Market Pulse - November 2022

Key themes

  • Both equities and bonds rallied strongly in November as speculation grew that the pace of US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate rises would soon begin to slow.
  • Weaker-than-expected inflation readings in both the US and the Eurozone contributed to the belief that an upcoming policy pivot from central banks was now more likely.
  • Signs that China was beginning to relax its zero-tolerance Covid-19 policy and slowly moving towards a reopening of the economy led to an improvement in sentiment around Chinese growth.

Markets snapshot

  •  The MSCI AC World equity index rose 6.3% (3.5% in euros).
  • US equities lagged, rising 5.4% (1.2% in euros) on suggestions the Fed could begin to slow the pace of interest rate rises from December.
  • Emerging market equities outperformed, rising 11.7% (10.2% in euros), benefiting from improving sentiment around the Chinese growth outlook.
  • Pacific Basin ex Japan equities rose 10.7% (10.1% in euros), similarly benefiting from improved China sentiment, with Hong Kong being strong, up 23.1%.
  • The Eurozone >5-year bond index rose 3.8%, and German 10-year yields fell to 1.93%, as Eurozone inflation surprised to the downside, appearing to have peaked.
  • The euro rose 5.3% against the dollar to 1.0315
  • Commodities fell -1.7% (-5.6% in euros). Brent oil fell -9.9% on suggestions that OPEC+ could respond to US pressure and was considering a surprise increase in production at its December meeting. Having fallen through late summer, European gas prices rose in November.
  • Gold rose 7.1%, supported by a weaker US dollar and falling US real yields. Metals were higher on improving sentiment towards Chinese growth in 2023, with copper rising 10.5% and aluminium 11.5%. 

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