Jan van Eck, CEO, provides an update on his investment outlook for 2016. The rally in commodities has done more than provide an investment opportunity; it has also driven positive performance in a number of other asset classes. Commodities Stand Out.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ve_FNl8AsJQ
TOM BUTCHER: Jan, commodities have seen a rebound in 2016. What’s your outlook for the rest of the year?
JAN VAN ECK: We’re very happy about the first quarter rebound. We do think commodities have bottomed and there are a couple of factors to consider. What we always stress, because I think it’s the most important thing for people to understand, is the supply response. We think there has always been a growing demand for commodities around the world, whether it’s energy, natural gas, oil, or metals, such as copper. What caused prices to fall was an oversupply situation, which we think has been corrected. We’re glad to see that demand has caught up with supply.
I think the way for investors to think about this current environment is to consider this as an opportunity if one takes a much longer term perspective. We investors tend to be very focused on the short term. Energy is now very low as a percent of the overall S&P 500® Index. At its peak it was close to 16% and it’s near 6% now. Taking a multi-decade perspective tells us that energy is relatively cheap right now. Similarly, if you look at gold shares over a longer period of time, you may see that while they’ve risen a great deal this year, they may still have much further to go because they fell so far.
My Message to Investors: This is a Great Opportunity
That is my number one message to investors: This is a great longer term opportunity. Don’t obsess about the correct entry point.
BUTCHER: But global growth has been slow, debt levels have been high, and some governments have actually resorted to negative rates.
VAN ECK: We’ve seen this year a real inflection point, as Japan brought some of its interest rates negative. The question is how do you get economic growth going? After the financial crisis in the U.S., we had the same response: zero interest rates to try to stimulate economic growth. I think central banks are now basically taking it to the next level, i.e., negative interest rates. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen spoke about this in her recent testimony, and former Fed Chair Ben Bernanke has been speaking about negative interest rates as well.
Negative Interest Rates May Cause Investors to Disengage
We think negative rates can be dangerous. Rather than stimulating the economy, negative interest rates, I believe, can cause people to withdraw from participating. Think about it from an investor’s perspective. It is very worrisome when a bank will only give you 99 cents at the end of the year when you gave it a dollar in January. I think that can make people take less risk rather than engage in order to help stimulate growth.
Negative interest rates are fantastic for gold because gold doesn’t pay a coupon, unlike bonds or stocks that pay dividends. Gold always has to compete with other financial assets but if financial assets are costing you money in a negative interest rate environment, we see no reason not to own gold. We think that’s one of the reasons why gold has been rallying this year.
VAN ECK: China is the second largest economy in the world and we think that every investment committee needs to have a view on China. Our view has been that, while there are some growing pains, and the devaluation of the renminbi was a major event last year, there are no systemic risks [i.e., risks inherent to China’s entire economy, rather than a single segment of the economy].
One of the things that we love to talk about is new China versus old China. New China is characterized by the consumer-driven and healthcare sectors; old China is steel, coal, and heavy manufacturing. Old China is continuing to face profitability issues. Another matter that we’ve recently been discussing is the growth of China’s overall debt levels, which are particularly concentrated in old China. There is between $1 to $2 trillion of bad debt in China right now. China’s economy amounts to $10 trillion and its overall debt level is approximately $20 trillion. These are large numbers. However, not every bad debt goes to zero, but the bad debt is very concentrated in the old economy sectors.1
We don’t think that causes a systemic risk but it may cause lumpiness in the performance of some of China’s financial assets. Because various regions will be badly affected, people who have fixed income exposure to those regions will likely be badly impacted. There are likely to be some defaults. Still, we think it’s a good thing because it’s a healthy process.
What’s Changed in our Outlook Since January
BUTCHER: Jan, you described your outlook at the beginning of 2016. How has it changed since January?
VAN ECK: Several important things happened in the first quarter. First of all, we thought that credit was very cheap, meaning interest rates had risen on MLPs [master limited partnerships] and on high yield bonds, which were almost showing signs of distress. We also said that this represented a great investment opportunity. In fact, high yield has outperformed the U.S. equity market2. Right now, I think that high risk bonds are a little less appealing today than they were when we first started the year.
Commodities Q1 Rally Creates Positive Inflection Point
Additionally, I think the equity markets still have a lot of struggling to do because price-to-earnings ratios are very high. Earnings fell last year in the U.S. They should be recovering now, looking forward over the next 12 months. Part of the reason is the strong U.S. dollar. Overall, we think equities are so-so and the U.S. economy, as well as the global economy, will muddle along.
