I wasn't going to do this. I figured that after doing five years of "Biggest Macro Misses" that I had probably made my point. Economic and financial market forecasts that are rolled out at year end tend to be a poor guide for investment decisions for the year ahead. However, 2019 has seen both some of the biggest macro misses in years, but at the same time some remarkably good predictions of global equity market performance.
So, as another year comes to a close, here I go again. For probably the last time, I will review how the macro consensus forecasts for 2019 that were made a year ago fared.
Each December, I compile consensus economic and financial market forecasts for the year ahead. When the year comes to a close, I take a look back at the forecasts and compare them with what we now know actually occurred. I do this because markets generally do a good job of pricing in consensus views, but then move -- sometimes dramatically -- when different economic outcomes transpire. When we look back, with the benefit of hindsight, we can see what the macro surprises were and interpret the market movements the surprises generated. It's not only interesting to look back at the notable global macro misses and the biggest forecast errors of the past year, it also helps us to judge what were the macro drivers of 2019 investment returns and to assess whether they are sustainable.
Real GDP
A year ago, forecasters were overly optimistic about 2019 real GDP growth in the major economies. Weighted average real GDP growth for the twelve countries we monitor is now expected to be 3.0%, falling well short of the consensus forecast of 3.6% made a year ago. In the twelve economies, real GDP growth fell short of forecasters' expectations in eleven and met expectations in just one. The weighted mean absolute forecast error for the twelve countries was 0.6 percentage points, the biggest miss since 2015.
Based on current estimates, 2019 real GDP growth for Developed Market (DM) economies was 1.8% or 0.4% below last December's forecast, while growth for the Emerging Market (EM) economies that we follow was 4.6% or 0.7% below the forecast. Mexico, India, Australia and Korea had the biggest downside misses.
CPI Inflation
Just as for global growth, the consensus forecast for global inflation for 2019 was off the mark, overestimating inflation in most countries. Nine of the twelve economies are on track for lower inflation than forecast, while inflation was higher than expected in just two countries. The weighted mean absolute forecast error for 2018 for the 12 countries was 1.0 percentage points, again the biggest forecast misses since 2015.
The biggest downside misses on inflation were for Mexico (-1.6 pct pts), Korea (-1.5), the Eurozone (-1.0) and Brazil (-0.9). The biggest upside misses were for India (+2.8 pct pts) and China (+1.9), where food prices rose much more than expected.
Central Bank Policy Rates
In 2019, economists' forecasts of central bank policy rates missed badly. Ten of the twelve central banks either unexpectedly cut their policy rate or failed to hike their policy rate by as much as forecast. Two central banks met expectations by standing pat.
In the DM, the Fed was expected to hike the policy rate by 75 to 100 basis points but instead did a U-turn and cut rates by 75bps. Most other central banks followed the Fed's lead, eschewing rate hikes and cutting rates instead. Japan's BoJ and China's PBoC met expectations by leaving their policy rates unchanged. The Bank of Canada and the Bank of England held rates steady rather than delivering expected rate hikes. Policy rates fell much more than expected in most EM economies, even in India and China where inflation surprised to the upside.
10-year Bond Yields
Unfortunately, I was unable to collect meaningful 10-year bond yield forecasts for EM economies last year, so I will just compare DM forecasts with actual outcomes for 10-year yields.
For a second consecutive year, in all six DM economies that we track, 10-year bond yields surprised strategists to the downside. The US 10-year Treasury yield as expected to rise 55bps in 2019 as the Fed was expected to continue to tighten. Instead, US growth and inflation were weaker than expected, The Fed eased and the 10-year Treasury yield fell over 90bps. The weighted average DM forecast error was -1.22 percentage points, the biggest downside average miss since I began doing this in 2014. The biggest country miss was in Australia (-1.87 pct pts). The Aussie bond yield error was bigger than the year-end bond yield (1.60%). In the EM, bond yields also fell as global growth and inflation disappointed.
