Demand for Safe-haven Assets remains Strong

Price performance in March 2024

Global market overview

The equity market continued to have positive momentum in March, with the European market outperforming other regions, as a slowdown in inflation rates helped buoy sentiment. Over the coming weeks, the focus is likely to shift to the earnings season. The commodity market also performed better, with precious metals leading the rally. The rush to safety assets continued in March on the backdrop of geopolitical risks. Stronger economic data and overall optimistic sentiment could keep supporting commodity prices over the coming weeks.

The US dollar traded strongly against major currencies in March, on the back of more robust economic activity in the US during the month. Looking ahead, the focus will be on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and European Central Bank (ECB), with some speculations building up that the ECB can make a move on policy rates sooner than the Fed. Japan tightened its policy rates to support the Japanese yen; however, the measure has not been effective until now, with USD/JPY rising again to 150 levels.

Charts of the month

Source: Investing.com

Equity market

• Review: Most of the major indices traded positively in March 2024, driven by healthy economic data and positive sentiment. The KOSPI delivered a 5.7% return, one of the highest among global peers. This remarkable performance can be attributed to the Corporate Value -up programme, the implementation of a short-sell ban and Korea’s National Pension Service’s interest in investing in value-up programmes, all of which significantly boosted the market. Additionally, the Euro Stoxx and DAX also experienced a broad-based rally in all sectors, supported by positive economic surprises and accommodative central bank policies, further contributing to the overall positive sentiment in the market.
• Outlook: Looking ahead, the likelihood of a pullback this month has increased, considering the strong market rally witnessed in the past quarter. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) officially halted fresh purchases of ETFs last month, as the stock market made new highs and valuation concerns emerged. There are some speculations about selling existing ETF holdings by the BoJ, although the bank has not confirmed anything yet. Any future guidance by BoJ on ETF holdings can have potential market implications. Moreover, with the beginning of the earnings season over the next few weeks, further insights will be provided into corporate performance, potentially driving market sentiment.

Commodity market

• Review: The commodity complex performed relatively well in March (compared with the previous month), as lingering geopolitical concerns sent precious metals and energy prices higher, whilst base metals moved up on tightening supply concerns. Gold extended the upward rally and reached fresh record highs, as cooling inflation numbers in the US raised the bets for three potential rate cuts this year. Meanwhile, crude oil prices rallied last month, with ICE Brent reaching year-to-date highs, as OPEC+ members extended supply cuts until 2Q24, whilst the International Energy Agency estimated an oil supply deficit for the year. Along with that, continued tensions between Russia and Ukraine added to the risk premium for oil.
• Outlook: The commodity complex is expected to perform mixed, with oil and base metals mostly remaining on the positive side this month. For gold, the market could remain volatile on mixed market expectations for the Fed to start cutting rates in June. Meanwhile, crude oil prices are expected to perform better over the coming weeks, owing to continued escalations in tensions in the Middle East. Lastly, base metal prices are expected to extend their upward trend, especially copper, following the latest decision by Chinese copper smelters to opt for supply cuts.

FX market

• Review: March was eventful, with several central bank policy meetings held. The US dollar lost ground after the Fed meeting; Fed Chair Powell displayed a softer rhetoric, reassuring rate cuts in 2H. However, data releases later in March painted a decent picture of the economy, resulting in the US dollar strengthening back to its lost spot by end-March. Much of the US dollar appreciation is also buoyed by lows seen in other major currencies. The BoJ tightened its monetary policy, lifting policy rates out of negative territory. Despite this, the yen continued to slide, taking the USD/JPY to the 150 mark again. The British pound tumbled post the policy outcome by the Bank of England (BoE). While a pause was widely expected, the vote split (eight members voted for a pause and one voted for a cut), signalling a rather dovish stance, in contrast to the previous meeting, when two members voted in favour of a hike. On the other hand, following a brief strengthening in EUR/USD on a weak dollar (post Fed meeting), the currency pair weakened by end-March. The fall in the euro has been largely due to a stabilising US dollar and softer Germany manufacturing data. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) surprised markets by depreciating the yuan and fixing USD/CNY at the highest rate seen since November 2023.
• Outlook: As USD/JPY strengthened, breaching the 150 mark, markets are speculating a currency intervention by Japan’s financial authorities to support the yen if such a depreciating trend persists. The US dollar’s rally, going forward, will depend on economic data outcomes in the US, with some resistance due to the Fed’s rate cuts in 2H. If US economic data remains buoyant, a stronger US dollar will be bearish for EUR/USD. The currency pair may also be hit by markets speculating an early policy move by the ECB, relative to the Fed. The PBoC is expected to tolerate a relatively depreciating currency in the coming months, likely pressuring other Asian currencies.

Debt market

• Review: US 10-year Treasury yields remained elevated in March, amid a dovish outcome from a Fed meeting. Eurozone government 10-year bond yields ended higher, after falling mid-March, as investors became more confident of a rate cut by June. Moreover, UK 10-year gilt yields were down from February, as two more policymakers turned dovish. In Japan, bond yields ended higher in March compared with February, as the BoJ exited from its negative interest rate policy. Notably, the BoJ also terminated its yield curve control policy in March.
• Outlook: As the US economy remains resilient, yields are expected to rise. UK gilt yields are expected to fall, with the BoE indicating a sooner-than-anticipated rate cut. Germany’s Bund yield, the euro area’s benchmark, is also expected to drop, with the ECB likely to cut policy rates in 2Q. JGB yields are expected to remain under upward pressure, owing to the BoJ’s rate hike path and the pace of quantitative tightening.

Key data releases:

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