Markets: There will be opportunities throughout the year…

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Renta4 | Markets have advanced much in little time, with advances of 20% in Europe and 25% in the US in the last four months. This strong performance has been produced in an environment of clearly accommodative central banks, although the market “seeks” even more, discounting interest rate cuts both in the US (probability 50%) and in the Eurozone although to a lesser degree (probability 20%). At the same time, dissension is emerging in the heart of the ECB about the deposit rate.

We consider that there is a high level of complacency that the economic slowdown has hit bottom, still without confirmation, which is why we recommend taking profits and/or adopting a more defensive profile in portfolios while awaiting better entry levels.

Stock market valuations are attractive in historical terms assuming the consensus on PER and, even if PERs do not grow, European stocks have a certain way to go. However, we reiterate the idea that markets have advanced much in little time and there will be opportunities through out the year. We expect a certain profit taking in the short term, being acknowledgement of a bottom to economic deceleration (above all in Europe more in question) the necessary point of inversion to become more positive again. Until then, we adopt a more defensive trend facing a certain consolidation of the advances of the last four months.

From a technical point of view, the levels to look for are: Ibex 7,700/8,800 – 10,600/11,200, Eurostoxx, 2,700/3,100 – 3,550/3,700 and S&P 2,150/2,550 – 3,000-3,100.

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The Corner
The Corner has a team of on-the-ground reporters in capital cities ranging from New York to Beijing. Their stories are edited by the teams at the Spanish magazine Consejeros (for members of companies’ boards of directors) and at the stock market news site Consenso Del Mercado (market consensus). They have worked in economics and communication for over 25 years.