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Every month, Bank of America (BofA) conducts a Fund Manager Survey (FMS) that polls major institutional investment managers to establish a running gauge of how the world’s most enduring investor class is evolving in terms of both macroeconomic and market outlook. The latest survey took place between 8th of July and the 15th and polled 293 panelists with $800 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM). The results were released on the 19th and, so far, paints a picture that is both the strongest and the least ambiguous so far this year.
Right at the outset, the survey’s panelists now have a consensus opinion: a very strong expectation of recession.
The panelists strongly disagree that corporate profits can be expected to improve in the near future:
As confirmed by trends in bond yields in a recent article, most panelists don’t expect to find higher yields in long-term bonds.
In an interesting development, cash levels held by FMS panelists have, on average, been the highest since 2001. “Cash”, in this case, refers to equities held by institutional investors for quick conversion to cash via sales as opposed to mid- to long-term holdings. The tax liability is potentially higher in “cash” but lower in long-term holdings.
The most crowded trades – and by extension, the most volatile and overvalued – have seen a substantial change relative to the previous month’s survey results. The US Dollar is now the most crowded while fewer panelists think oil/commodities is. Fewer panelists consider US treasuries to be relative unattractive, despite lower yields expected. Interestingly, a small number of panelists are showing signs of souring on Chinese stocks. This might increase in the coming months for reasons expounded upon in last week’s article.
There’s an interesting trend in the panelists’ perception of risk. While most panelists disagree that they’re taking higher than normal risks, BofA points out that fewer panelists had disagreed at a time when Lehman Brothers – a prestigious and historic investment management firm – had gone under in 2008. Given the expectation of a recession, the high cash levels and low expectations on long-term bond yields, the underlying message is that this perception might be flawed.
Interestingly, this perception is also supported by the self-declaration that they’re not overweight on equities as opposed to cash. Note: “Overweight” here means whether they consider their position in an asset class having a disproportionate risk contribution to their portfolio.
In terms of positioning, these perceptions are negated by the overall change in market focus: the panelists are short global equities, eurozone and tech stocks while they’re substantially long on cash and consumer staples.
The expectation of a disproportionate positive effect is being reposed in cash, alternatives and commodities. Meanwhile, equities and bonds are considered to be the most problematic.
It bears remembering that fund managers cannot unilaterally change their portfolios’ asset mix; they’re expected to – at least broadly – build strategies around their clients’ expectations. However, the relationship between manager and client is a two-way street: when the former gets more bearish on an asset class, subsequent interactions with clients will enable them to form the change in asset mix for their portfolios to be more in line with their expectations.
As BofA’s strategists revealed in a note after the release of the survey’s results to the bank’s clients, “Everyone is bearish but no one has sold”, adding that for every $100 of inflows since January 2021, just $2 have flowed out from tech stocks and $3 exited from equities overall. The strategists also warn that “flows are starting to catch up with sentiment”.
Given that holdings in “cash” indicates a preparedness to generate profits in the shortest possible time and the fact that long-term holdings in equities generally causes a lower tax effect than short-term holdings, it’s very possible that major institutions are looking to sell off a portion of their holdings. Meanwhile, other sources report that retail investors (also known as “individual investors”) have continually bought into U.S. stocks.
This week will see 35% of all the constituents of the S&P 500 – translating to nearly 49% of the index’s market capitalization – publishing their earnings updates. Now is the time, more than before, for retail investors to consider a paradigm shift on the means adopted for making profitable investments.
Learn more about Exchange Traded Products providing exposure on either the upside or the downside here.
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Notice
If you are not classified as an institutional investor, you will be categorised as a private/retail investor. At this time, we cannot send communications directly to private/retail investors. You are welcome to view the contents of this website.
If you are an ‘Institutional investor’, you affirm either that you are a Per Se Professional Client, or that you wish to be treated as an Eligible Counterparty Client, both as defined under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or an equivalent in a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area.
Risk Warnings
The value of an investment in ETPs may go down as well as up and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Trading in ETPs may not be suitable for all types of investor as they carry a high degree of risk. You may lose all of your initial investment. Only speculate with money you can afford to lose. Changes in exchange rates may also cause your investment to go up or down in value. Tax laws may be subject to change. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. If in any doubt, please seek independent financial advice. Investors should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the relevant prospectus for further details of these and other risks associated with an investment in the securities offered by the Issuer.
This website is provided for your general information only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any investment.
Nothing on this website is advice on the merits of any product or investment, nothing constitutes investment, legal, tax or any other advice nor is it to be relied on in making an investment decision. Prospective investors should obtain independent investment advice and inform themselves as to applicable legal requirements, exchange control regulations and taxes in their jurisdiction.
This website complies with the regulatory requirements of the United Kingdom. There may be laws in your country of nationality or residence or in the country from which you access this website which restrict the extent to which the website may be made available to you.
United States Visitors
The information provided on this site is not directed to any United States person or any person in the United States, any state thereof, or any of its territories or possessions.
Persons accessing this website in the European Economic Area
Access to this site is restricted to Non-U.S. Persons outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each person accessing this site, by so doing, acknowledges that: (1) it is not a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) and is located outside the U.S. (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); and (2) any securities described herein (A) have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction and (B) may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except to persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of such securities. None of the funds on this website are registered under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
Exclusion of Liability
Certain documents made available on the website have been prepared and issued by persons other than Leverage Shares Management Company. This includes any Prospectus document. Leverage Shares Management Company is not responsible in any way for the content of any such document. Except in those cases, the information on the website has been given in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Nevertheless, Leverage Shares Management Company shall not be responsible for loss occasioned as a result of reliance placed on any part of the website and it makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any information or content on the website. The description of any ETP Security referred to in this website is a general one. The terms and conditions applicable to investors will be set out in the Prospectus, available on the website and should be read prior to making any investment.
Leverage Investment
Leverage Shares exchange-traded products (ETPs) provide leveraged exposure and are only suitable for experienced investors with knowledge of the risks and potential benefits of leveraged investment strategies.
Cookies
Leverage Shares Management Company may collect data about your computer, including, where available, your IP address, operating system and browser type, for system administration and other similar purposes (click here for more information). These are statistical data about users’ browsing actions and patterns, and they do not identify any individual user of the website. This is achieved by the use of cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is put on your computer if you agree to accept it. By clicking ‘I agree’ below, you are consenting to the use of cookies as described here. These cookies allow you to be distinguished from other users of the website, which helps Leverage Shares Company provide you with a better experience when you browse the website and also allows the website to be improved from time to time. Please note that you can adjust your browser settings to delete or block cookies, but you may not be able to access parts of our website without them.
This website is maintained by Leverage Shares Management Company, which is a limited liability company and is incorporated in Ireland with registered offices at 2 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2.
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