Picture your Future. Save for it by earning 1.5% on a 1-year Term Deposit Account! Learn more.

BlackRock Commentary: Taking a page out of the EM playbook

Jean Boivin – Head of BlackRock Investment Institute together with Wei Li – Global Chief Investment Strategist, Axel Christensen – Chief Investment Strategist for Latin America and Nicholas Fawcett – Macro Research, all forming part of the BlackRock Investment Institute share their insights on global economy, markets and geopolitics. Their views are theirs alone and are not intended to be construed as investment advice.

Key Points

EMs lead the way: Developed market central banks are starting to cut policy rates. We think they will have to keep them higher for longer, as some emerging markets already are.

Market backdrop: U.S. stocks hit a fresh record high and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields slid last week after U.S. jobs data showed moderating wage growth.

Week ahead: We watch the U.S. CPI data for June this week to see where services inflation will settle. We think it will bounce back from its recent unusually low levels.

The Federal Reserve looks set to cut interest rates later this year, buoyed by inflation easing further after Q1 surprises, as this week’s CPI data should reaffirm. Yet looking ahead, the Fed and its developed market (DM) peers will have to keep rates higher for longer as inflation settles above their 2% targets, we think. Some emerging market (EM) central banks are facing this fact, pausing their rate cuts with rates well above pre-pandemic norms. We lean into quality in fixed income.

Falling inflation has allowed DM central banks, like the European Central Bank, to start cutting rates recently. The Fed and Bank of England are likely to cut later this year. We think the odds of a Fed rate cut in September are marginally higher after the June U.S. job data. An average of about 180,000 monthly jobs have been added in the past three months – a level we think the economy can sustain for now without risking wage pressures given the surge in immigration. Yet we don’t think that pace of immigration can persist. Plus, the pace of wage growth is still consistent with inflation above 2% in the medium term. The Fed has upped its long-term policy rate projections as it and its DM peers accept they’ll have to keep rates higher for longer due to supply constraints. EM central banks have been ahead in both hiking and confronting that reality after the pandemic. See the chart. ​

Many EM central banks started cutting rates earlier this year – some as early as 2023 – as growth has moderated and with support from cooling inflation. Now those EM central banks are nearing the end of their easing cycles as they confront varied constraints on how much they can cut rates. EM central banks can only go so far in cutting rates, especially when DM central banks – notably the Fed – are holding interest rates steady or slow to cut. Such a policy divergence can hurt the local currency against the U.S. dollar, and some economies are more sensitive to the resulting inflation from a weaker currency. ​

 

Higher for longer

Some EM central banks have highlighted other concerns as the driving force behind plans to pause rate cuts. Brazil’s central bank held rates at 13.75% for a year after launching hikes in 2021 from a low of 2%. It has since cut rates to 10.5% as inflation has fallen to target. But it halted rate cuts in June, citing questions over the impact of loose government fiscal policy on inflation. Poland’s central bank has frozen rates at 5.75% since October after two rate cuts. Why? Uncertainty over how the government ending measures to shield households from high energy costs will affect inflation, prompting the Polish central bank to boost its inflation forecast for next year. We see both EMs and DMs facing structural sources of higher inflation after the pandemic, including elevated public debt and geopolitical tensions leading to a rewiring of supply chains. ​

Higher-for-longer rates does not have to be bad news for risk assets, as we’ve seen this year. Top tech firms beating earnings expectations due to the artificial intelligence theme helped push stocks to record highs even as bond yields have risen on reduced Fed rate cut expectations. We stay overweight U.S. stocks and prefer quality income in short-term government bonds and credit. We went overweight EM hard currency debt, typically issued in dollars, in August 2023 just as EM central bank rate cuts were gearing up. We expected local currencies to fall against the dollar, hurting EM local currency debt. As that played out, EM hard currency debt has performed well. But we’re reassessing our view as EM central banks pause rate cuts. 

Bottom line

We think DM central banks will keep policy rates higher for longer than before the pandemic – just like EM central banks are doing now. We stay overweight EM hard currency debt yet stand ready to pivot as central banks shift policy.

