I know what you missed this summer

David Zahn, head of European Fixed Income, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group.

Amid all the noise and panic in markets around the world during recent weeks—prompted in part by uncertainty over China’s economic path—it seems to have gone unremarked that the European fixed income sector has been relatively unaffected by the precipitous declines that have beset other parts of the investment landscape.

We think this shows the sector is moving on from the volatility it has experienced in the past. It also means we can hope to find investment opportunities in a market that is dislocated.

For example, it seems to us that investment grade credit in Europe—the higher-quality bonds—appears, in general, more attractive than it has been for several years.

This gives us as investment managers the chance to look again at our portfolios and perhaps engage in some reallocation.

Eurozone Quantitative Easing (QE) remains on track

It’s true that events in China, and more specifically global investors’ responses to them, have overshadowed developments in the eurozone in recent weeks. However, there have been some important changes in Europe that have put the eurozone economy at large on steadier ground.

If we look back to the beginning of the summer, there were three major tailwinds helping nudge the eurozone economy forward: the depreciation of the euro currency; the dramatically lower price of oil; and the European Central Bank’s (ECB) QE programme.

QE in the eurozone is still in place and the ECB has stated it expects the programme to run its course. In fact, in its September 3 meeting, the ECB increased the programme’s buying scope.1

Meanwhile the price of Brent crude oil has fallen to a new low for the year in August, slipping to just under $45 a barrel, declining further from July.

Euro weakness has helped benefit export growth in the region this year. While that factor has acted to support overall growth in the region, we think a lot of the growth in Europe has probably now already happened and as the euro has bounced off its 2015 lows, we would expect that growth likely to slow down through the remainder of the year.

What we think that means is the ECB will probably have to extend its QE programme beyond September 2016. Obviously this would be data dependent, but the central bank will likely want to send a clear message to the market that it will continue to be there to provide ample liquidity for the foreseeable future.

We, in Europe, are at a very different stage of the economic cycle, and are likely to continue to see an easier monetary policy approach. Of course, the eurozone does not operate in isolation—it makes up just one of the arms of the global financial system—so another potential development on our radar which could shake things up is the interest rate situation in the United States. Everybody is focused on when the US Federal Reserve will raise rates, and what the impact will be.

I don’t actually think the timing of any rate rise in itself, whether it’s this month, December or early next year, should be a concern. Tightening monetary policy should be positive for the US dollar and demonstrates the US economy has firm growth, but when it does happen, we would expect some nerves in the market which could create some opportunities.

Greek saga continues

One of the most pressing topics for investors earlier on in the summer was the effect of the Greek debt crisis on the wider eurozone. An agreement in late July brought some short-term closure to the situation, but I think it is likely that we have not heard the last of the Greece saga.

The Greek parliamentary election on September 20 may create some short-term volatility, but I don’t think it should derail any aspects of the rescue package that all sides have now agreed on. Nevertheless, I do think it does raise some headline risk that we should be aware of.

Taking an active approach

Whichever way you look at it during times of volatility, active management allows us as managers to assess our fundamental view over the next couple of years and position the portfolios accordingly. If you follow an index or invest in an index-based product, you just indiscriminately own whatever is in the index. I think the present market environment allows active managers the opportunity to be more strategic in our approach, to buy credit that was undesirable at a previous level.

Additionally, we believe it’s positive to build a portfolio that can move between different asset classes, including currencies, and also be able to adjust the duration.2 Therefore, volatility doesn’t necessarily mean bad news for active investors; on the contrary, we believe it opens up doors for those brave enough to take positions on in a longer term view.