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How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

What he said: After years of under-performance, this is a good time to invest in emerging market equities “relativistically.”

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out
Jeffrey Gundlach. (Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- One year ago, Jeffrey Gundlach offered a mostly cautious outlook after what he called “the year no one made money.” As it turned out, 2019 was a year pretty much anyone could cash in -- on stocks, bonds, commodities, even Bitcoin.

DoubleLine Capital’s chief investment officer will discuss his outlook for 2020 on Tuesday when he hosts his annual “Just Markets” webcast. Gundlach will likely comment on his usual array of topics, from his outlook for gold to his concern about the U.S. budget deficit. He may also address this year’s U.S. presidential election.

Follow Gundlach’s webcast on TOPLive at 4:15 p.m. New York time

Here’s what Gundlach predicted a year ago and what happened.

Emerging Markets

What he said: After years of under-performance, this is a good time to invest in emerging market equities “relativistically.”

What happened: The MSCI Emerging Markets Index returned 19% last year, compared with 27% for the MSCI All World Index and 31% for the S&P 500 Index.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

Europe

What he said: The stocks are “a value trap.”

What happened: The Euro Stoxx 50 returned 27% in dollar terms, the most since 2013. London’s FTSE 100 added 17% in local currency and 22% in dollar terms.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

Dollar

What he said: If the Fed becomes less hawkish, the dollar would probably weaken.

What happened: The dollar hit its lowest point of 2019 on Jan. 9. The Fed went on to cut interest rates three times and the dollar index ended December little changed from where it started 2019.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

Oil and Commodities

What he said: There could be a zigzag pattern in energy prices and commodities.

What happened: The Bloomberg commodities index zigzagged to a 5.4% gain in 2019. Oil prices climbed 34%, and they rallied early in 2020 as U.S.-Iran tensions flared.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

Credit

What he said: Get out of junk bonds while prices are strong and watch out for potential downgrades of investment-grade debt.

What happened: Junk had its best year since 2016 while investment-grade debt gained the most since 2009, according to Bloomberg Barclays indexes.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

Crypto

What he said: Bitcoin, trading at the time for about $4,000, could easily make it to $5,000 though it isn’t for the “faint of heart.”

What happened: Bitcoin reached high of $13,851 in June before bouncing down to almost $7,200 at year-end.

How Jeffrey Gundlach’s Predictions for 2019 Turned Out

To contact the reporter on this story: John Gittelsohn in Los Angeles at johngitt@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sam Mamudi at smamudi@bloomberg.net, Josh Friedman, Dan Reichl

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.