Stocks are Now Overbought, Overvalued and on Borrowed Time: Credit Suisse

The cards may be stacked against equities in 2010. After one of the most spectacular rallies in the history of the equity markets from its March, 2009 low stocks are now arguably overbought, overvalued and on borrowed time. Words: 773

In further edited excerpts from the original article* The Pragmatic Capitalist (www.pragcap.com) reports that like Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse (CS) strategists believe 2010 will be a difficult year for equities and conveys the following views of CS:

Macro Global Outlook – 2010
1. 4.1% global GDP (3.3% in the U.S.) and muted inflation.
2. 1220 on the S&P by mid-year and 5750 on the FTSE.
3. Increasingly concerned about a government funding crisis that eliminates all market gains in H2 of 2010 and sends markets reeling again as the problem of debt once again rears its ugly head.

CS is positive on global growth for 5 primary reasons:
1. Employment to turn positive in Q1 in the US- corporates have overshed labour, especially in the US;
2. Corporate spending to pick up;
3. China to grow strongly (10-11%) and not tighten aggressively until there is “economic overheating” (as opposed to “financial overheating”), i.e. not until there is an acceleration in wage growth (2011);
4. US housing to continue to recover (house price-to-wage ratio close to a 40-year low);
5. The inventory rebuild is yet to occur.

Inflation Outlook
1. Very benign inflation in 2010.
2. A very high risk of inflation in 2012:
(a) wage growth in the US, UK and Japan close to 50-year lows (and wages account for 70% of inflation);
(b) output gaps suggest inflation will fall;
(c) China is exporting deflation;
(d) owner-occupied rents (which are 40% of US core CPI) are likely to fall (given that they lag house prices by two years). We believe significant inflation risks emerge from 2012 onwards.

Interest Rate Outlook
1. The Fed will be slow to raise rates (unlikely to hike until late 2010). Normally, the first Fed rate hike is 19 months after the peak in unemployment.

Consumer Outlook
1. De-leveraging will continue to be a drag on the economy.
2. The savings rate will remain higher than normal.
3. Consumer to de-lever slowly as rates remain on hold.

There is still $2tr of excess US consumer leverage. If asset prices rise and rates stay low, the US consumer is likely to take the slow de-leveraging route (with the savings ratio staying around 5%).

The Debt Outlook
1. Government debt is the biggest threat: government debt does not become an issue until there is a recovery in private sector credit growth (unlikely until late 2010/11). Until then, banks fund the majority of budget deficit, keeping bond yields low. Once private sector credit demand returns, banks should find it more profitable to lend to corporates and consumers (rather than buy low yielding govies) and then bond yields are likely to rise sharply (as they did in 1993/4).
2. The response to this is likely to be fiscal tightening (4% of GDP) and more QE (to cap real bond yields).

Economic Outlook
1. The next major leg down in economic growth occurring in late 2010 or 2011. The likely catalysts for the downturn will be one or all of the following:
(a) a government bond funding crisis (late 2010 or 2011) as private sector credit growth returns.
(b) accelerating Chinese wage growth (unlikely until 2011).
2. Until Q3 2010 there will be robust economic growth, accommodative policy, banks funding government deficits and low inflation continuing to favor equities.
3. Sometime in late 2010 or early/mid 2011 the Fed will raise rates.
4. In addition, bank loan growth is estimated to return leading to a reduction in bank bond buying.
5. Bond yields spike and the Fed is forced to respond with easy monetary policy.
6. Making matters worse is Chinese central bank tightening after wage growth begins to expand sharply.
7. In H2 2011 or 2012 monetary and fiscal tightening will lead to another recession.
8. Chinese growth slows.
9. Another sharp downturn ensues that finally sets the table for a long-term sustainable bull market.

In the very near-term CS remains quite positive on equities for the following reasons:
(1) Better growth/inflation trade-off than expected;
(2) 25-30% earnings growth (falling ULC, outsourcing= strong margins, revenue estimates seem 2-3% points too low);
(3) Major credit and macro variables at levels when the S&P 500 was 1280.
(4) Valuation neutral.
(5) Investors are still sceptically positioned money market funds still have above average cash levels, retail have bought far more bonds than equities and institutions appear to be underweight equities.
(6) Excess liquidity remains extreme.

Where to Invest?
1. The UK, Japan and US are all underweights as high debt levels and low growth make them less attractive regions.
2. Asia ex-Japan remains overweight.
3. Continental Europe also remains overweight.

*http://pragcap.com/credit-suisse-equities

Editor’s Note:
– The above article consists of reformatted edited excerpts from the original for the sake of brevity, clarity and to ensure a fast and easy read. The author’s views and conclusions are unaltered.
– Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.
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