2019 Market Outlook – An interview with Ben Dunn

Ben Dunn is Head of Quantitative Strategies at Eastspring Investments. Below he discusses how investors can use factor strategies in their portfolios to smooth out returns as volatility picks up further in 2019.

Nov 2018


How will the sources of volatility differ in 2019? What implications will this have for investors?

2017 was characterised by strong equity markets across the globe, record low levels of volatility and strong, globally synchronised economic and corporate earnings growth. Then 2018 saw an abrupt return of volatility with an initial jolt in February and again in October on the back of increasing fears of rising inflation, higher bond yields and slowing global growth.

Investors should certainly be prepared for a continuation of recent volatility into 2019. Potential drivers include:

  • Trade tensions, particularly between the US and China
  • Further signs of decelerating Emerging Market growth
  • Moderating US growth
  • Liquidity squeeze driven by quantitative tightening
  • Emergence of global inflation

At the same time, there is cause for long-term optimism. Valuations are not stretched – particularly after the recent pull back – and especially in some of the more heavily sold-off regions (e.g. Asia and the Emerging Markets). In fact, many markets look cheap relative to history.

For long-term investors, market sell-offs present good entry points. We have observed historically that equity markets have delivered rewarding returns in the periods following bouts of heightened volatility.

Staying invested during these periods has historically proven to be the right decision in most instances. By trying to time the market, investors risk missing out on the best-performing days in the market, which can significantly reduce their returns.

If volatility picks up further in 2019, how can investors protect their portfolios on the downside?

The markets seem set to remain choppy for the reasons stated above. For long-term investors, there are two somewhat competing risks to be managed in the presence of increased volatility. The first is wanting to avoid the downside, and arguably the only way to fully protect from equity market downturns is to exit the market. But this introduces the second risk of not participating when the market rallies. A low volatility strategy helps to balance both risks by giving investors defensive positioning when markets turn down while allowing them to participate on the upside when the markets recover.

Volatility rises during major market events1

Choppy markets provide an ideal environment for a low volatility equity strategy which feeds on market fluctuations. By falling less during market pullbacks, this strategy requires less upside to recover during the upswings, thus outperforming the broader equity markets over the longer term.

Additionally, a low volatility strategy tends to overweight the more defensive sectors such as utilities, telecoms and consumer staples. Given that many of the larger risks worrying investors today are either global or regional in nature, these domestically oriented companies can provide additional shelter from such risks.

One of the attractions of the team’s low volatility strategy has been the income component from high dividend yielding stocks. With the 10-year US Treasury yield around 3% and potentially rising further, is this still an attractive strategy for investors?

Our strategy is sensitive to changes in yields, but less so than it is to changes in market volatility. We benefit far more from increases in volatility than we suffer from increases in yield.

Preferring high quality firms that pay attractive dividends is a complementary and beneficial part of our low volatility process. These companies typically have mature business models, stable earnings and dependable cash flows. Consequently, they tend to be less volatile. While these companies may be sensitive to rising bond yields, their quality and low volatility attributes tend to be rewarded by the market in the long term.

The consensus belief is that we are past the end of the decades-long bull market for bonds, but the market is pricing in only moderate changes in US Treasury yields. In periods of stable yields, our low volatility strategy tends to steadily add value.

What if investors don’t want to be positioned defensively? Should they be looking to factors other than low volatility?

Absolutely, although in this instance a low volatility strategy can still be a core component of an optimal asset allocation by reducing equity market risk and allowing more risk budget to be deployed elsewhere in an investor’s portfolio.

We strongly believe that diversification is one of the most important levers available to all investors. We hold diversified portfolios of stocks within the portfolios we manage, but also advocate that investors allocate across different factors. This can be achieved either by allocating to multiple strategies that target specific factors or through a bottom-up, multi-factor quantitative approach – which we believe is more efficient.

Looking into 2019, which strategy seems more appropriate?

Both single and multi-factor strategies have their merits. The choice of strategy should not only reflect each investor’s concerns but also the overall composition of the investor’s portfolio. If risk is the primary concern, and bearing in mind that higher volatility seems to be on the cards for 2019, then an exposure to a low volatility strategy may be most appropriate.

The key difference is the risk profile and return path the two strategies will take over time. Longer term, we expect both to outperform the market: but a low volatility strategy should smooth out the ebbs and flows of the market while a multi-factor strategy should have a volatility similar to the broader market.

It is challenging to reliably predict which specific factors will drive the market, which is why we prefer to combine a collection of factors that outperform over the long term, but are relatively uncorrelated with each other.


Ben Dunn

Head of Quantitative Strategies,

Eastspring Investments

How to invest in Eastspring's fund(s)

Source:
1VIX Index from Bloomberg. November 2018.

This document is produced by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited and issued in:

Singapore and Australia (for wholesale clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore, is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Australian laws.


Hong Kong by Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.


Indonesia by PT Eastspring Investments Indonesia, an investment manager that is licensed, registered and supervised by the Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK).


Malaysia by Eastspring Investments Berhad (531241-U).


This document is produced by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited and issued in Thailand by TMB Asset Management Co., Ltd. Investment contains certain risks; investors are advised to carefully study the related information before investing. The past performance of any the fund is not indicative of future performance.


United States of America (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is registered with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission as a registered investment adviser.


European Economic Area (for professional clients only) and Switzerland (for qualified investors only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A., 26, Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (Luxembourg), Register No B 173737.


United Kingdom (for professional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. - UK Branch, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AF.


Chile (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Chilean laws.


The afore-mentioned entities are hereinafter collectively referred to as Eastspring Investments.


The views and opinions contained herein are those of the author on this page, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Eastspring Investments’ communications. This document is solely for information purposes and does not have any regard to the specific investment objective, financial situation and/or particular needs of any specific persons who may receive this document. This document is not intended as an offer, a solicitation of offer or a recommendation, to deal in shares of securities or any financial instruments. It may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed without the prior written consent of Eastspring Investments. Reliance upon information in this posting is at the sole discretion of the reader. Please consult your own professional adviser before investing.


Investment involves risk. Past performance and the predictions, projections, or forecasts on the economy, securities markets or the economic trends of the markets are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of Eastspring Investments or any of the funds managed by Eastspring Investments.


Information herein is believed to be reliable at time of publication. Data from third party sources may have been used in the preparation of this material and Eastspring Investments has not independently verified, validated or audited such data. Where lawfully permitted, Eastspring Investments does not warrant its completeness or accuracy and is not responsible for error of facts or opinion nor shall be liable for damages arising out of any person’s reliance upon this information. Any opinion or estimate contained in this document may subject to change without notice.


Eastspring Investments (excluding JV companies) companies are ultimately wholly-owned/indirect subsidiaries/associate of Prudential plc of the United Kingdom. Eastspring Investments companies (including JV’s) and Prudential plc are not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America.