| Reviews & Outlooks |    1271 VIEWS  |
| Reviews & Outlooks | |
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Tuesday, July
23, 2019 03:55PM / ARM Research / Header Image Credit: MSCI
Rebounding from paucity of flows over H2 18, total net FPI flows to EMs more than tripled to $193.9 billion in the first half of 2019 (from a low of $65.1 billion in H2 18), with 77% ($148.7 billion) of the total flows channeled towards EM debt counters while equities ($45.2 billion) continues to account for a meagre share of the pie. Despite prospect of further escalation in trade conflict between US and China and its reverberating effect on broader EM market, a change in narrative by the US FED to a more dovish stance and reduced imbalances in EM economies relative to prior year triggered foreign investors’ appetite to attractive carry trades in emerging market assets. The surge in FPI flows cuts across all regions, as total FPI flows into Asia, Latin America, Emerging Europe more than doubled over the period, while net flows into Africa and the Middle East turned positive from a net outflow in the prior year.
Going
forward, anchored on slowdown in both GDP growth (Q1 19: 3.1%; FYE 19: 2.3%)
and inflation (Average CPI 19: 1.7%; Average PCE 19: 1.6%), the US FED signaled
dovish tone at its last meeting with market expecting at least 50bps cut in the
Fed rate by its December meeting. Furthermore, ECB’s body language has been one
of dovishness. Especially given its recently introduced quarterly targeted
long-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-III) set to kick off in September 2019
and ending in March 2021 – with the sole aim of encouraging private sector
lending. Consequently, with the accommodative stance across DMs, we see scope
for portfolio flows into Emerging markets, with IIF forecasting 11% YoY growth
to $344 billion over 2019.
Foreign portfolio flows to EM…Break out the champagne
Rebounding
from paucity of flows over H2 18, total net FPI flows to EMs more than tripled
to $193.9 billion in the first half of 2019 (from a low of $65.1 billion in H2
18), with 77% ($148.7 billion) of the total flows channeled towards EM debt
counters while equities ($45.2 billion) continues to account for a meagre share
of the pie. Despite prospect of further escalation in trade conflict between US
and China and its reverberating effect on broader EM market, a change in
narrative by the US FED to a more dovish stance and reduced imbalances in EM
economies relative to prior year triggered foreign investors’ appetite to
attractive carry trades in emerging market assets. The surge in FPI flows cuts
across all regions, as total FPI flows into Asia, Latin America, Emerging
Europe more than doubled over the period, while net flows into Africa and the
Middle East turned positive from a net outflow in the prior year. Stripping
into quarters, shows that majority of the funds flowed into EMs over Q1 19 –
totaling $117.8 billion – triggered by interest across debt and equity
securities. However, Q2 19 saw slower inflows amidst self-off in the equities
market (outflow of $14.3 billion in May alone), with net flows over the period
contracting to $76.1 billion over Q2 19.
Against all odds, flows to Asia flourish
In EM Asia, FPI flows more than doubled to $110.6 billion with Asia’s largest economy – China accounting for a third of total portfolio flows to the region. Parsing through foreign investors flow to China, though positive, FPI inflows contracted 30% YoY to $35.8 billion with flows to both Debt and Equity sliding 48% and 9% to $14.1 and $21.7 billion respectively. The slowdown in foreign portfolio flows to Chinese equities mirrors slowdown in economic activities with GDP touching a 27-year low in Q2 19 (-20bps YoY to 6.2% in Q2 19). Furthermore, escalation of the US-China trade spat in May further dampened foreign investor’s appetite for Chinese assets. For context, after successive positive monthly net inflow in the first three months of the year, tides turned in May as FPI flows turned negative, touching a multiyear low.
The dour performance came in after a breakdown in extensive trade talks between US and China ended without an agreement on May 10, 2019 and US raising tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports with China retaliating three days later, announcing new tariffs on $60 billion tariffs on American imports entering China. However, following MSCI’s decision to partially include china large cap “A” shares in the MSCI Emerging market index and prospect of tighter monetary conditions in DMs, portfolio flows to China rebounded in June.
Elsewhere
in India, after dearth of foreign portfolio flows in H2 18 (net outflow of $4.6
billion), FPI flows rebounded in H1 19 to $12.8 billion, split between Equity
($11.4 billion) and Debt ($1.3 billion). The upsurge in equity inflows was
despite tepid economic growth in 2018/19 full year (6.8% vs 7.0% in 2017/18) as
investors cheered the possibility of the incumbent Prime minister – Narendra
Modi returning to power and the successful conduct of the election. On the debt
side, following Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to cut interest rate by
75bps to 5.75% over its last three meetings in a bid to stimulate economic
growth, FPI flows to Debt only accounted for a meagre share (11%) of total FPI
flows into the country.
