Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist, True Insights

Jeroen Blokland

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist

Build Well-Diversified Multi-Asset Portfolios

True Insights

Our research helps investors build well-diversified multi-asset portfolios and profit from market developments. In addition, our unique and proven Macro – Sentiment – Valuation (MSV) investment framework ensures a consistent flow of new investment opportunities. Together with our market views, these opportunities will be reflected in our live ETF-based Global Multi-Asset Portfolios.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The ISM Manufacturing Index fell to 46.9 and reveals clear downside for equities based on the historical relationship.</li>
<li>The US labor market remains way too hot for the Fed and significantly increases the odds of another rate hike even as a massive drop in inflation materializes. </li>
<li>The P/E ratio of Big Tech stocks equals 56, while earnings growth has turned negative in recent quarters. Not the best starting point with the MOVE/VIX ratio &gt;8.</li>
</ul>


The ISM Manufacturing Index fell to 46.9 and reveals clear downside for equities based on the historical relationship.
The US labor market remains way too hot for the Fed and significantly increases the odds of another rate hike even as a massive drop in inflation materializes. 
The P/E ratio of Big Tech stocks equals 56, while earnings growth has turned negative in recent quarters. Not the best starting point with the MOVE/VIX ratio &gt;8.


ISM Down, Rates Up, Valuation Ballooning; What Could Go Wrong?

<ul>
<li>Tighter lending standards for Commercial &amp; Industrial loans point to a US recession.</li>
<li>Tighter lending standards for Commercial &amp; Industrial loans suggest the US high yield default rate should quadruple this year to above 7% from 1.7% last year.</li>
<li>Equity market valuation has recently increased, moving in the exact opposite direction of lending standards.</li>
</ul>


Tighter lending standards for Commercial &amp; Industrial loans point to a US recession.
Tighter lending standards for Commercial &amp; Industrial loans suggest the US high yield default rate should quadruple this year to above 7% from 1.7% last year.
Equity market valuation has recently increased, moving in the exact opposite direction of lending standards.


Fed Lending Survey: Bad for Growth, Spreads, and Equities

<ul>
<li>Regional banks with cash and assets exceeding the value of their uninsured deposits being sold off is a clear signal that the regional banking crisis may be getting systemic.</li>
<li>Stock market investors living in 'central bank and earnings lalaland' underestimate the indirect impact of the banking crisis on lending and economic activity.</li>
<li>Big Tech valuation and slower earnings and revenue growth pose a risk to the overall stock markets, while Bitcoin and Gold offer additional diversification.</li>
</ul>


Regional banks with cash and assets exceeding the value of their uninsured deposits being sold off is a clear signal that the regional banking crisis may be getting systemic.
Stock market investors living in 'central bank and earnings lalaland' underestimate the indirect impact of the banking crisis on lending and economic activity.
Big Tech valuation and slower earnings and revenue growth pose a risk to the overall stock markets, while Bitcoin and Gold offer additional diversification.


Weekly Market Monitor (18) - The Bank Domino Continues

<ul>
<li>We have to go back to 1980 to find a month when small US businesses thought it was an even worse time to expand.</li>
<li>Volatility is falling off a cliff as investors embrace a new kind of goldilocks. </li>
<li>A common denominator drives Bitcoin and Gold higher: their perceived value as insurance against adverse market circumstances.</li>
</ul>


We have to go back to 1980 to find a month when small US businesses thought it was an even worse time to expand.
Volatility is falling off a cliff as investors embrace a new kind of goldilocks. 
A common denominator drives Bitcoin and Gold higher: their perceived value as insurance against adverse market circumstances.


Sentiment Strengthens, While Fundamentals Fade

<ul>
<li>The swiftly growing number of participants in the Fed Senior Loan Officer Survey signaling tighter lending standards for Commercial and Industrial loans suggests a 2023 default rate above 6%.</li>
<li>Improved high yield quality and still low interest expenses put our 2023 default estimate at 5.0%, with potential contagion risk coming from the CMBS market.</li>
<li>In any case, spreads do not reflect a higher default rate, let alone a recession, and remain too low to provide value. Underweight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-iboxx-high-yield-corporate-bond-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27948:1" rel="noopener">High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG US)</a> </li>
</ul>


The swiftly growing number of participants in the Fed Senior Loan Officer Survey signaling tighter lending standards for Commercial and Industrial loans suggests a 2023 default rate above 6%.
Improved high yield quality and still low interest expenses put our 2023 default estimate at 5.0%, with potential contagion risk coming from the CMBS market.
In any case, spreads do not reflect a higher default rate, let alone a recession, and remain too low to provide value. Underweight High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG US) 


High Yield Bonds: Defaults Rising to 5.0% but Spreads in Lalaland

United States

iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield corporate bonds.

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iShares iBoxx High Yield Corpo (HYG US)

ISM Down, Rates Up, Valuation Ballooning; What Could Go Wrong?

The AI Boom remains real, but so is deteriorating Macro, extreme SKEW, the MOVE-VIX divergence, and lofty Big Tech valuation.

Jeroen Blokland

Fed Lending Survey: Bad for Growth, Spreads, and Equities

Based on tighter lending standards, the US high yield default rate should quadruple to above 7% from 1.7% last year, and bond spreads must widen...

Jeroen Blokland

Weekly Market Monitor (18) - The Bank Domino Continues

More regional banks are collapsing, but Powell thought things were improving, recession signals are flashing, but investors believe earnings are...

Jeroen Blokland

Sentiment Strengthens, While Fundamentals Fade

Sentiment strengthens, while Fundamentals fade. 30+ charts to get you up to speed on all things Macro, Sentiment, and Valuation, and why you should...

Jeroen Blokland

High Yield Bonds: Defaults Rising to 5.0% but Spreads in Lalaland

Swiftly tightening lending standards signal a spike in the high yield default rate. Yet, spreads hardly reflect any default and recession risks....

Jeroen Blokland

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