The end of Q1 is rapidly approaching, and what a year this quarter has been! Obviously a lot has changed since the start of the year, and the situation is fluid, to say the least. So I thought it would be helpful to take a quick progress check on the "10 Charts to Watch in 2020".

In the original article, I shared what I thought would be the 10 most important charts to watch for multi-asset investors in the year ahead (and beyond).

In this article, I have updated those 10 charts and provided some updated comments.

With all that's gone on, some of my initial thoughts and expectations from the original article proved completely wrong - at least at this juncture (still 3 quarters to go!).

So this is quite a good exercise to go through in terms of the "where to from here?" -- is it time to double down on some of the original calls, or to make a course change...

Aside from all that's been going on in markets, I've also been very busy making a series of changes to our institutional reports, including: a new weekly cross-asset sentiment pack, a rejig and expansion of the monthly chartbook (now called the market cycle guidebook), and next week I will be launching the new quarterly slide deck ...and there are still a few other enhancements on the agenda I'm working on as well. These have been well received by clients, and in times like these the value of good research goes up (so from a business standpoint I can honestly say I am actually doing better than ever, despite all the chaos, so definitely grateful for all the support and glad I put the work in to make that possible).

Anyway, on with the charts!

[Note: I have included the original comments from back at the start of the year, so you can quickly compare what I'm thinking now vs what I said back then]

1. Global Economy -- there's 2 things to mention on this one. First: the OECD has suspended updates to the composite leading indicators (basically the data for the March release did not reflect the pandemic effects yet, so they didn't want to present misleading info).  Anyway, it's fair to assume that most cycle/economic indicators will collapse short-term (much like what we saw in China). Just about every country has a fiscal and monetary stimulus package implemented to offset this... I would think of this as "economic life support" >> a ventilator for the economy. So the updated view for this one is basically expect nothing much from the economy in the immediate term -- the global synchronized rebound idea has been put in self-isolation for now. I do think however that on the other side of this the growth rebound will be far greater than anyone expects as a potent combination of base effects, pent up demand, and powerful stimulus takes hold. But that is a topic for later.

"Global Economy -- a turning point in the global economic cycle: 2019 basically saw a global manufacturing and export recession. Yes Recession. But looking forward, I have a growing list of leading indicators pointing to a recovery in 2020, and the below is one of them. The diffusion index of OECD leading indicators has made a clear turnaround after reaching a decade low. I will be watching for a turn up in the main global indicator (and for the diffusion index to continue to edge higher/stay higher)."

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2. Emerging Markets: what's changed for this one is that EM central banks have been busily introducing a further round of monetary easing, but what's also likely to have changed is that initial cyclical upturn is likely to see an abrupt fizzling out.  However, what stays the same is that we could still well see EM leading the ultimate rebound as China having taken its medicine already on the virus with its sharp and resolute shutdown, gets back to business. Assuming China manages to stay on top of the virus, I would be closely watching China as an analog for the rest of the world.

"Emerging Markets: a big part of the 2020 recovery thesis is the global monetary policy pivot. Not many have noticed, but EM central banks have been particularly aggressive in easing policy (and by the way, they have the most traditional policy ammunition available). Given some of the cycle indicators have already begun to stabilize for EM I have a strong degree of confidence that we will see a cyclical upturn across emerging economies in the coming months and quarters."

3. Growth Assets vs Defensive Assets: in the wake of the corona crash, defensive assets have become more expensive (as investors crowd into safe havens), and growth assets have fallen to really very cheap levels (but more so for global ex-US equities and commodities).  I would definitely be doubling down on this one: over the longer run, valuations speak for themselves, particularly at extremes, and now is about as extreme as it gets.

"Growth Assets vs Defensive Assets: this chart says it all in terms of where investors have been positioned, and it tells you that defensive assets may not necessarily be “safe” given such expensive valuations.  Indeed, a global economic rebound could well make defensive assets a source of risk, rather than a hedge of risk."

4. TIPS breakevens: much like commodities and global ex-US equities, TIPS went from cheap to really cheap. So again, double down on this.  But in terms of catalysts, clearly TIPS are tied in with the whole EM equities/commodities/EMFX etc complex... which are all showing up as cheap (thus attractive from a valuation standpoint), but obviously there will be some water to go under the bridge as EM and commodities face very real near term headwinds.  Sentiment towards these assets has already been resolutely cleaned out, which is a good start, and stimulus measures will help - but stimulus will have to speak louder than the near and pressing shock and awe headlines.  We'll definitely get there eventually, as a tipping point is reached.

"TIPS breakevens look cheap and should rebound if we get better growth. This will also tend to put upward pressure on bond yields (i.e. nominal yield = real yield + inflation expectations).  This is closely tied in with the commodities picture [chart 7]."

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5. US Equity Valuations: this chart saw quite the change from the start of the year.  Back at the start of the year it was a case of absolute valuations look expensive, but relative valuations look cheap.  Now it's a case of absolute valuations don't look that expensive anymore, but relative valuations look the cheapest in years.  Essentially a reset or winding back of the market clock. In hindsight, it shows the risk of going in/staying in when absolute valuations are lofty.

"US Equity Valuations: the downside of likely higher bond yields is that all else equal it will squeeze the ERP (equity risk premium), which in contrast to absolute valuations, still looks cheap/attractive.  Indeed, you can argue it's quite rational to be bullish equities even as absolute valuations are historically high if the equity risk premium provides enough of a cushion."