Market backdrop

U.S. stocks hit a fresh record high and gained nearly 2%. Ten-year U.S. bond yields slid to 4.27% after the June U.S. jobs report and are in a rough 4.20-4.50% range over the past month. The data showed moderating wage growth but still at levels consistent with inflation staying above 2%. UK stocks were little changed after the Labour Party’s landslide election victory. France’s main stock index rose nearly 3% on the week before the final round of the parliamentary election.​

June U.S. CPI is in focus this week as Fed officials have reaffirmed that the central bank’s next move depends on data. Core services inflation, excluding housing, is proving volatile. It was unusually low last month but is likely to bounce back, so we’re watching to see if it settles at a level consistent with 2% inflation.​​

Week Ahead

July 10​: China CPI and PPI; Japan corporate goods prices​

July 11​: U.S. CPI

July 12​: U.S. University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey; China trade data

July 10-17​: China total social financing​


BlackRock’s Key risks & Disclaimers:

This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of 2nd July, 2024 and may change. The information and opinions are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by BlackRock, its officers, employees or agents. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader.

The information provided here is neither tax nor legal advice. Investors should speak to their tax professional for specific information regarding their tax situation. Investment involves risk including possible loss of principal. International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation, and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks are often heightened for investments in emerging/developing markets or smaller capital markets.

Issued by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2DL.


MeDirect Disclaimers:

This information has been accurately reproduced, as received from  BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. No information has been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. This information is being distributed by MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to its customers. The information contained in this document is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or other professional advice nor does it commit MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to any obligation whatsoever. The information available in this document is not intended to be a suggestion, recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell, any securities and is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial instruments discussed in the document may not be suitable for all investors and investors must make their own informed decisions and seek their own advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments or implementing strategies discussed herein.

If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. A commission or sales fee may be charged at the time of the initial purchase for an investment. Any income you get from this investment may go down as well as up. This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rate movements thereby affecting your investment return therefrom. The performance figures quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance or a reliable guide to future performance. Any decision to invest in a mutual fund should always be based upon the details contained in the Prospectus and Key Information Document (KID), which may be obtained from MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc.

Join MeDirect today to access the tools you need to put your money to work on your own terms.

Latest news articles

Refinancing your home loan can result in significant savings should you be able to secure a lower interest rate. It is always worth shopping around to see if a better mortgage is available.
All News

The potential benefits of refinancing your home loan

Refinancing your home loan can result in significant savings should you be able to secure a lower interest rate. It is always worth shopping around to see if a better mortgage is available.

Structural forces playing out now
All News

BlackRock Commentary: Structural forces playing out now

Despite expectations for another Federal Reserve rate cut, strong U.S. job and wage data suggest rates may not fall as much as markets anticipate, while the European Central Bank aligns more closely with lower-rate projections, favoring euro area fixed income over U.S. assets.

Computing Holdings plc
All News

Computime Holdings p.l.c. Ordinary Shares

MeDirect will be accepting applications from anyone interested in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) in Computime Holdings p.l.c. Ordinary Shares.

Experience better Banking

The sooner you start managing your money, your way, using the best-in-class tools, the sooner you’ll see results. 


Sign up and open your account for free, within minutes.

MeDirect_Multi-Devices-cards

You are leaving medirect.com.mt

Please be aware that the external site policies, or those of another MeDirect website, may differ from this website’s terms and conditions and privacy policy. The next website will open in a new browser window or tab.

 

Note: MeDirect is not responsible for any content on third party sites, nor does a link suggest endorsement of those sites and/or their content.

Login

We strive to ensure a streamlined account opening process, via a structured and clear set of requirements and personalised assistance during the initial communication stages. If you are interested in opening a corporate account with MeDirect, please complete an Account Opening Information Questionnaire and send it to corporate@medirect.com.mt.

For a comprehensive list of documentation required to open a corporate account please contact us by email at corporate@medirect.com.mt or by phone on (+356) 2557 4444.