After a challenging 2018, investors embraced emerging markets again in the first quarter of 2019 amid supportive fundamentals, including a more dovish US Federal Reserve. Franklin Templeton’s Emerging Markets Equity team outlines what drove market moves during the quarter and why Asia remains an area of interest in particular.
Three Things We’re Thinking About Today
- In late March, Thailand held its first general elections since 2014. While official results are not expected until May, preliminary results point toward a coalition government led by the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP). General Prayuth is also likely to continue as prime minister. The PPRP party has signalled its commitment to economic stability and could implement populist policies, including higher welfare expenditure and increasing the minimum wage. While potentially boosting consumption, these policies may also risk wage cost inflation. We believe policy continuity may lead to an acceleration in reforms, including infrastructure development. This, in turn, could further support the domestic economy. Thai equities may also see an increase in portfolio inflows, following a change in the MSCI foreign ownership criteria.
- In the lead up to Indian general elections next quarter, we could see increased volatility. However, we believe India’s growth path, underpinned by policies put in place since 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is well-enough established to withstand any short-term challenges. These policies have helped India become the fastest-growing major emerging-market (EM) economy in 2018, at 7.3% gross domestic product (GDP) growth.1 Even if there was a surprise election result, we believe the impact from uncertainty would be felt in the short term, because fundamentals remain intact. Taking a longer-term view, India continues to benefit from secular growth drivers such as favourable demographics, infrastructure investment, urban consumption growth and increasing income levels.
- The US Federal Reserve (Fed) confirmed its dovish stance at its March meeting, signalling no additional rate hikes for the year, and one increase in 2020. The Fed also committed to ending its balance sheet taper by September. The pause in rate hikes saw some risk appetite return to EMs, contributing to the rally in the first quarter. While Fed expectations for US GDP growth for the year have weakened, EMs are still expected to achieve faster economic growth than developed markets (DMs) in 2019 and for the foreseeable future. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts EMs to grow 4.5% in 2019, more than double the 2.0% estimate for DMs.2 We remain optimistic for the prospects of EMs, particularly at current valuations.
Outlook
Solid economic growth, increased risk appetite and the availability of attractive investment opportunities in EMs have been key drivers of recent fund flows into the asset class. Supported by indications that the US Federal Reserve will no longer raise interest rates in 2019, this trend could continue. EM valuations also remain lower when compared to their DM counterparts. A key risk, however, remains the US-China trade negotiations, which could weigh on investor confidence should talks falter.
For us, Asia remains a key area of interest. Improving corporate governance in South Korea, technology leadership in Taiwan, premiumisation in China, and increasing penetration in India are several of the key trends we are witnessing in the region. The opportunity set of listed companies in Asia is large, with countries at varied stages of development. However, at the same time, idiosyncratic considerations aside, there are country-specific risks that investors need to be aware of. Currency, political events, economic policies and regulations are some of the broader risks that many of the Asian countries face.
We believe EMs should be a staple investment for global investors given the large and wide investment opportunity it offers. Some of the most compelling reasons for considering EM equities remain the growing consumer market, technological advances and attractive valuations.
Emerging Markets Key Trends and Developments
Global stock markets rallied over the first quarter, as thawing US-China trade relations and a dovish pivot in US monetary policy eased worries of a world economic slowdown. Strong portfolio inflows helped buoy EM equities, though they lagged their DM counterparts. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 10.0% over the quarter, compared with a 12.6% return in the MSCI World Index, both in US dollars.3
The Most Important Moves in Emerging Markets This Quarter
- Asian equities led regional performance across EMs. Gains in Asia were broad-based, with China, Taiwan and Pakistan recording the strongest returns. Hopes for a US-China trade deal provided a major boost for equities in China and export-oriented markets such as Taiwan. Though China lowered its GDP growth target for 2019, investors welcomed Beijing’s pledges to introduce more stimulus measures to support the economy.
- Colombia and Peru led performances in Latin America, with both markets ending the quarter with double-digit gains. Despite recording positive returns, Brazil and Mexico, lagged their EM and regional peers. Healthy macroeconomic data, including strong 2018 GDP growth data and improving trade numbers, supported investor confidence in Peru. Slow progress on social security reform and disappointing 2018 GDP growth data held back the Brazilian market. International ratings agency Standard & Poor’s lowered Mexico’s sovereign outlook to negative from stable on concerns about growth and the government’s energy policy.
- As a group, emerging European markets lagged their EM counterparts. Russia and Greece, however, bucked the trend with strong returns. Turkish and Polish equities declined, while Hungary and the Czech Republic recorded relatively smaller gains. Higher oil prices and appreciation in the Russian ruble boosted investor sentiment in that market. Although higher metal prices drove returns in steel and platinum companies in South Africa, the central bank’s 2019 economic growth forecast downgrade curbed optimism.
- Frontier markets ended the month with gains but fared worse than their global counterparts. Kenya, Kuwait and Vietnam led returns, while Argentina and Nigeria underperformed. Increased expectations of an upgrade to EM status by MSCI drove stock prices in Kuwait. In Kenya, shares in the banking sector rose following a court ruling annulling a banking law that capped lending interest rates. Depreciation in the Argentine peso and concerns about austerity measures impacted investor confidence in that market.
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- Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Update, January 2019. There is no assurance that any estimate, forecast or projection will be realised.
- Ibid.
- Sources: MSCI, FactSet as of March 31, 2019. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index captures large- and mid-cap representation across 24 emerging-market countries. The MSCI World Index captures large- and mid-cap performance across 23 developed markets. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not include fees, expenses or sales charges. Past performance is not an indicator or guarantee of future res