Exchange Rates
With the Fed doing a policy U-turn in early 2019, most exchange rate forecasts were upset. How currencies fared depended in large part on the degree to which other central banks matched the Fed's policy shift. All of the major currencies were weaker than expected against the US dollar. The weighted mean absolute forecast error for the 11 currencies versus the USD was 3.5%.
A year ago, most forecasters thought that after the USD had outperformed all expectations in 2018, other major currencies would rebound somewhat. Weaker than expected growth and inflation kept the ECB in ultra-accommodative mode and the Euro weakened rather than strengthened. Australia was another case where growth and inflation badly undershot expectations and the RBA responded by unexpectedly easing by as much as the Fed, sinking the Aussie dollar. In contrast, the Bank of Canada kept it's policy rate steady despite weaker than expected growth and the result was a stronger than expected Canadian dollar.
The biggest FX forecast misses for the DM economies were for the Euro (which was 7.4% weaker than expected) and the Australian Dollar (-6.9%). Among EM currencies, China and India saw depreciations that were in line with expectations, while Mexico and Russia experienced appreciations that were larger than expected as oil prices firmed.
Equity Markets
News outlets gather equity market forecasts from high profile US strategists and Canadian bank-owned dealers. A year ago, after a sharp global equity market correction in 4Q18, equity strategists were optimistic that North American stock markets would post a strong rebound in 2019. As shown below, those forecasts called for 2019 gains of 21% for the S&P500 and 13% for the S&PTSX Composite. They were right, but for the wrong reason. Global growth and inflation surprised forecasters to the downside, causing the Fed and other central banks to do a policy U-turn. Both bond and equity markets surged on the unexpected central bank reversal.
As of December 29, 2018, the S&P500, was up 30.3% year-to-date (not including dividends) for an error of +8.9 percentage points. The S&PTSX300 was up 20.7% for an error of +7.7 percentage points.
Globally, after horrible performance in 2018, stock markets rallied back along with US equities. US equities generally had more modest losses in 2018, followed by bigger gains in 2019 than other global equity markets.
Investment Implications
In 2019, global macro forecast misses were the biggest since 2014-15. Global growth and inflation were both weaker than expected, but an unexpected policy U-turn by global central banks resulted in unexpectedly strong returns for bonds and an even bigger than expected rebound in global equities from the late-2018 correction.
For Canadian investors, the appreciation of CAD against the USD meant that returns (in CAD terms) on foreign equities and government bonds were reduced if the USD currency exposure was left unhedged. US equities still outperformed Canadian equities in CAD terms, but Canadian equities outperformed most other global equity markets if foreign currency exposure was left unhedged. Meanwhile, Canadian bonds outperformed US Treasuries and other foreign government bonds in CAD terms despite the lack of policy easing by the BoC.
As 2020 economic and financial market forecasts are rolled out, it is worth reflecting that, for a variety of reasons, such forecasts have been a poor guide to investment decisions for several years running. While forecasters' are once again optimistic in light of the partial trade truce between the US and China, the lesson of 2019 is that forecasters have very limited ability to provide actionable investment guidance. 2020 will undoubtedly once again see some large consensus forecast misses as new surprises arise.
In 2018, aggregate global growth and inflation matched forecasters expectations, but portfolio returns fell far short of what was expected a year ago. At that time, the consensus forecast for global growth was the most optimistic in years and central banks were expected to continue on the path of unwinding monetary stimulus. The expectation among global strategists was for positive single-digit equity returns and weak bond market returns, consistent with consensus views that strong, synchronized global growth, Trump's tax cuts, and central bank withdrawal of stimulus would support equity returns while depressing bond returns. That is not what happened!
The focus of this blog is on generating good returns by taking reasonable risk in easily accessible global (including Canadian) ETFs. To assist in this endeavor, we track various portfolios made up of different combinations of Canadian and global ETFs. This allows us to monitor how the performance of the ETFs and the movement of foreign exchange rates affects the total returns and the volatility of portfolios.