Similarly,
FPI flows to Indonesia jumped to $11.2 billion with flows to Debt ($6.4
billion) taking the lion share of overall flows, while flows to Equity turned
positive in H1 19 ($4.8 billion) from a net outflow of $87 million in H2 18.
The massive flows to Indonesia’s debt mirrors Central bank’s quest to rein on
inflationary threat by leaving key rate unchanged at 6% after a 25bps hike in
Q3 18.
Meanwhile in Latin America, after weak appetite for riskier assets in Emerging markets that saw softer foreign portfolio inflow into the region over H2 18, flows rebounded in H1 19 to $48.1 billion vs $4.6 billion in the prior year. The uptick in FPI flows was largely driven by foreign investors interest in regional heavy weights – Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile. Starting with Brazil, while uncertainties trailing the passage of the Pension reform bill continue to dampen foreign investors interest in Brazil’s equity market with IIF reporting a net outflow of $621.5 million in H1 19, investors continue to embrace Brazil’s fixed income securities (H1 19: $5.9 billion vs -$8.4 billion in H2 18). In our view, renewed foreign investors interest in Brazil’s debt reflects investors search for higher yields following depressed US treasury yields (-68bps YTD to2%) over the period.
Likewise,
Portfolio flows to Mexico switched to a net inflow (Q1 19: $7 billion) from a
net out flow in Q4 18 (-$1.2 billion). The increase in portfolio flows to
Mexico reflects tamer economic and policy uncertainty following progress made
on United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). More so, foreign investors
interest was further strengthened by President Trump’s indefinite suspension of
the 5% tariff on Mexico’s import following an agreement reached by both parties.
Lastly, dissipating inflationary concern and higher commodity prices fueled
foreign investors flows into Chile and Colombia with net inflow of $1.1 billion
and $585 million respectively.
EM
Europe was no exception as foreign portfolio flows to the region more than
doubled to record net inflow of $19 billion from a net inflow of $7.4 billion
in H2 18. Parsing through individual country flows in the region, Turkey and
Czech Republic were the biggest destination for foreign portfolio investors
into Europe, jointly accounting for ~74% of total portfolio flows into the
region. In Turkey, following massive foreign investors exodus from Turkey last
year on the back of tapestry of macroeconomic woes that plagued the economy,
foreign investors reassessed riskier assets in the country following cheap
equity and fixed income valuations. This alongside waning inflationary pressures
over the first quarter of 2019 (-250bps to 19.9% in Q1 19) spurred entry into
Turkey’s Debt ($6.9 billion) and Equity ($827 million) in Q1 19. However, over
the second quarter of 2019, foreign investors exited Turkey as political
jitters trailing the Presidential election drove sell off across equity (-$55
million) and fixed income markets (-$890 million). This was further exacerbated
by the tepid economic growth as Turkey slid into recession in Q1 19 (-2.6% in
Q1 19). Similarly, portfolio flows to Czech Republic jumped to $6.4 billion in
Q1 19 from $221.8 million in H2 18. This was largely driven by interest in
Czech Republic debts which appear attractive following Central Bank’s decision
to hike interest rate by +25bps to 2% in a bid to rein on higher consumer
prices (CPI: +70bps to 2.8% in Q2 19).
In
Middle East and Africa (MEA), foreign portfolio flows turned the corner,
switching from a net outflow of $1.9 billion in H2 18 to a net inflow of $16.2
billion. Contrary to trend observed in other regions, flows to MEA was largely
mixed with South Africa reporting $3.6 billion net outflow due to foreign
investors sell off at both the equity and fixed income counter. Foreign
investors apathy for South Africa’s riskier assets is reminiscent of its
weakening macroeconomic picture following stagnant economic growth in Q1 19
after series of blackouts that hampered manufacturing activities. Elsewhere in
Egypt, after two consecutive quarters of net outflow, foreign portfolio flows
rebounded strongly in Q1 19 with a whopping $7 billion foreign investors fund
into Egyptian Treasury bills as investors continue to cheer President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi’s market friendly policies.
