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You are leaving SSGA.com
The website you are accessing is created and maintained by another entity. We make no representation or warranty with respect to the information contained on the site or that it is appropriate in all jurisdictions or countries, or for use by all investors or counterparties. The products and services discussed at this site may not be appropriate for sale or use by all investors or counterparties. By providing this link, we are not providing you with investment advice or offering securities for sale to you. All persons and entities that access this site do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws and regulations.
You are leaving SSGA.com
The website you are accessing is created and maintained by another entity. We make no representation or warranty with respect to the information contained on the site or that it is appropriate in all jurisdictions or countries, or for use by all investors or counterparties. The products and services discussed at this site may not be appropriate for sale or use by all investors or counterparties. By providing this link, we are not providing you with investment advice or offering securities for sale to you. All persons and entities that access this site do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws and regulations.
Insights
Maintain Liquidity in a Volatile Environment
22 October 2019
This year, a series of geopolitical shocks have hit business sentiment in an already aged expansion. However, these shocks have been tempered by an almost universal adoption of easier monetary and fiscal policies.
On the US-China trade front, tensions have ratcheted up during the past few months. And in politics, turmoil persists in the US and UK.
A stall in global profit growth, due to margin compression over the past year, has amplified the downside risks. Keeping dry powder could be a solution for uneasy times.
Against this backdrop, investors should stay nimble in liquid instruments. While euro short bonds and bills are very negative, the US market enjoys both positive and higher yields.
Outside of the repo market travails, the 1–3 month T-Bills appear to be a viable option for USD portfolios and those investors who view the dollar as well anchored at its current level for the medium term.
For investors looking for a slightly longer duration, the 1–3 year US Treasury part of the curve also offers a relatively attractive yield.
How to play this theme
Find the Balance Between Sub-Trend Growth and Recession
Market expectations in 2019 have shifted from Fed tightening to easing and, potentially, to ample loosening at light speed. Last week, the OECD lowered its forecast for global growth from 3.2% to 2.9% in 2019 and 3.4% to 3.0% in 2020.
This deteriorating landscape has led bond yields across G6 countries to fall dramatically, and they could remain anchored at these levels with further accommodation on the horizon as, according to the OECD, “the effectiveness of monetary policy could be enhanced by stronger fiscal and structural policy support”.
In this environment, and despite two hawkish cuts from the Fed, the market expects further moves: the Fed may be forced to cut on further weakening economic data.
In a more adverse scenario, US Treasuries could potentially provide a safe haven, and 7–10 year maturity bonds, with duration of 6.9 and yield to maturity of 1.8%, are an interesting yield versus duration trade-off for performance. We also saw some appetite from institutional investors over the third quarter.
Figure 1: Yield, Duration and Liquidity
Source: State Street Global Advisors, Bloomberg Finance L.P., as of 27 September 2019. LQA (or Liquidity score) is measured on a scale of 1 to 100 (100 being the most liquid) that summarises the relative liquidity of an instrument in the covered universe. Liquidity in this sense is the ability to sell a security at the lowest cost for a comparable range of volumes. This data is indicative as of the date stated and is subject to change with market conditions. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Flows
European-Domiciled ETP Segment Flows (Top/Bottom 5, $mn)
European-Domiciled ETP Asset Category Flows ($mn)
Sources: Bloomberg Finance L.P., for the period10–17 October 2019. This information should not be considered a recommendation to invest in a particular sector or to buy or sell any security shown. It is not known whether the sectors or securities shown will be profitable in the future.
Fund Details
Source: State Street Global Advisors, Bloomberg Finance L.P., as of 17 October 2019.
Annualised Performance (%, expressed in fund’s base currency)
Source: State Street Global Advisors, as at 30 September 2019. Performance quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so you may have a gain or loss when shares are sold. Current performance may be higher or lower than that quoted. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Visit spdrs.com for most recent month-end performance. The calculation method for value added returns may show rounding differences. Index returns are unmanaged and do not reflect the deduction of any fees or expenses. Some of the products are not available to investors in certain jurisdictions. Please contact your relationship manager in regards to availability.