Commodities were the big story in the first quarter. They dragged up other asset classes. For example, they helped emerging markets debt; they’ve helped Latin America. A good amount of high yield U.S. debt was energy-related, and it has rallied tremendously. It is interesting that what can be characterized as a bottom-up phenomenon of supply cuts kicking in within the commodities sector has helped other asset classes from a macro perspective.
Overall, we believe that commodities are the standout from a multi-year view. This is a great time for investors to look at them, given that we believe this is an inflection point.
BUTCHER: Thank you very much.
Market Insights
by Jan van Eck, CEO
An innovator of investment solutions, Jan van Eck has created a multitude of strategies spanning international, emerging markets, and commodities opportunities. He plays an active role in shaping the firm’s actively managed and ETF investment offerings. Jan’s research focus is on developments in China and technology’s effect on the financial services industry.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE
1Source: CEIC, HSBC. Data as of December 2015.
2Source: Bloomberg, March 31, 2016.
This content is published in the United States for residents of specified countries. Investors are subject to securities and tax regulations within their applicable jurisdictions that are not addressed on this content. Nothing in this content should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell shares of any investment in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, nor is it intended as investment, tax, financial, or legal advice. Investors should seek such professional advice for their particular situation and jurisdiction. You can obtain more specific information on VanEck strategies by visiting Investment Strategies.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker(s) and are current as of the posting date. Commentaries are general in nature and should not be construed as investment advice. Opinions are subject to change with market conditions. All performance information is historical and is not a guarantee of future results.
Please note that Van Eck Securities Corporation offers investment portfolios that invest in the asset class(es) mentioned in this post and video. You can lose money by investing in a commodities fund. Any investment in a commodities fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, metals, and agriculture. Commodities and commodity-linked derivatives may be affected by overall market movements and other factors that affect the value of a particular industry or commodity, such as weather, disease, embargoes or political or regulatory developments. The value of a commodity-linked derivative is generally based on price movements of a commodity, a commodity futures contract, a commodity index or other economic variables based on the commodity markets. Derivatives use leverage, which may exaggerate a loss. A commodities fund is subject to the risks associated with its investments in commodity-linked derivatives, risks of investing in wholly owned subsidiary, risk of tracking error, risks of aggressive investment techniques, leverage risk, derivatives risks, counterparty risks, non-diversification risk, credit risk, concentration risk and market risk. The use of commodity-linked derivatives such as swaps, commodity-linked structured notes and futures entails substantial risks, including risk of loss of a significant portion of their principal value, lack of a secondary market, increased volatility, correlation risk, liquidity risk, interest-rate risk, market risk, credit risk, valuation risk and tax risk. Gains and losses from speculative positions in derivatives may be much greater than the derivative’s cost. At any time, the risk of loss of any individual security held by a commodities fund could be significantly higher than 50% of the security’s value. Investment in commodity markets may not be suitable for all investors. A commodity fund’s investment in commodity-linked derivative instruments may subject the fund to greater volatility than investment in traditional securities.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any investment strategy carefully before investing. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of Van Eck Securities Corporation.
Den nya ETFen, med fokus på att vara en Indo-Stillahavs-ex-Kina försvars-ETF, riktar sig mot exponering mot regionala försvars- och säkerhetsföretag. Med denna lansering kompletterar HANetf sitt utbud av försvarsstrategier.
HANetf har meddelat den planerade lanseringen av en ny Indo-Stillahavs-ex-Kina försvars-ETF, som utökar sitt utbud av tematiska investeringsprodukter som svar på ökande geopolitiska spänningar och regionala militära uppbyggnader. Den nya ETFen, som förväntas noteras i juli 2025, kommer att följa Indo-Stillahavs-noterade företag som är verksamma inom försvar, flyg- och rymdfart och säkerhet.
Denna lansering kommer att utöka HANetfs befintliga försvarsfokuserade utbud, vilket inkluderar Future of Defence UCITS ETF (ASWC) med mer än 2,6 miljarder dollar i förvaltat kapital, och Future of European Defence UCITS ETF (8RMY), som för närvarande förvaltar över 130 miljoner euro. Med detta drag strävar HANetf efter att ge investerare den bredaste tillgången till försvarsinvesteringsverktyg i Europa.
