munKNEE.com Your Key to Making Money
We believe emerging Asia is at a turning point. The region has faced strong headwinds in recent years, but we now see a number of tailwinds gathering momentum.
The comments above and below are excerpts from an article by Richard Turnill(BlackRockBlog.com) which may have been enhanced – edited ([ ]) and abridged (…) – by munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!)
to provide you with a faster & easier read. Register to receive our bi-weekly Market Intelligence Report newsletter (see sample here , sign up in top right hand corner.)
One prime example is the rebound last month of nominal growth in…China’s gross domestic product (GDP) reflected in producer prices turning positive year over year for the first time in nearly five years…as reflected in the chart below. We see this reflationary shift taking hold as growth in China stabilizes. This should support emerging market (EM) Asia, as business cycles and market returns there are increasingly correlated with those in China.
[In addition, there are] many under-appreciated tailwinds:
- Reflation across EM Asia is reflected in improving corporate profits. The shift away from the steep earnings downgrades of years past is evident in the chart above.
- EM Asia currencies have also stabilized this year,
- the region has relatively high credit ratings among EMs
- and, finally, strong macro fundamentals and demographics support the region’s improved economic outlook.
Investors are tiptoeing back into the region: Foreigners have bought a net $13 billion of regional bonds this year and appear to be returning to equities, EPFR Global data show. They likely have room to increase allocations: $71 billion has left Asia ex-Japan bonds and stocks since the mid-2013 “taper tantrum” set off by the Federal Reserve signaling an end to bond purchases. We don’t expect a tantrum replay, as we see the Fed raising rates gradually, plus, EM Asia appears in better shape now than in 2013.
We do see policy-related risks to China’s growth such as new property curbs. EM Asia also faces the potential challenges of renewed U.S. dollar strength, U.S. protectionism post-election and geopolitical crises.
Conclusion
Overall, we see compelling reasons to invest selectively in EM Asia long term. We favor assets in Indonesia and India. Rate cuts in Indonesia support more corporate investment and consumer spending, while India has implemented key reforms to its tax system and bankruptcy code.
Editor’s Note: There is no longer the need to “surf the net” looking for the most informative financial articles available. My Facebook page has the BEST financial articles on the internet – bar none! Check it out. I guarantee you will not be disappointed – and don’t forget to “like” or “love” those articles of particular interest to you so I can give you more of the same.