Since we began monitoring our Global ETF portfolios at the end of 2011, we have found that the global portfolios we monitor have all vastly outperformed a simple all-Canada 60/40 portfolio. this proved true once again in 2018.
A stay-at-home Canadian investor who invested 60% of their funds in a Canadian stock ETF (XIU), 30% in a Canadian bond ETF (XBB), and 10% in a Canadian real return bond ETF (XRB) had a 2018 total return (including reinvested dividend and interest payments) of -5.2% in Canadian dollars. This virtually wiped out the all-Canada portfolio gain of 2017. All of our global ETF portfolios outperformed the all-Canadian portfolio in 2018.
Global Market ETFs: Performance for 2018
In 2018, with the CAD depreciating almost 8% against USD, over 4% against the JPY and relatively unchanged against the Euro, the best global ETF returns for Canadian investors were in US government bonds and gold. The worst returns were in Eurozone, Emerging Market and Canadian equities. The chart below shows 2018 returns, including reinvested dividends, for the ETFs tracked in this blog. The returns are shown in USD terms (green bars) and in CAD terms (blue bars).
Only one of the 19 Global ETFs that we track posted a positive USD total return in 2018. That was TLH, the Long-term (10-20yr) US Treasury Bond ETF, which returned +0.4% if monthly distributions were reinvested.
In CAD terms, returns on unhedged foreign currency ETFs were boosted by the depreciation of the Canadian dollar. The best gains were in the Long-term US Treasury Bond (TLH) which returned 8.8% in CAD terms and the US Treasury Inflation Protected Bonds (TIP) which returned 7.1%. Other gainers in CAD terms were the Non-US Government Bonds (BWX), the Gold (GLD), the US High Yield Corporate Bond (HYG), the US Investment Grade Corporate Bond (LQD). The only equity ETF to make a positive return in CAD terms was the S&P500 (SPY) which returned 3.5%. Small positive returns were also made in the USD Emerging Market Bond (EMB), the World Inflation Protected Bond (WIP), the Canadian Corporate Bond (XCB) and the Canadian Long Bond (XLB).
The worst performers in CAD terms were the Eurozone Equity ETF (FEZ) which returned -8.7%, the Emerging Market Equity (EEM) -8.1%, and the Canadian Equity (XIU) -7.8%. Other losers were the Japanese Equity (EWJ), the Commodity ETF (GSG), and the US Small Cap Equity (IWM).
Global ETF Portfolio Performance
In 2018, the global ETF portfolios tracked in this blog posted mixed returns in CAD terms when USD currency exposure was left unhedged, but negative returns when USD exposure was hedged. In a November 2014 post we explained why we prefer to leave USD currency exposure unhedged in our ETF portfolios.
A simple Canada only 60% equity/40% Bond Portfolio returned -5.2%, as mentioned at the top of this post. Among the global ETF portfolios that we track, the Global 60% Equity/40% Bond ETF Portfolio (including both Canadian and global equity and bond ETFs) returned -1.5% in CAD terms when USD exposure was left unhedged, and -5.6% if the USD exposure was hedged. A less volatile portfolio for cautious investors, the Global 45/25/30, comprised of 45% global equities, 25% government and corporate bonds and 30% cash, gained 0.5% if unhedged, but had a negative return of -3.8% if USD hedged.
Risk balanced portfolios outperformed in 2018 if left unhedged, but performed poorly if USD exposure was hedged. A Global Levered Risk Balanced (RB) Portfolio, which uses leverage to balance the expected risk contribution from the Global Market ETFs, gained 2.1% in CAD terms if USD-unhedged, but lost 5.6% if USD-hedged. An Unlevered Global Risk Balanced (RB) Portfolio, which has less exposure to government bonds, inflation-linked bonds and commodities but more exposure to corporate credit, returned 1.8% if USD-unhedged, but lost 4.4% if USD-hedged.
