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

BlackRock Commentary: ECB – Keeping up the pace

Elga Bartsch, Head of Macro Research together with Wei Li, Global Chief Investment Strategist, Scott Thiel, Chief Fixed Income Strategist and Nicholas Fawcett, Member of the Economic and Markets Research Group, all 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.


We expect the ECB to maintain its current pace of asset purchases even as the economic restart gains traction. We wouldn’t view a decision to slow purchases as a hawkish policy signal, as the ECB is focused on keeping financing conditions easy. This, and a Federal Reserve that we see keeping policy easy, provides a positive backdrop for risk assets including European equities, in our view.
Article Image 1 ECB -Keeping up the pace 08-06

Sources: BlackRock Investment Institute, the Federal Reserve Board and Bureau of Economic Analysis, with data from Refinitiv, June 2021. Notes: The orange dots represent consensus expectations for ECB staff inflation projections due this month. Fed projections refer to the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections from March 2021. Euro area headline inflation refers to the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).  U.S. core PCE inflation refers to the personal consumption expenditures price index, excluding food and energy.

 

Financing conditions in the euro area tightened late last year and in the first quarter of 2021, but have since stabilized and still appear supportive of growth. Yet the region’s inflation outlook – the primary consideration in the ECB’s policy decisions – remains weak. Consensus expectations see ECB staff projections due this week showing 2023 inflation still materially undershooting the bank’s target of below but close to 2%. In contrast, the U.S. core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation – the Fed’s preferred inflation measure – has shot up above the 2% target. It will likely hover at or just above target over the next two years, according to the Fed’s latest Summary of Economic Projections. See the chart above. This underpins our expectation for the ECB’s policy support to stay put – regardless of its decision on the pace of asset purchases this week. In addition, we caution against reading too much into strong near-term growth data. We are experiencing an economic restart rather than a typical business cycle recovery; the usual business cycle playbook doesn’t apply, in our view.

We expect the ECB to maintain its current pace of asset purchases under the pandemic emergency purchase program (PEPP) this week, despite a likely upgrade to its growth projections. The central bank is squarely focused on maintaining easy financing conditions. An unwarranted tightening in financing conditions, partly as a result of rising U.S. bond yields earlier in the year, prompted the ECB to quicken the pace of its asset purchases in March. Since then, the euro area has been catching up on activity restart, amid still supportive financing conditions. 

Even if the ECB were to reduce its pace of asset purchases, we would view this as an operational decision rather than a policy decision. The ECB has committed to maintain its policy support for the duration of the pandemic crisis – at least until early 2022. Beyond that, we expect policy support to remain in place given an outlook that points to inflation staying far below target, with further asset purchases likely conducted through the extension of other asset purchase programs.

We see both the Fed and ECB likely upholding their accommodative policy stances. Inflation – not the near-term growth outlook – is key to the Fed’s rate outlook under its new policy framework, in our view. The strong activity restart in the U.S. has led to unusual supply and demand dynamics, and volatile near-term growth and inflation data. Long-term U.S. government bond yields have risen this year, but the rise has been more muted than typically seen in response to rising inflation and growth expectations in the past – in line with our new nominal investment theme that sees a lower future path of short-term interest rates than markets are pricing in even amid rising inflation. We don’t see the Fed discussing a tapering of asset purchases imminently – and a discussion later this year doesn’t mean a liftoff from near-zero policy rates is close, in our view. The case for tapering – or monetary policy normalization – in the euro area is even weaker, in our view.

The bottom line: We see the ECB’s commitment to accommodative policy as supporting our pro-risk stance over the tactical horizon as the reopening broadens out. We upgraded our tactical view on European equities to neutral in February, and are seeing more reasons to be optimistic about this asset class for the next six to 12 months. Yet we see a risk that markets could misinterpret an operational decision to slow the pace of purchases as a more hawkish view on policy stimulus, and we would view any spread widening in euro area peripheral bonds in such an event as a buying opportunity.

Market Updates

Article Image 2 ECB - Keeping up the pace 08-06

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of current or future results. Indexes are unmanaged and do not account for fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Sources: BlackRock Investment Institute, with data from Refinitiv Datastream as of June 3, 2021. Notes: The two ends of the bars show the lowest and highest returns at any point this year to date, and the dots represent current year-to-date returns. Emerging market (EM), high yield and global corporate investment grade (IG) returns are denominated in U.S. dollars, and the rest in local currencies. Indexes or prices used are, in descending order: spot Brent crude, MSCI Europe Index, MSCI USA Index, MSCI Emerging Markets Index, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global High Yield Index, ICE U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), spot gold, J.P. Morgan EMBI index, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Broad Corporate Index, Refinitiv Datastream Italy 10-year benchmark government bond index, Refinitiv Datastream Germany 10-year benchmark government bond index and Refinitiv Datastream U.S. 10-year benchmark government bond index.

Market backdrop

U.S nonfarm payrolls growth picked up in May, albeit by less than expected. Economic data have been erratic, and we expect more of the same as economies restart amid pent-up consumer demand and supply shortages. We advocate looking through near-term market volatility and remain pro-risk, predicated on our belief that the Fed faces a very high bar to change its easy monetary policy stance.

Week Ahead

  • June 9  – China inflation
  • June 10 – ECB monetary policy meeting; U.S. consumer price index
  • June 10-17 – China total social financing and new yuan loans
  • June 11 – University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers

Markets will focus on U.S. inflation data, in addition to the ECB’s policy meeting. A high core CPI number – after a much stronger-than-expected 3% reading in April – could fuel more talk of the Fed tapering asset purchases, though we don’t see the Fed discussing a potential tapering imminently.


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 June 7th, 2021 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 Investor Information Document (KIID), 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

Why we stay risk-on in the short term
All News

BlackRock Commentary: Why we stay risk-on in the short term

Last week’s central bank actions buoyed market sentiment, prompting BlackRock to maintain a pro-risk stance in their tactical outlook for the next six to twelve months as Q2 begins. Despite lingering concerns about persistent U.S. inflation and diminishing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, they observe that stock markets are resilient.

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

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.