of economic growth, at least in the near term. But as the lockdown‑related death toll started to mount and basic grocery supply and food distribution in Shanghai encountered obstacles, the public’s view toward reopening was seen to be shifting. COVID‑19 control measures in China’s largest industrial cities had taken a toll on the factory operation and transportation networks, putting additional pressure on global supply chains.

The Omicron Wave in China Showed Signs of Peaking

(Fig. 4) China daily new cases (5‑day average)

Line graph showing trends of Omicron cases in China reaching peak in March 2022 and slowly declining

As of March 31, 2022.
Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.

On the bright side, shortly after the National People’s Congress in March, the State Council announced a trial scheme for antigen testing. In the same week, China’s state‑owned enterprise Genertec and Pfizer signed a contract for marketing and distributing Paxlovid antiviral medication in China. Furthermore, according to Hong Kong University Medical School’s analysis of the recent virus wave, three doses of Sinovac do reduce the risk of hospitalization by 80%. Our health care research team believes that effective vaccination against severe symptoms, availability of oral antiviral drugs, and home‑based antigen testing are three prerequisites for loosening the restrictions and ultimately reopening the Chinese economy. Given the low percentage of cases with severe symptoms, China modified its COVID‑19 treatment guidelines, which specified that patients with mild symptoms are now required to quarantine at designated places instead of hospitals in order to preserve health care resources.

Toward the end of March, daily new cases in China showed signs of peaking. Nevertheless, in the near term, the spread of the omicron variant is likely to continue to disrupt economic activity. We believe China will need to take more policy actions if it is to achieve what now looks like an ambitious goal of 5.5% gross domestic product growth in 2022.

2. U.S. Oil Inventory Has Destocked

Since mid‑2020, U.S. crude oil inventory had been declining as the global economy reopened and OPEC+ pursued a conservative oil supply strategy. After stabilizing at around 415k barrels in January and February, the inventory level resumed its declining trend in March. While the previous demand‑driven destocking reflected lower economic uncertainty, the recent drop was driven by a supply shock from escalating geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe, which, on the contrary, should signal a deterioration in economic uncertainty.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the U.S., the UK, and Europe created a shock to the world energy supply with unknown duration and severity. This happened at a time when energy demand from the rest of the world was recovering steadily on the back of economic reopening. The gap between energy supply and demand has profound adverse effects on consumer spending; industrial production; CAPEX investment; and, ultimately, future productivity.

U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Remain Low

(Fig. 5) Crude oil stocks in million barrels

Line graph showing declining trend from January 2020 and January 2022

As of March 31, 2022.
Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.

Although the U.S. economy appears to be insulated from the war disruption and is self‑sufficient in oil supply, it cannot operate in a vacuum. Countries that used to rely heavily on Russian oil supply had to switch to other sources, with second order impacts on U.S. oil markets. Despite the U.S. government’s plan to release 1 million barrels of oil per day from its strategic reserves to reduce the demand‑supply gap, U.S. oil inventory inevitably embarked on a declining trend.

Increased energy supply risk rings particularly true for the European Union, which sourced more than 35% of its imported natural gas and almost 23% of its crude oil and petroleum products from Russia in 2020. Portfolio Manager Shinwoo Kim believes that policymakers in key economies are likely to seek to accelerate the push to clean energy to ensure future energy security. The transition would take significant time and investment, providing plentiful opportunities for active stock pickers. In the near term though, governments are expected to take a more pragmatic approach to the pace at which they phase out of legacy sources of energy, as supply security now becomes an important factor in shaping energy policy.

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