CREDIT SUISSE SEES DIFFICULT 2010 FOR EQUITIES
Courtesy of The Pragmatic Capitalist
As we mentioned on Friday, the cards may be stacked against equities in 2010. After a spectacular year and one of the greatest rallies in the history of the equity markets stocks are now arguably overbought, overvalued and on borrowed time. Like Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse strategists believe 2010 will be a difficult year for equities.
In terms of their macro 2010 outlook CS sees 4.1% global GDP (3.3% in the U.S.) and muted
CS is positive on global
1. Employment to turn positive in Q1 in the US- corporates have overshed labour, especially in the US;
2. Corporate spending to pick up
3. China to grow strongly (10-11%) and not tighten aggressively until there is “economic overheating” (as opposed to “financial overheating”), ie not until there is an acceleration in wage growth (2011);
4. US housing continue to recover (house price-to-wage ratio close to a 40-year low);
5. The inventory rebuild is yet to occur.
The Fed will be slow to raise rates (unlikely to hike until late 2010). Normally, the first Fed rate hike is 19 months after the peak in unemployment.
Consumer to de-lever slowly as rates remain on hold.
There is still $2tr of excess US consumer leverage. If asset prices rise and rates stay low, the US consumer is likely to take the slow de-leveraging route (with the savings ratio staying around 5%).
(5) Government debt is the biggest threat: government debt does not become an issue until there is a recovery in private sector credit growth (unlikely until late 2010/11). Until then, banks fund the majority of budget deficit, keeping bond yields low. Once private sector credit demand returns, banks should find it more profitable to lend to corporates and consumers (rather than buy low yielding govies) and then bond yields are likely to rise sharply (as they did in 1993/4). The response to this is likely to be fiscal tightening (4% of GDP) and more QE (to cap real bond yields).
(a) A government bond funding crisis (late 2010 or 2011) as private sector credit growth returns
(b) Accelerating Chinese wage growth (unlikely until 2011).
Until Q3 2010 they see robust economic growth, accommodative policy, banks funding government deficits and low inflation continuing to favor equities.
Sometime in late 2010 or early/mid 2011 they see the Fed raising rates. In addition, bank loan growth is estimated to return leading to a reduction in bank bond buying. Bond yields spike and the Fed is forced to respond with easy monetary policy. Making matters worse is Chinese central bank tightening after wage growth begins to expand sharply.
In H2 2011 or 2012 monetary and fiscal tightening will lead to another recession. Chinese growth slows. Another sharp downturn ensues that finally sets the table for a long-term sustainable bull market.
In the very near-term CS remains quite positive on equities for the following reasons:
(1) Better growth/inflation trade-off than expected;
(2) 25-30% earnings growth (falling ULC, outsourcing= strong margins, revenue estimates seem 2-3% points too low);
(3) Major credit and macro variables at levels when the S&P 500 was 1280.
(4) Valuation neutral.
(5) Investors are still sceptically positioned money market funds still have above average cash levels, retail have bought far more bonds than equities and institutions appear to be underweight equities.
(6) Excess liquidity remains extreme.