Outlook & commentary

How will this economic Goldilocks story end?

Goldilocks

Summary

Thanks to central banks’ coordinated efforts, the global economy has not only recovered from the financial crisis, but enjoyed a good run of solid growth and low inflation. Take a closer look at this “Goldilocks moment” for insights into the cast of characters at play – and the surprises that may be in store.

Key takeaways

  • Goldilocks would find this global economy “just right” for supporting today’s equity valuations, credit spreads and volatility levels
  • In our modern twist on the classic fairy tale, the Goldilocks economy has enjoyed a good post-crisis run in the Three Bears’ house – but it’s “Baby Bear” (Asia) who has the most attractive vision for the future
  • No one knows how the global economy’s Goldilocks story will end, but central banks’ successful post-crisis policies have caused enough large-scale dissonance that this “just right” moment probably won’t last forever

Our global economy is having a “Goldilocks moment” of sustained growth and low inflation: like the perfectly done porridge in the famous fairy tale, it’s not too hot and not too cold. In fact, today’s environment is “just right” for supporting high equity valuations, tight credit spreads and generally low levels of volatility. But like many cautionary tales, this Goldilocks story may not end happily ever after.

 

A modern cast of characters
Thanks to the strong performance of financial markets since the financial crisis, our economic Goldilocks story features a family of Three Bears who have had quite a bullish run.

  • Goldilocks. For years, the global economy benefited from the free-spirited monetary policy of central banks around the world, which have created a “just right” environment. Financial repression has kept interest rates artificially low and asset classes artificially high.
  • Papa Bear. The United States has the biggest, strongest economy around, but it may be top-heavy: for years, the US economy has been pumped up by low interest rates, excessive fiscal stimulus and unfunded borrowing.
  • Mama Bear. The European Union’s economy is closely tied to the United States’, but it has its own personality and bad habits: negative interest rates and bank subsidies have kept zombie companies alive, and the EU has little appetite for real economic or fiscal reforms.
  • Baby Bear. Asia’s economy has long been the heir apparent to its Western relatives. Although Asia’s markets aren’t as mature, they are growing – and the region’s work ethic is strong. With the right state reforms and long-term policies, she’ll have a bright future.

 

An uncertain setting
In our adapted fairy tale, the economic Goldilocks has been enjoying a good run in the Three Bears' house since the financial crisis, living off their resources and enjoying their services. Yet eventually, she finds that the world she’s thriving in isn’t quite as warm and welcoming as she once thought.

  • Goldilocks discovers that Papa Bear (the US) has grown a protectionist streak and is threatening to seal up his house – limiting the global trade that has been keeping everyone warm and well-fed.
  • Mama Bear (the EU) is having an internal battle; parts of her want to stay, others want to leave and outsiders want to move in. Much of her time is spent trying to quiet her internal voices – Italy is currently expressing the loudest discontent – while getting along with her increasingly cross spouse.
  • Baby Bear (Asia) has an attractive vision for the future – one built on nourishing growth, hard work and reform. Although she’s still young, she hasn’t yet inherited her parents’ fondness for excessive consumption and borrowing.

 

An unknown ending
At some point, depending on the telling, the classic Goldilocks fairy tale ends up taking different turns: some versions show her getting frightened and running off into the woods; others find her being eaten by the Three Bears.

Our global economy’s fairy-tale moment is similarly uncertain – we don’t know how, if or when this story will end. But we do know that central banks globally have abused the hospitality of economies and savers instead of forcing proper capital and market reallocations. This has caused dissonance and misallocations on a scale not seen since the global financial crisis. So while it’s possible this Goldilocks moment will continue happily ever after, it’s more likely the global economy won’t stay “just right” forever.

 

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About the author

Expert-Image

Neil Dwane

Global Strategist

Outlook & commentary

Trump turns the tables on trade

Trump turns the tables on trade

Summary

As President Donald Trump ramps up the trade wars and retaliatory measures spread, investors are entering an unknown landscape – and no one knows what the US will do next. Yet given that trade makes up more than one-third of global GDP, it’s critical to assess what we do and don’t know about how the status quo could change.

Key takeaways

  • Trade is a winning political issue for President Trump; expect to see a steady flow of headlines in the run-up to the November mid-term elections
  • China’s newly restricted access to US technology has been a wake-up call, but it could also cause Asian nations to forge closer trading ties with China
  • The trade wars could continue to spread: President Trump could direct his ire towards Germany, and negotiations between the UK and EU will likely not go smoothly
  • With so much uncertainty around global trade, investors shouldn’t be complacent: watch for currency volatility and keep an eye on shrinking corporate margins

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