US-China trade rift: Winners and losers will emerge
No
doubt, in charting the course for foreign investors capital flows into EMs over
the rest of the year, the heightening trade protectionism plays a dominant
role. While the general feeling has been one of worry for the two parties
involved in the trade rift (US and China), the most concerning aspects is the
spillover effect to countries and sectors beyond those targeted. For context,
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) now estimates
that the East Asian value chain will shrink by $160bn as a result of the high
volume of Chinese exports affected by US tariffs. There is also serious
distress with regards to the impact this trade tension will have on the fragile
global economy and how it increases the risks of a global economic downturn.
However, rather than general EM risk off, we envisage selective play by foreign
investors across fundamentally sound EM economies with less vulnerability to
the trade war shocks.
Breaking out the champagne
Going
forward, anchored on slowdown in both GDP growth (Q1 19: 3.1%; FYE 19: 2.3%)
and inflation (Average CPI 19: 1.7%; Average PCE 19: 1.6%), the US FED signaled
dovish tone at its last meeting with market expecting at least 50bps cut in the
Fed rate by its December meeting. Furthermore, ECB’s body language has been one
of dovishness. Especially given its recently introduced quarterly targeted
long-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-III) set to kick off in September 2019
and ending in March 2021 – with the sole aim of encouraging private sector lending.
Consequently, with the accommodative stance across DMs, we see scope for
portfolio flows into Emerging markets, with IIF forecasting 11% YoY growth to
$343 billion over 2019.
On a regional basis, in EM Asia, while we hold the view that headwinds from the trade rifts with US will continue to take a toll on the Chinese economy over the rest of the year, we see room for sustained portfolio flows into China, albeit moderated. We hold the view that the recent MSCI’s decision to partially include china large cap “A” shares in the MSCI Emerging market index and prospect for tighter monetary conditions to rein on high private sector debt would keep the tap of portfolio flows running into China. Similarly, in India, we remain upbeat on foreign portfolio flows to India hinged on President’s Modi’s expansionary drive, as well as recent monetary easing by the Reserve Bank of India. Furthermore, our expectation for lower crude oil prices paves way for better current account picture due India’s reliance on importation of PMS.
Over in Latin America, while uncertainty trailing the passage of the pension reform bill could tame FPI flows to Brazil’s equity, the possibility of a rate cut by the US FED should support foreign investors interest in Brazil’s debt market. Meanwhile in Mexico, given that US is the main export partner (US accounts for roughly 80% of Mexico exports), the slower growth prospect for the US is a major drag to economic activities in Mexico going forward, which supports our view of softer portfolio flows to Mexican equities over the rest of the year.
Elsewhere in Europe, crumbling domestic demand should continue to derail economic activities in Turkey even as higher consumer prices, rising unemployment and a weaker Lira continue to erode consumer purchasing power. That said, akin to Q2 19, we envisage further repatriation of funds from Turkey over the rest of the year. Meanwhile in Czech Republic, with the slowdown in Germany taking a toll on Czech external sector, we see lower portfolio interest in the country over the rest of the year.
Lastly in MEA, with the absence of election related currency volatility, South Africa’s gloomy economy is staged for a modest rebound over the rest of the year. Notwithstanding, the possibility of further power supply disruption will continue to sap economic sentiment and eventually weigh on spending and investment. That said, we remain less sanguine on portfolio flows into South Africa. Meanwhile, reflecting favorable business reforms, ease in political risks and healthy tourism in Egypt, the outlook for portfolio flows into Egypt is more buoyant than the prior year.
Related News from ARM’s H2
2019 Nigeria Strategy Report
1.
NSR H2 2019 (3) - Commodity Prices - Mixed Bag For Global Soft Commodity
Market
2.
NSR H2 2019 (2) - MEA Region - Neither Booming Nor Collapsing
3.
NSR H2 2019 (1) - Global - Wobbly Growth Picture, More Tilted To The
Downside
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1. NSR H1 2019 (9) - Fixed Income - Will Yields Hump or Shift?
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4. NSR H1 2019 (6) - Nigerian Inflation - Boiling Below The Surface
5. NSR H1 2019 (5) - Currency - A Test Of Nerves And Resilience
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8. NSR H1 2019 (2) - MEA Region: A Year of Fragile Growth
9. NSR H1 2019 (1) - Global Growth: New Year, Same Rhetoric, Matching Growth
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Research 234 (1) 2701653 research@armsecurities.com.ng
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2. NSR H2 2018 (14) - Fixed Income: Have Yields hit the bottom?
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