2017 Review

2017…

In January 2017, I was concerned the tumultuous events of 2016 would quickly filter into the real world. The key short term issue was pending EU elections which thankfully delivered pro-EU mainstream candidates. The EU, ex UK is very much intact. My other concern was President Donald Trump.

We were right about tighter monetary conditions in the UK and USA – these arrived on cue hence their disruptive effect dissipated. We were right on sterling remaining weak due to the ongoing “Brexit” negotiations.

Gains in global capital markets appear attributable to a few key factors, higher US and emerging markets GDP growth, expectations of US fiscal stimulus in the form of corporate tax cuts, higher EU GDP growth and good tech earnings reports.

With the “late cycle” bull market in its eighth year, 2017 begged the question, “how much longer can the bull market run?” There were signs of “irrational exuberance”. It seemed eerily similar to 1998-1999 period when valuations started to lose touch with reality.

One feature of the bull market is its extremely binary nature. Investors are quick to punish companies with slowing growth, average results. They are quick to push valuations to excessive levels for concept companies. This creates distortions.

2017 the year “QE” “left the building”

By mid-2017 the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England, People’s Bank of China, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of Canada had signaled a turn towards higher interest rates. This was partly due to GDP growth, partly inflationary pressures, partly the desire to cool property markets. But undoubtedly the collateral damage of nine years of crisis era interest rates became undeniable and no longer politically acceptable.

“Quantitative easing” created a two track system benefiting asset rich / high debt individuals, but hitting pensioner/ savers income, increasing generational wealth gaps, societal imbalances, and destabilizing the political consensus. The arrival of far right nationalist / populist movements, even in Germany, represents a growing problem for mainstream governments. The UK saw a sharp swing to far left politics as the youth vote backed Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn.

Ending the QE panacea was long overdue. Maybe it was five years overdue. As QT (quantitative tightening) arrives, higher interest rates will be a very strong brake on $276trn of global debt (source: Institute of International Finance). Investors expect another ¼ point hike in the US and UK in the first half of 2018.

US tech stocks- “the bull market continues”

The steam roller of 2016, as popularized by the acronym “FAANG” (“Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google”) kept rolling in 2017. The tech behemoths could be characterized as tweaking their product offerings in 2017. As per normal valuations reflect expectations of considerable growth in 2018 and beyond.

Facebook

Facebook made considerable progress monetizing its user base. Q3 revenue growth +47%, EPS growth +77%

Alphabet Inc Class C

Apple Corp

Q4 revenue growth at 12% and 24% earnings growth are partly derived from Apple services growth, particularly in iCloud, AppleCare & ApplePay

Amazon Inc

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos became the world’s wealthiest individual. Amazon’s Q3 revenue growth of 23.7% beat expectations.

Netflix

Source; www.google.com/finance

2017 the year “Crypto-land” arrived

Undoubtedly the story of 2017 were virtual currencies, (or are they commodities? or gambling chips? no one is sure). We know they are here, we don’t know what next!

The staggering Bitcoin gain, whether a function of investment mania, an acceptance of a “new” asset class, a migration of technology to the mainstream investor, no one knows for sure. Bitcoin is a poor vehicle as a medium of exchange and its value is far too volatile for it to function as a normal currency. It pays no interest. It simply does not work as a means of settling trade. Can you imagine having a Bitcoin mortgage?!?

Source; www.cryptocompare.com

The nearest peer crypto currency, Ethereum, also recorded sharp gains, suggesting a lack of investor differentiation with Bitcoin.

Source; www.cryptocompare.com

As 2017 ends, there is an “Alice in Wonderland” feeling about crypto currencies, a “Mad Hatters Tea Party” where investors are arriving, but waiting for some event to puncture the proceedings. Increasing evidence of missing/ stolen coins and fraudulent attacks on coin exchanges suggest a lack of security for this asset class. Crypto-land is cryptic on solutions to its evident problems.

2017 recommendations reviewed; overall we are pleased!

*Prices taken on 21st December 2017
*Prices do not reflect trading costs, stamp duties, levies or compliance charges.

Enquire about opening an account

If you would like to receive our 2018 Investment recommendations tailored specifically for you then please complete the following form to enquire about opening an account with us.