2018-19 saw a rough ride for investors but it turned out okay

July 3rd 2019

Market update main

Key points

  • 2018-19 saw solid returns for diversified investors, helped by a sharp rise in share markets in the last six months & solid returns from most assets, except cash.
  • Key lessons for investors from the last financial year were to: turn down the noise around investment markets, maintain a well-diversified portfolio; and cash continues to provide low returns.
  • A pick-up in global growth renewed monetary easing, an absence of significant economic excess globally and okay equity valuations should support returns over the year ahead. But they are likely to be constrained with bouts of volatility as the US trade conflict impacts and risk remains around the Australian property market.

 

Introduction

The past financial year saw a roller coaster ride for investors. Share markets plunged into Christmas only to rebound over the last six months. This note reviews the last financial year and takes a look at the investment outlook for 2019-20.

 

A volatile but good year for diversified investors

The past financial year saw pretty returns for investors. But it didn’t feel so good around Christmas as a combination of worries – President Trump’s trade war with China, a slowdown in China, Fed rate hikes, an end to quantitative easing in the Eurozone, falling property prices and election fears in Australia saw share markets fall sharply. In fact, from its September high to Christmas Eve US shares plunged 20%. But in the last six months share markets have rebounded as while the trade threat has run hot and cold and tensions in the Middle East have escalated central banks have turned dovish with many either easing (like the RBA and PBOC) or signalling that monetary easing is likely (such as the Fed and ECB). This has seen global share markets rebound sharply with Australian shares having their best June half since the early 1990s – helped along by the return of the Coalition Government.

So for the financial year as whole global shares returned 6.6% in local currency terms and thanks to a fall in the Australian dollar they returned 12% in Australian dollar terms. Australian shares returned 11.6% touching an 11-year high.

Cash and bank deposits had poor returns not helped by the RBA cutting the cash rate to a new record low in June. But bonds had a spectacular turnaround as rising bond yields on the back of Fed tightening a year ago gave way to plunging yields – to record lows in many countries – as inflation subsided and central banks turned dovish resulting in Australian bonds returning 9.6%. The plunge in bond yields reinvigorated the search for yield and so helped yield-sensitive listed property and infrastructure have strong returns. Unlisted property and infrastructure continued to do well, despite a rougher ride for retail property. Balanced growth superannuation funds are estimated to have returned around 7% after taxes and fees. For the last five years, their returns have averaged around 7.4% pa, which is not bad given sub 2% inflation.

 

2018-19 rough ride graph 1
Source: Thomson Reuters, AMP Capital

 

Australian residential property fared poorly though with average capital city prices down 8%, but signs of stabilisation have emerged recently helped by the election result and rate cuts.

 

Key lessons for investors from the last financial year

These include:

 

The negatives which will likely constrain returns…

There are a bunch of threats which are likely to lead to bouts of volatility and constrain returns.

 

2018-19 rough ride graph 2
Source: Bloomberg, AMP Capital

 

 

…but a bunch of things should keep returns positive

 

What about the return outlook?

The threats around trade and geopolitical risks along with the tendency for seasonal weakness out to September/October could see a pullback in share markets and returns are likely to be constrained. But easy money and the absence of large-scale economic excess should help extend the cycle and keep returns positive at around 6% over the next 12 months from a well-diversified portfolio. Looking at the major asset classes:

 

2018-19 rough ride graph 3
Source: RBA; AMP Capital

 

 

Things to keep an eye on

The key things to keep an eye are global business conditions PMIs for any deeper slowing; the trade war – this needs to be resolved soon; Middle East tensions around Iran; US political risks; risks around Chinese growth; and Australian unemployment and house prices.

 

Concluding comments

Returns are likely to be okay over 2019-20 as conditions are not in place for recession. But expect constrained returns – say around 6% for a diversified fund – and bouts of volatility.

 

If you have any questions about this please contact us.

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About the Author

Dr Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy and Economics and Chief Economist at AMP Capital is responsible for AMP Capital’s diversified investment funds. He also provides economic forecasts and analysis of key variables and issues affecting, or likely to affect, all asset markets.

 

Important note: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this article, AMP Capital Investors Limited (ABN 59 001 777 591, AFSL 232497) and AMP Capital Funds Management Limited (ABN 15 159 557 721, AFSL 426455) makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of any statement in it including, without limitation, any forecasts. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This article has been prepared for the purpose of providing general information, without taking account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs. An investor should, before making any investment decisions, consider the appropriateness of the information in this article, and seek professional advice, having regard to the investor’s objectives, financial situation and needs. This article is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.