The FINANCIAL — Investors enter 2014 optimistic about the global economy and outlook for Japanese and European equities, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Fund Manager Survey for December.
The FINANCIAL — Investors enter 2014 optimistic about the global economy and outlook for Japanese and European equities, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Fund Manager Survey for December.
The proportion of investors believing the global economy will strengthen in the year ahead has risen to a net 71 percent from a net 67 percent in November. Conviction in the global economy is far stronger than 12 months ago when a net 40 percent of the panel predicted it would strengthen.
Similarly, the outlook for profits has ticked upwards month-on-month and is far stronger than the end of 2012. A net 41 percent believes global profits will improve over the coming year, compared with a net 11 percent taking that view a year ago. Fifty-five percent of investors say that they want corporations to prioritize capital expenditure over other uses of cash flow. That represents a survey high and an increase from 53 percent in November and 45 percent 12 months ago.
Preference for equities over bonds remains at historically high levels. The spread between equity overweights and bond underweights stood at 118 percentage points in December, compared with 76 points one year ago and just 19 points in July 2012, according to Bank of America Corporation.
Investors demonstrated a strong preference for Europe and Japan. Global investors have increased overweight positions in Japanese and eurozone equities in the past month and indicated appetite for more, while domestic investors in each region have become more optimistic.
Global investors have increased allocations to Japan and Europe and suggested that they will continue to do so into 2014. A net 34 percent of asset allocators are overweight Japanese equities this month, up significantly from a net 24 percent in November. Furthermore, a net 22 percent of the investor panel says that Japan is the region they most would like to overweight.
Sentiment is also positive among domestic investors. A net 44 percent of Japanese investors responding to the regional survey expect the country’s economy to strengthen in 2014, up from a net 27 percent last month. A net 33 percent believe that Japanese equities are undervalued, according to Bank of America Corporation.
Positivity towards Europe and within Europe is strong. Allocations to eurozone equities have risen slightly from existing high levels. A net 43 percent of asset allocators are overweight eurozone equities, up two percentage points month-on-month. A net 24 percent of the panel says that the eurozone is the region they most want to overweight – although this is down month-on-month.
Investors within Europe are increasingly bullish about the region’s outlook. A net 83 percent of respondents to the regional survey believe the European economy will strengthen in 2014, up from a net 74 percent in November. A net 83 percent say recession in the region is unlikely. A net 64 percent expect corporate profits to improve in 2014, according to Bank of America Corporation.
Investors and asset allocators have increased allocations towards banks over the past month. The net percentage of the global panel overweight banks rose to a net 17 percent from a net 12 percent in November. European investors have moved particularly sharply into this maligned sector. A net 22 percent of European respondents said they are overweight banks this month, compared with an equal number overweight and underweight in November.
Commodities and related stocks remain deeply unpopular. A net 31 percent of asset allocators are underweight commodities, up seven percentage points month-on-month. A net 14 percent are underweight energy stocks, a monthly rise of three percentage points, according to Bank of America Corporation.
Average cash balances stand at 4.5 percent of portfolios, historically a level that is a positive signal for equities. A net 16 percent of asset allocators say they are overweight cash, up from a net 9 percent in November. The higher cash levels coincide with expectations of higher interest rates and a belief by three-quarters of the panel that the Fed will introduce tapering in the first quarter of 2014.
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