Schroders Market Update
Every quarter, one of our asset managers from Schroders will provide an update into how the financial market is performing. Johanna Kyrklund - Group Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Multi-Asset Investments, offers her insights on the different economic factors that influence the market conditions in the video below.
Johanna Kyrklund - Group Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Multi-Asset Investments
Johanna Kyrklund is Group Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Multi-Asset Investments at Schroders and joined in 2007. Responsible for investments on behalf of Multi-Asset clients globally and is the head portfolio manager of the Schroder Diversified Growth Strategy. Johanna leads the Multi-Asset Investments division, is a member of the Group Management Committee (GMC) and Chairs the Global Asset Allocation Committee.
Transcript
This information is a marketing communication.
The views and opinions contained herein are of Johanna Kyrklund, Group Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Multi-Asset Investments and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Schroders communications, strategies or funds.
In my last update I outlined how we expected a U-shaped recovery from the lockdowns and certain events in recent weeks have supported that view. We have seen a continuation in the rise in infections in the United States, which really reminds us of the importance of social distancing and highlights the likelihood that economic activity is likely to be supressed for the foreseeable future while we work to contain the virus.
At the same time however we have seen substantial Fiscal monetary stimulus, and this has helped Equity Markets to rally. We continue to focus on the beneficiaries of central bank liquidity. From a regional standpoint we have turned more positive on Europe and this is because the containment of the virus has been more effective in Europe and this allows lockdowns to ease a little bit over the summer and provides a bit of cyclical respite in the region.
Valuations are quite cheap and also the authorities in Europe have made it clear that they are supportive of peripheral bond spreads, which is helpful to sentiment in Europe overall. Within Equities, although some of the cyclical areas look very cheap, we remain focussed on higher quality exposures and in particular like the technology sector because it’s a clear beneficiary of the COVID-19 environment.
So all in all we are benefitting from the liquidity provided by the central banks but we still have an eye on the cyclical outlook because we are concerned that growth is likely to be weaker rather than stronger, so this is not a time to take excessive risk.
Important information
This information is not an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or to adopt any investment strategy. The material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice. Reliance should not be placed on any views or information in the material when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions. The views and opinions contained herein are those of the authors, or the individual to whom they are attributed, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other communications, strategies or funds. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amounts originally invested. The forecasts included should not be relied upon, are not guaranteed and are provided only as at the date of issue. Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Registration No. 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.