Skip to main content

December 22, 2022

Multi-Asset 2023 Year Ahead Outlook

Multi Asset 2023 Year Ahead Outlook

It is December, we think about family, celebrations, food and for us in the investment industry, the investment outlook for 2023. We can attempt to predict based on “known unknowns” and be humbled by the fact the world may also have other “unknown unknowns”.

The boss of the boss: inflation

It is fair to assume inflation is cooling. Supply chain disruption has eased, as evidenced by the falling commodity prices. As interest rates rise, the willingness and ability of consumers to pay up has diminished. We have seen this in the property sector as mortgage rates have more than doubled. However, we recognize the road to 2% target inflation is a long road. Structurally, inflation is likely higher than the previous decade due to demographics, protectionism, and the transition to zero/lower emissions. It is expected that China will significantly reduce COVID restrictions in the coming months and that could boost demand. With interest rates above neutral since the summer of 2022 and likely throughout 2023, North American inflation will likely fall to 3% at year end of 2023.

The boss: central banks

While rate hikes have ran more than half of their course with multiple 75 basis point hikes in 2022, the tone will likely remain hawkish as that is an important component to taper consumer and investor enthusiasm that causes asset bubbles and inflation. We expect the terminal rates to be 4.5 to 5% in both Canada and the US, likely reached by mid-2023. There were calls by the markets for central banks to cut rates quickly as a slowdown or a recession was likely to follow. We do not anticipate higher rates to impact companies’ and individuals’ finances until later as most loans are set for years. This means economies will remain relatively resilient for the next 12 months. However, interest rates at 4.5 to 5% is unsustainable. The longer-term average is probably 2.5-3%.

Fixed income markets

Fixed income has proven to be not so boring with very high volatility in 2022. We expect the near term central banks rates to be 4-5% and long term fallen to 2.5-3%, a 10-year US Treasury is undervalued at 3.6% yield and Canada 10-year is overvalued at 2.8%. We are seeing value in short duration credit as they offer a solid premium and low duration risk.

Equity

It is fair to say the world’s supposed best equity markets: the US, are largely overvalued. We have the S&P 500 Index at 4200 as the level for a soft landing scenario and we were almost there. The US has been favoured as there were too many problems in other places of the world. Europe was dealing with the impacts of the Russia/Ukraine war, the Chinese economy was slowing rapidly due to very strict COVID policies that kept people from being active. In 2023, the Chinese economy will be on the road to normal with growth likely outpacing developed markets by 4 to 5%. We expect capital flows to return to China boosting the valuations and prices of Chinese companies.

Locally, Canadian markets will benefit from stable commodity prices and attractive valuations. The economy itself will be resilient due to immigration, the tailwinds of the property sector. Energy is interesting. On one hand, everybody hates it as it is associated with pollution, on the other hand, that opposition leads to supply constraint, which supports prices. Normally at higher energy prices, companies will be expanding capacity. This time, they are cutting back capital spending and returning cash to shareholders. They are the “cash cows”.

It is harder to predict Europe. Valuations are compelling but there are more potential problems than other regions: stubborn inflation, low tolerance for higher interest rates , and commodity supply issues, to name a few. Investors need to be selective in Europe and the US. Higher rates helped to taper valuations in the technology sector. Some of them will continue to deliver high growth and eventually be proven undervalued.

Foreign currencies

The US central bank was amongst the most aggressive in hiking rates in 2022 and as a result, the US dollar was the “king”. As the markets expect the Fed to pause sometime in the next six months, the US dollar has probably peaked versus a basket of currencies including the Canadian dollar, yen, the euro, and sterling. Investors should be actively hedging the US dollar. Speaking of yen, after falling

dramatically versus all currencies in 2022 as it was the most dovish central bank, it is expected to have some upside as policy may have to shift in 2023.

Finally, we would like to wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.

About the Author

Alfred Lam


Alfred Lam, CFA

SVP, Head of Multi-Asset
CI Multi-Asset Management

Alfred has more than 18 years of experience specializing in portfolio design, asset allocation, manager and fund selection, and risk management. While at CI Global Asset Management, Alfred has brought unique ideas and processes to the management of the team’s multi-asset strategies, including a mean-reversion currency management strategy, the concept of investing in concentrated and benchmark-agnostic portfolios, and a new approach to risk management. In addition to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Alfred holds an MBA from the York University Schulich School of Business, and is a member of the CFA Institute and the Toronto CFA Society.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS

 

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investments in the Assante Private Pools and the CI Funds and the use of Assante Private Portfolios. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the Assante Private Pools and/or CI Funds prospectuses and consult your advisor before investing.

 

Assante Private Portfolios is a program that provides strategic asset allocation across a series of portfolios comprised of Assante Private Pools and CI mutual funds and is managed by CI Global Asset Management (“CI GAM”). Assante Private Portfolios is not a mutual fund. CI GAM provides portfolio management and investment advisory services as a registered advisor under applicable securities legislation.

 

Assante Private Portfolios is available through Assante Capital Management Ltd. (a member of Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada) and Assante Financial Management Ltd., (a member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada) both wholly-owned subsidiaries of CI Financial Corp. (“CI”). The principal business of CI is the management, marketing, distribution and administration of mutual funds, segregated funds, and other fee-earning investment products for Canadian investors through its wholly-owned subsidiary CI GAM. If you invest in CI products, CI will, through its ownership of subsidiaries, earn ongoing asset management fees in accordance with applicable prospectus or other offering documents.

 

Any reference to Assante Private Portfolios performance above refers to a model portfolio with a standard geographic asset allocation and blend of investment styles including alpha. Assumptions for the model portfolio include performance of the model portfolio is based on net returns and is representative of the Class/Series E shares of the underlying Assante Private Pools, or Series A classes in the case of underlying CI Funds. The portfolios are rebalanced monthly (actual client portfolios are rebalanced when the asset allocation exceeds the thresholds identified in the prospectus). No tax implications are triggered on rebalancing. The returns of the model portfolios are not indicative of returns for clients.

 

Certain names, words, titles, phrases, logos, icons, graphics, or designs in this document may constitute trade names, registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of CI Investments Inc., its subsidiaries, or affiliates, used with permission. All other marks are the property of their respective owners and are used with permission.

 

CI GAM | Multi-Asset Management is a division of CI Global Asset Management

 

Not to be reproduced or copied without the prior consent of CI Global Asset Management.