“Attractive valuations continue to raise the appeal for Asia ex-Japan.”

– Teh Chi-Cheun, CEO and Executive Director, Pacific Mutual Fund Bhd, Member of OCBC Wealth Panel

Looking ahead, we continue to see two key macro drivers for equity markets: the global growth trajectory and the pace of US inflation. With core inflation already at its 2% target, the Fed’s policy normalisation should continue and maintain the same pace. Any meaningful change in the inflation outlook would impact the market’s expected pace of normalisation.

Meanwhile, uncertainties from geopolitical developments would continue to weigh on the growth outlook and investor confidence. Given expectations of rising interest rates, we maintain the view that earnings multiples for global equities have peaked.

Nevertheless, valuations are relatively less demanding following the sell-off and provide some breathing room.

United States

Mounting concerns over the earnings growth outlook for US corporates and rising interest rates seem to be the main triggers for the latest risk-off stance in the US. Not surprisingly, defensives outperformed. This is despite the earnings beat and slight 2018 consensus EPS upgrade in October so far.

As highlighted last month, given the strong year-to-date performance and extended valuations, growth expectations had become tough to beat. Consensus 2019 EPS growth forecast is marginally lower at 9.9% (versus 10.6% a month ago), reflecting upgrades for 2018 earnings (consistent with the results beat) but a more muted outlook for 2019.

In addition to potential cost pressures largely driven by the trade tariffs, the strengthening US Dollar added headwind to the growth outlook.

Eurozone

A mix of concerns over trade, Brexit and the Italian budget weighed on European equities. A slew of high profile corporate profit warnings did not help either.

It is still early days, but the earnings season so far has been disappointing. Through October, consensus 2019 EPS growth forecast has shifted slightly from 9.6% to 9.9%.

Fundamentally, the ongoing economic recovery remains intact and valuations are closer to neutral levels. Besides US-led trade war, geopolitical events remain key risks to derailing the recovery.

Japan

Japanese equities were not spared from the rising scepticism on global growth and the stronger JPY did not help. The positive earnings season so far provided little relief.

Several near-term factors, such as continued gradual improvements in earnings outlook, could provide support although a more sustained re-rating of the market would require more meaningful structural reform.

Asia ex-Japan

Asia Ex-Japan came under intense selling pressure in October. Supportive comments from the Chinese authorities provided little reprieve as concerns with global growth outlook further unsettled investor confidence. Consensus EPS continued to be downgraded in October.

Overall, this supports the view that markets are discounting a more protracted and disruptive US-China
tension.

However, Asia Ex-Japan valuations have shifted toward undervalued zone given the sharp sell-off since the highs in January. As such, we see more favourable risk-reward for the region. Beside quantitative easing unwinding, rising interest rates and worsening row between the US and China are key risks for the region.

We believe that Asian equities now offer a level of opportunity that justifies the risk, despite the poor performance so far this year. These markets have been punished rather severely as we move deeper into the late-cycle stage of economic growth.

Emerging markets (EM) have been hit by a series of country-specific shocks and tightening financial conditions have put further pressure on those with the greatest external vulnerabilities.

We see room for a recovery, especially in equities. China’s economy looks resilient, EM fundamentals are generally robust, and we may be near a peak in idiosyncratic risks. Valuations look undemanding. We haven’t lost confidence in Asia, where economic strength is starting to translate into sustained strong earnings growth. The recent sell-off has restored a lot of value, and EM equities are now trading at a large discount to developed market equities.

The Asian economic and earnings backdrop is encouraging, with near-term resilience in China despite slower credit growth. We like selected Southeast Asian markets but also recognise that a worse-thanexpected Chinese slowdown or disruptions in global trade would pose risks to the entire region.

Singapore

At 11.5x forward price-to-earnings ratio, the MSCI Singapore Index is trading at minus one standard deviation (1SD) below the 10-year average. The last two periods when the index slipped below -1SD, the market took about 6 to 12 months to recover above -1SD.

While we expect the November/December to be a typical year-end lull period. For patient and value investors, the recent steep correction in the market is starting to present good opportunities to buy into quality big-cap stocks with steady earnings growth and good dividend yield of more than 4%.