Warning Signs Flash as Emerging Markets Rally to Records
Emerging-market stocks have set record highs this week, driven by the additional U.S. stimulus and a dovish Federal Reserve.
(Bloomberg) -- Emerging-market stocks have set a new swath of record highs this week, driven by optimism over additional U.S. stimulus and a dovish Federal Reserve. The rally’s gaining momentum even as some technical indicators are showing a pullback is overdue.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index has now gained more than 9% this year, extending a rebound from its low during the coronavirus sell-off in March to a heady 88%. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., UBS Global Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Investment Institute all added to the positive chorus this week, releasing bullish calls on developing-nation equities.
“With vaccine roll outs combined with fiscal stimulus and loose monetary policy, global growth should improve and benefit emerging-market economies relatively better,” said Joshua Crabb, a senior money manager in Hong Kong at Robeco, which oversees $186 billion. “Cheaper valuations combined with better growth, a dovish Fed and a weaker dollar bode well for emerging markets over the course of 2021.”
Exchange-traded funds covering developing-nation assets drew the highest inflows in more than a year last week, with traders increasing their holdings by a combined $3.56 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Inflows went into stock ETFs, while bond funds suffered withdrawals. In total, that was an 11th straight week of inflows, increasing total assets to $332.1 billion, with the highest proportion of new money going to China, Taiwan and South Korea.
‘Historical Highs’
Emerging-market equities may reach new “historical highs” driven by better corporate profits, Goldman Sachs strategists including Kamakshya Trivedi in London and Caesar Maasry in New York wrote in a report this week. The investment bank raised its 12-month target for the MSCI equity gauge to 1,450 from 1,375.
The EM measure gained 0.6% to 1,409.83 on Thursday, as Taiwan’s benchmark stock index advanced 2.2%, while India’s Sensex Index rose above the 50,000 level for the first time ever.
Corporate earnings in developing nations may rise 28% this year as companies in the developing world outperform during the global recovery, UBS Global Wealth Management’s Solita Marcelli in New York wrote in a research note this week. A January fund
manager survey by Bank of America Corp. showed a record overweight in emerging-market stocks, with two-thirds of investors saying the asset class will be the top performer for 2021.
Read more: Wells Fargo Upgrades Small Caps, EM Shares as Key Reflation Play
For all the enthusiasm, there are some warning signs. The 14-day relative strength index for the MSCI EM equity gauge increased to 83 on Thursday, its 17th straight day above the threshold of 70 that signals to some traders gains have been excessive.
At the same time, Bloomberg’s Fear/Greed indicator, which measures selling strength versus buying strength, for the MSCI measure, has climbed to the highest level since October 2011.
While acknowledging there are warning signs, Crabb at Robeco remains confident in the long-term outlook.
“Although emerging markets have spiked recently and may see a short term consolidation, the valuation discount to developed markets still makes EM attractive,” he said.
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