Four Key Events of 2018
In my view, there were four key economic and policy developments that left a mark on portfolio returns in 2018. The first was the interaction of the fiscal stimulus provided by President Trump's tax cuts and Federal Reserve's determination to normalize US monetary policy. The second was Trump's aggressive approach to trade policy, first in NAFTA negotiations and then in tariffs targeting China. The third was the increasing divergence between stronger than expected US growth and weaker than expected growth outside the US. The fourth was the Government of Canada's mismanagement of regulatory policies governing the building of pipelines to provide access for Canadian oil to world markets.
After a promising January, both bond and equity markets stumbled badly in February as an uptick in US wage growth prompted markets to price in more aggressive tightening by the Fed. At the same time, Trump threatened to pull out of NAFTA unless Canada and Mexico got serious about accepting US negotiating demands. As the wage uptick proved temporary and NAFTA negotiations resumed, Trump implemented steel and aluminum tariffs and began the process of ratcheting up tariffs on China. In the summer, Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on vehicles produced in Canada and Mexico, if they wouldn't agree with his NAFTA demands. Through this period, Emerging Market equities and currencies fell sharply. As global growth stumbled in 3Q, with both the Eurozone and Japan posting real GDP declines, weakness in equity markets spread to Europe, Japan and Canada. Slowing global growth, including in China, weakened commodity prices. Crude oil prices fell on slowing global demand and booming US supply. Canadian oil prices tanked, as the rising Canadian oilsands production was shut in by inadequate pipeline capacity. As risk markets sold off, volatility rose, and inflation plateaued, both the Fed and the Bank of Canada continued to signal steady withdrawal of monetary stimulus. Meanwhile, as the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, Trump continued to ratchet up tariff pressure on China, hoping to force a deal.
The impact on portfolio returns is clearly shown in the above chart. All portfolios stumbled in February-March, but recovered through the spring into mid-summer. Both US and Canadian equity equity markets managed to put in record highs as bond yields rose. The combination of slowing global growth, rising US-China trade frictions and central banks apparent unconcern about market volatility, proved a trifecta that led to the the sharp 4Q equity market correction and a muted bond market rally. When the Fed tightened for the fourth time of the year in December and Chairman Powell suggested that Fed balance sheet reduction was on auto pilot, it only added to the huge selloff in US and global equities in December. Only then did Fed officials begin to signal some flexibility on the monetary policy. But by this time, the damage to risk markets was done.
From their August highs in the +5 to 6% range, year-to-date returns for Canadian investors in Global ETF portfolios shrank to the -2 to +2% range in the final four months of the year. The All Canada Portfolio return sank from +3% in mid-July to -5% by yearend.
Looking Ahead
As we enter 2019, two crucial questions face markets. The first is whether "The Great Unwind" of unconventional monetary policy that began in mid-2017 will proceed as signaled by the FOMC or whether faltering momentum in the global economy will force central banks to pause indefinitely or even reverse course. The second is whether the US-China trade dispute will lead to a face-saving ceasefire or to an all-out trade war. The two issues are inter-related. Withdrawal of stimulus by the Fed spills over into tighter global financial conditions, pressuring China's highly leveraged economy. Trade tensions and tariff hikes weaken global growth and add to coast pressures, a toxic mix for equity markets.
While the consensus outlook expects slowing but still solid global growth in 2019, markets do not currently share most economists view of a "soft landing" and central banks withdraw stimulus. The best hopes for stronger portfolio performance for Canadian investors in 2019 would be a US-China trade truce, a Fed that pauses and reasserts "data dependence" as key for additional monetary policy normalization, and a U-turn in Canadian government policy toward resource development and transportation. If these hopes materialize, 2019 could be a very good year for investors. If not, the last four months of 2018 will likely prove to be just the beginning of a sustained bear market in risk assets.