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6. Global Equities: the nascent cyclical bull market in global equities that began last year basically got stricken down by the virus. Obviously we're no longer in a bull market, but would you call it a bear market?  Bear markets can happen over the course of years in some cases, and weeks/months in others (like now).  Similar to the comment on the previous chart, it's a full reset or winding back of the clock.  The market breadth signals now look like they do in the deep dark depths of a bear market or crisis - i.e. like what you see at the start of a secular bull. Of course, the situation is still evolving, so I will leave it at that for now - but will flag the note from last week on the global equities outlook.

"Global Equities: it looks like we’re in a new cyclical bull market (based on a fairly familiar and reliable global equity market breadth signal). This chart and a few other global equity market breadth indicators helped pick the big breakout late last year.  It's quite likely that if the new cyclical bull market does get derailed somehow, that we see early warning signs show up in this chart. So this will be a key one to watch for risk asset allocations."

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7. Commodities I began the year with optimism on commodities for a few reasons, but a flock of black swans basically shat all over that thesis!  It turned out to be a false dawn for commodities, and just as we could say commodities were at a key junction at the start of the year, a couple of key signals and levels stand out to me. Firstly we have a line in the sand in the form of the 2008 and 2016 low points (and the 2005 breakout), if that gets broken it likely opens up more downside.  Second, we also have a collapse in breadth to basically oversold levels.  Ideally for a medium-term bullish signal there you want to see a collapse, bottom, and turn up in that indicator.  So while I can talk about the other things I am watching for this asset class, those are the key high level signposts.

"Commodities (at an asset class level) have also seen a familiar market breadth pattern emerge, which points to a cyclical bull market (lines up with relatively light positioning, cheap valuations, and a prospective better macro backdrop).  The outlook across the individual commodities that make up this index is a bit more nuanced, but the aggregate/asset class view looks fairly straightforward based on the sum of evidence from our indicator set."

8. FX Volatility: well I can say I was right in that volatility came back in violent fashion... on direction, the DXY has left a trail of false breakouts in its wake over the past year or so.  Given some of the significant bearish medium-term signals for the US dollar, I would expect the sharp surge in the DXY last week will also end up as a false breakout.  But with everyone dealing with their own issues and central banks all doing their best to keep their economic patients alive, I would say a good base case is more of the same of ranging and false breakouts in the immediate term.

"FX Volatility: one key piece of the puzzle for commodities is the US dollar, and while I continue to maintain a bearish bias there, one thing I am very mindful of is the crunch in FX volatility.  Typically crunches in volatility like this tend to be resolved in a violent fashion: that is, it could be a harbinger of a large/rapid move (agnostic of direction).  So, will 2020 bring a return of volatility for the US dollar?"

9. Value vs Growth: 'if you liked value stocks before...'  So obviously with value stocks slightly over-represented in energy/commodities/financials, and the fact we ended up with the opposite of what I outlined below as macro catalysts for value vs growth (i.e. what we got was lower bond yields, disastrous growth, and lower commodities), this has not worked out so far.  Going back to the common theme of this update - valuations - the relative value of value stocks now looks even better.  But clearly, we find ourselves tied up with a lot of other common (macro) themes with this one, in terms of catalysts, so it's back to the drawing board for now. 

"Value vs Growth: the investment strategy graveyard is littered with failed calls for a turnaround in the performance of value vs growth stocks.  But I think we could be close to the much-awaited and much-forecast turning point.  Relative value between the two cohorts is at the lowest point in 20 years, and in terms of macro catalysts, my expectations for higher bond yields, better growth, and higher commodity prices will help the sectors that are slightly over-represented in value vs growth.  So don't forget about value."

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10. China: I had to review the text below before drafting my updated views... remember the trade war? (back when life was simpler, and that was all we had to worry about!).  Anyway, the data to Feb shows a deepening of the property price slowdown in China, but China A-shares have also taken a bit of a setback as global growth and the domestic economic disruption have stymied this theme.  Thus far China has been - in contrast to the rest of the world - a very reluctant easer of monetary policy.  They seem very intently focused on not repeating the mistakes of the past of over-easing into the financial crisis in 2009.  The risk is they end up making a mistake of under-easing now, and that's something to be wary of here.  I think ultimately they get dragged into easing even if domestic activity rebounds as the virus shutdown passes, but rest of world demand fails to show up.  So for this one it's also back to the laboratory...

"China: last but not least, this chart shows Chinese property price growth vs China A-shares.  It’s a useful chart for China watchers and global investors in general, but it’s of particular interest now because property price growth is rolling over, and that could be good news for China A-shares. Because the marginal speculative investment dollar in China is basically trapped in the country, you tend to see this succession of chasing one hot asset after another.  Thus, we could start to see a rotation effect between property and stocks in China, and that (along with cheap valuations, easier monetary policy, better global growth, and a trade deal/truce) could drive a potentially explosive new bull market in China A-shares."

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Key Takeaways:

-Expect a DELAYED rebound in the global economy (which may end up sharper/bigger than initially expected), potentially still led by emerging markets (China in particular).

-Defensive assets are extremely (even more) expensive now, making them possibly sources of risk rather than hedges of risk. And growth assets look very attractive from a valuation standpoint.

-Commodities and inflation expectations have taken a major step back as the macro picture failed to evolve as expected, and while a few things need to go right, they look a lot better now.

-US dollar vol came back, remain medium-term bearish, but expect more false breakouts and vol.

-Double-down bullish global equities. Valuations - a common theme in this update - have moved to very rarely seen levels, and it's entirely possible that a 'generational opportunity' is in the works here.