Regionala försvarsutgifter accelererar i Indo-Stillahavsområdet
Indo-Stillahavsområdet bevittnar en betydande förändring i försvarsställningen, vilket speglar utvecklingen i Europa. I ett tal vid Shangri-La-dialogen i Singapore uppmuntrade USA:s försvarsminister Pete Hegseth sina allierade i Asien att efterlikna Natos försvarsutgiftsstrategi. ”Nato-medlemmar lovar att spendera fem procent av sin BNP på försvar – till och med Tyskland”, sa han och underströk omfattningen av Europas upprustningstrend.
Mot bakgrund av ökande geopolitiska spänningar ökar länder som Indien, Japan, Sydkorea och Taiwan snabbt sina försvarsbudgetar och driver på för större självförsörjning inom vapentillverkning. Viktiga händelser inkluderar:
• Indien fördelar 75 procent av sin försvarskapitalbudget till inhemska företag.
• Japan planerar sin största militära uppbyggnad sedan 1950-talet, med målet att spendera 2 procent av BNP på försvar senast 2027.
• Sydkorea siktar på att erövra 5 procent av den globala vapenmarknaden senast 2027 genom utökad export.
• Taiwan ökar försvarsutgifterna med nästan 50 procent sedan 2015, inklusive investeringar i inhemska drönar- och motdrönarsystem.
Den kommande ETFen kommer att följa ett transparent, regelbaserat index och investera i företag med säte i Indo-Stillahavsområdet som genererar betydande intäkter från försvarsrelaterad verksamhet.
Indo-Stillahavsområdet håller snabbt på att bli det geopolitiska tyngdpunkten för 2000-talet. Från Taiwan till Indiska oceanen driver ökande spänningar och en förskjutning mot försvarssjälvförsörjning en historisk upprustningscykel. Precis som våra NATO- och europeiska försvars-ETFer har hjälpt investerare att få tillgång till den nya realiteterna inom global säkerhet, erbjuder denna strategi riktad exponering mot företag inom Indo-Stillahavsområdet” sade Hector McNeil, medgrundare och VD för HANetf.
iShares Europe Equity Enhanced Active UCITSETF EUR (Acc) (EUEE ETF) med ISIN IE00000EF730, är en aktivt förvaltad börshandlad fond.
Den börshandlade fonden investerar minst 70 procent i aktier från Europa. Upp till 30 procent av tillgångarna kan placeras i private equity-instrument, värdepapper med fast ränta med investment grade-rating och penningmarknadsinstrument. Värdepapper väljs utifrån hållbarhetskriterier och en kvantitativ investeringsmodell.
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,25 % p.a. iShares Europe Equity Enhanced Active UCITS ETF EUR (Acc) är den enda ETF som följer iShares Europe Equity Enhanced Active-index. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda genom fullständig replikering (köper alla indexbeståndsdelar). Utdelningarna i ETFen ackumuleras och återinvesteras.
iShares Europe Equity Enhanced Active UCITSETF EUR (Acc) är en mycket liten ETF med tillgångar på 10 miljoner euro under förvaltning. Denna lanserades den 31 juli 2024 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Investeringsmål
Fonden förvaltas aktivt och syftar till att uppnå långsiktig kapitaltillväxt på din investering, med hänvisning till MSCI Europe Index (”Riktmärket”) för avkastning.
Det betyder att det går att handla andelar i denna ETF genom de flesta svenska banker och Internetmäklare, till exempel DEGIRO, Nordnet, Aktieinvest och Avanza.
BNP Paribas Easy € Overnight UCITSETF följer resultatet för Solactive €STR Overnight Total Return Index. €STR återspeglar kostnaden för osäkrade eurolån över natten från banker med säte i euroområdet. Det är den genomsnittliga räntan för lån som tas ut under en dag.
UBS EUR AAA CLO UCITSETF förvaltas aktivt och investerar huvudsakligen i europeiska CLOer (Collateralized Loan Obligations) med AAA-rating. Dessa är buntar av företagslån med rörlig ränta.
Produktutbudet inom Deutsche Börses ETF- och ETP-segment omfattar för närvarande totalt 2 483 ETFer, 202 ETCer och 261 ETNer. Med detta urval och en genomsnittlig månatlig handelsvolym på cirka 25 miljarder euro är Xetra den ledande handelsplatsen för ETFer och ETPer i Europa.