Markets have had to digest a few surprises over the past couple of weeks.
First, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 50 basis points, instead of 25 as expected.
Then, China announced a package of stimulus measures.
In politics, the leadership of the Japanese government changed, and the markets started to anticipate higher taxes from new governments in France and the UK.
The overall effect has been that the US market has outperformed. It is up 10% for the past 6 months, while the Japanese, European and UK markets have not gone anywhere.
In the near term, I am bullish on the markets. Monetary policy is easing, investors do not appear excessively euphoric, and Q4 is seasonally a favourable period for stocks. I have therefore increased the risk level of the portfolio, selling more defensive real estate and telecom shares, replacing them with asset managers and other cyclical names that benefit from a strengthening economy.
Some people are starting to talk about a “melt-up” – a rapid increase in market prices.
www.ft.com/content/d1fd215e-1440-439a-8f3d-37420f5959d1
If it happens, it would probably lead to inflation, higher interest rates, and a market downturn sometime next year.
We are not there yet, however. The stocks in the portfolio remain reasonably valued, so I continue to hold.
2024 performance
@triangulacapital +41.5%
SWDA.L +19.0%
Portfolio changes
Accor, Orange and Siemens were sold. NN Group and Wacker Chemie were bought.