Latest from BCA Research

In this Strategy Insight, we assess the best and worst opportunities for inflation-linked bonds within the major developed markets. We see a case for underweighting inflation protection in the euro area, while overweighting Japanese inflation-linked bonds with the Bank of Japan moving away from yield curve control at a time of relatively high Japanese inflation.

In response to lower energy prices and China’s reopening, European assets prices are outperforming. Will the ECB spoil the party?

In this week’s report, we look at whether global growth conditions remain conducive for a continued decline in the dollar. Our findings are mixed, while there are some economic green shoots, the overall growth picture remains weak. This argues for some consolidation of dollar losses in the near term.

While the housing downturn will be fairly mild in the US, it will be more severe abroad. Continue to favor bonds of countries whose housing fundamentals will limit rate hikes.

Special Report

We measure the effects of inflation and growth cycles on the returns of various assets using the four-quadrant approach, where we classify periods into the following buckets: Slowing inflation/slowing growth (slowdown), rising growth/slowing inflation (goldilocks), rising growth/rising inflation (overheating), and slowing growth/rising inflation (stagflation). Our analysis provides insight into the coming macro environment. As growth and inflation begin to decline, the best choices for asset allocators will be fixed income, precious metals, CTAs and timberland.

Special Report

CCP policy stimulus will boost growth in China this year. Copper prices breached $4.00/lb on COMEX this week, as expected. We continue to forecast $4.50/lb this year, with upside price risk dominating. Iron ore also will rise, but economic and regulatory policy uncertainty clouds the outlook. We remain long the COMT and XME ETFs. We are getting tactically long BRL/USD and AUS/USD on the back of our metals view, which is constrained by China’s reversion to absolute autocracy and ability to reverse policy suddenly and unpredictably.

The crucial question for 2023 is: will the US and UK Beveridge Curves shift back inwards to their pre-pandemic versions, ushering in a soft landing? Or, will we slide down the new post-pandemic Beveridge Curves into recession? Plus: we reveal the most important chart for Europe and the most important chart for China in early 2023.

The Fed will respond to December’s CPI report by downshifting to a 25 bps hike pace next month. We anticipate two more 25 bps hikes before the Fed goes on hold.

Why will Chinese consumer spending recover but not its industrial sectors? Will China's reopening boost the global business cycle and inflation? How fast will US core inflation fall and what are the implications for corporate profits? Are global equities pricing in enough bad news/profit contraction?

In this report, we present our review of the BCA Research Global Fixed Income Strategy (GFIS) model bond portfolio for the full calendar year 2022 and the initial outlook for 2023. We envision a changed game plan for fixed income investing this year, as the focus of bond investors begins to shift from high inflation to slowing global growth. In this environment, asset allocation decisions between government bonds and spread product – rather than duration management – will represent the more important expected driver of bond portfolio performance.