Weekly Commentary: 12 June 2023 – 18 June 2023
Markets in the Asia-Pacific region are showing varied performance as traders come off a successful week and anticipate major upcoming central bank meetings. The United States Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is set to meet on June 13-14, the European Central Bank is slated for a meeting on Thursday, and the Bank of Japan will wrap up its meeting on Friday.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 began with a 0.45% rise, remaining near its highest point in 33 years, while the Topix Index also increased by 0.48%. Markets in South Korea kicked off positively too, with the Kospi increasing by 0.32% and the Kosdaq rising by 0.2%. Conversely, the futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index indicate a potential dip at the opening, standing at 19,340 against the HSI’s last closing at 19,389.95. Meanwhile, markets in Australia are closed due to a holiday.
Stock returns were mixed over the week as observed across the following 3 indices, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.13%), S&P 500 Index (+0.11%), and NASDAQ Composite Index (+0.16%). Other notable key market indices that generated positive returns consist of the Hang Seng Index (+2.68%) and the MSCI Singapore Free Index (+1.82%). Three S&P 500 sectors registered positive returns last week – Consumer Discretionary (+2.45%), Utilities (+1.96%), and Energy (+1.78%). The main underperformers for the week were from subsectors such as Consumer Staples (-0.50%), Information Technology (-0.66%), and Communication Services (-0.41%). For 2022 as a whole, index returns were negative for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (-8.78%), S&P 500 (-19.44%), and the NASDAQ Composite (-33.10%).
The yield-curve remains inverted as the 10Y-2Y US Treasury spread widened to -0.86%. driven by U.S 2-year and 10-year Treasury yields rising 11bps to 4.61% and 6bps to 3.75% respectively. Market sentiment also became more risk-off as the U.S. High Yield (HY) – Investment Grade (IG) credit spread tightened 12 bps to 2.78% while the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) fell 77 bps to 13.83%.
The global REIT market’s return varied across numerous benchmarks. S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (-2.85%), and FTSE EPRA Nareit UK REITs Index (-1.83%) were the notable REITs that generated negative returns over the past week. Closer to home, the iEdge S-REIT Index (-0.41%) and all of its subsectors generated negative weekly returns except Healthcare (+0.5%), the notable sector that outperformed the rest last week. REITs generally have been affected by decreasing yield spread as interest rates surged and investors price in the possibility of reduced distributions stemming from higher financing costs. However, we do expect inflows to return to the sector given the existing attractive valuations on offer and resilience offered by the REIT asset class in light of the waning global growth outlook.
Important Information
This material is provided by Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (“PCM”) for general information only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to invest in any of the exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or the unit trust (“Products”) mentioned herein. It does not have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation and any of your particular needs. You should read the Prospectus and the accompanying Product Highlights Sheet (“PHS”) for key features, key risks and other important information of the Products and obtain advice from a financial adviser (“FA“) before making a commitment to invest in the Products. In the event that you choose not to obtain advice from a FA, you should assess whether the Products are suitable for you before proceeding to invest. A copy of the Prospectus and PHS are available from PCM, any of its Participating Dealers (“PDs“) for the ETF, or any of its authorised distributors for the unit trust managed by PCM.
An ETF is not like a typical unit trust as the units of the ETF (the “Units“) are to be listed and traded like any share on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”). Listing on the SGX-ST does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units which may be traded at prices above or below its NAV or may be suspended or delisted. Investors may buy or sell the Units on SGX-ST when it is listed. Investors cannot create or redeem Units directly with PCM and have no rights to request PCM to redeem or purchase their Units. Creation and redemption of Units are through PDs if investors are clients of the PDs, who have no obligation to agree to create or redeem Units on behalf of any investor and may impose terms and conditions in connection with such creation or redemption orders. Please refer to the Prospectus of the ETF for more details.
Investments are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested, and are not obligations of, deposits in, guaranteed or insured by PCM or any of its subsidiaries, associates, affiliates or PDs. The value of the units and the income accruing to the units may fall or rise. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the Products. There can be no assurance that investment objectives will be achieved. Any use of financial derivative instruments will be for hedging and/or for efficient portfolio management. PCM reserves the discretion to determine if currency exposure should be hedged actively, passively or not at all, in the best interest of the Products. The regular dividend distributions, out of either income and/or capital, are not guaranteed and subject to PCM’s discretion. Past payout yields and payments do not represent future payout yields and payments. Such dividend distributions will reduce the available capital for reinvestment and may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Products. Please refer to <www.phillipfunds.com> for more information in relation to the dividend distributions.
The information provided herein may be obtained or compiled from public and/or third party sources that PCM has no reason to believe are unreliable. Any opinion or view herein is an expression of belief of the individual author or the indicated source (as applicable) only. PCM makes no representation or warranty that such information is accurate, complete, verified or should be relied upon as such. The information does not constitute, and should not be used as a substitute for tax, legal or investment advice.
The information herein are not for any person in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or availability for use would contravene any applicable law or regulation or would subject PCM to any registration or licensing requirement in such jurisdiction or country. The Products is not offered to U.S. Persons. PhillipCapital Group of Companies, including PCM, their affiliates and/or their officers, directors and/or employees may own or have positions in the Products. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.