Managing Expectations – Part III
August 16, 2014
by Frank Holmes
of U.S. Global Investors
In the first of this three-part series on managing expectations, I discussed the role cycles play in the investment management process. At U.S. Global Investors, we actively monitor both short- and long-term cycles, from the annual seasonality of gold to four-year presidential elections, in order to manage expectations based on historical patterns.
To understand how oscillators work, though, you’ll first need to be familiar with standard deviation and mean reversion.Among other important cycles and patterns that we use are oscillators, which are diagnostic tools that help us measure a security’s upward and downward price volatility. Think of an oscillator as a thermometer; with it, we can accurately take a security’s “temperature.” The knowledge extrapolated from this reading is materially useful in managing expectations, appreciating the dimensionality of a security’s short-term volatility and identifying when to accumulate or trade a stock.
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation, also known by its Greek letter sigma, is a probability tool that gauges a security’s volatility. Specifically, it measures the typical fluctuation of a security around its mean or average return over a period of time ranging from one day to 12 months or more.
In the following bell-shaped curve, the center line represents a security’s average return over a given period of time—one day, 20 days, 60 days or 12 months. To the left and right of the line, the darkest blue sections indicate one standard deviation, or sigma, either above or below the mean; the next lightest, two sigma above or below; and so on.
expectations
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No matter the security, returns can be expected to trade within one sigma of their mean 68 percent of the time. Ninety-five percent of the time they will fluctuate within two sigma, and nearly all of the time they will trade within three.
So why should investors care about this? Generally speaking, the higher the sigma, the higher a security’s volatility; the probability that it will fall back toward the mean also rises. A speculative tech stock, for example, has a greater tendency to have a higher sigma than a blue chip stock. This tells you the tech stock’s returns will fluctuate more widely, more erratically, than the blue chip stock’s.
But sigma is not as black and white as this comparison might suggest. Rather, it more closely resembles multiple shades of color that help investors manage their emotional reactions to the market’s swings and focus instead on the power of using statistics. It’s easy to get pulled into market fears or “irrational exuberance”-to use former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s phrase-and this probability model helps us be more objective.
To illustrate how these statistics operate in the real world, let’s look at the S&P 500 Index. Over the last ten years, it has had a rolling 12-month standard deviation of 17 percent. This means that if you were to chart its returns over the course of 12 months, you could expect them to stay within ±17 percent from the mean about 70 percent of the time. That’s one sigma. You could also reasonably expect returns to rise or fall within ±34 percent, or two sigma, 95 percent of the time.
Knowing this, it probably wouldn’t be a huge cause for celebration if the S&P 500 rose, say, 8 percent during a 12-month period, since this figure falls within the “normal” one-sigma range. Conversely, a loss of 8 percent wouldn’t be a total disaster. A one-sigma move is a non-event from a historical perspective.
To put this in perspective, the S&P 500 rose about 30 percent last year. This is close to a significant two-sigma move from its 12-month average. Incidentally, 2013 was the index’s best annual performance since 1997.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that, just as we all have different fingerprints, every commodity, every stock, every fund and every index has its own DNA of volatility. The S&P 500 might have a sigma of 17 percent, but over the same 12-month period, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has a much more volatile 29 percent. Investors must strive to remain objective in the face of emotional factors that move markets and adjust their expectations of how these two indexes behave compared to one another.
Using Weather Statistics to Explain Standard Deviation
As an analogy, consider the extreme temperature fluctuations in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Minneapolis has an average annual temperature of 45 degrees, which sounds pleasant enough. You might think that in such a climate, all you need to get by is a warm jacket. But the picture changes dramatically when you learn that the Twin Cities’ 12-month standard deviation is ±22 degrees. Statistically, this means that for a little over two thirds of the year-68 percent of the time-you can expect the temperature to swing between 23 and 67 degrees. Suddenly that jacket is looking pretty risky. At two standard deviations, there’s a strong probability that the temperature will fall anywhere between a bone-chilling 1 degree-which might very wel l occur, since the average low in January is 2.8 degrees-and 89 degrees. That’s a huge, yawning gap that Minneapolitans must contend with throughout the year.
Compare this to San Antonio, Texas, home of U.S. Global Investors. Here the average temperature is a balmy 70 degrees, with a less-volatile standard deviation of 13 degrees. Even at two sigma-which, again, occurs 95 percent of the time-the temperature in the Alamo City statistically falls anywhere between 42 and 94 degrees, close to the average high in July.
If we’re looking just at temperature fluctuations, Minneapolis resembles the Emerging Markets Index whereas San Antonio behaves more like the S&P 500. Your expectations of “normal,” therefore, will need to be different depending on which of these two cities you reside in or indexes you follow.
Mean Reversion
This leads us to mean reversion, which I discussed in full back in June. Mean reversion is the theory that, although prices might trend up for many years (as in a bull market), or fall for many years (as in a bear market), they tend to move back toward their historic averages eventually. Such elasticity is the basis for knowing when a security is under- or overvalued and when to buy low and sell high. We have just experienced a bull market with the S&P 500 and a bear market with gold stocks. Within these trends, though, are great internal volatility and oscillator tools that monitor these actions. Even in a bull or bear market, we can measure the 20- and 60-day volatility of any kind of security.
Again let’s use Minneapolis as an illustration. We’ve already established its wide-ranging temperature fluctuations throughout the year, from highs reaching the 80s to lows flirting with zero. This being so, it would be unreasonable to expect the weather to remain freezing indefinitely, as is the case in Game of Throne’s aptly-named Land of Always Winter. Eventually it reverts back to its 12-month mean of 45 degrees.
The same goes in the world of investing. Mean reversion applies to everything, in both a micro and macro setting. In an April 2012 Frank Talk, I showed that entire countries have their own means, which they eventually revert back to. After charting Chinese stock performance over a 10-year timespan, a pattern emerged:
“Chinese stocks landed in the top half [of emerging markets] four out of 10 years-2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. In 2003, China climbed an astounding 163 percent; in 2007, it was the top emerging market again, returning nearly 60 percent. Since then, the country has fallen to the bottom half… If you apply the principle of mean reversion, history appears to favor China landing in the top half during this Year of the Dragon.”
Indeed, by the end of 2012, Chinese stocks jumped nearly 40 percent from the previous year, placing the country in the top half of emerging markets-just as predicted using the theory of mean reversion.
Look at the two oscillator charts below. They show the up-and-down movements in the price of gold stocks (top chart) and bullion (bottom chart) over the past ten years. One row above or below the mean, indicated by the black horizontal line, equates to one sigma; two rows above or below equates to two sigma; and so on. As you can see, mining stocks have recently reverted to their mean for the first time in about three years, while spot gold is gradually working its way back.
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Again, every security has a different sigma for a specific period of time, and as such your expectations should reflect these differences. Gold bullion currently has a one-day standard deviation of ±1 percent and a 12-month standard deviation of ±18.8 percent. (The one-day will always be lower than the 12-month.) So if gold’s return falls within a range of ±1 on any given day or ±18.8 percent for a 12-month period, it’s behaving normally, as this is only one sigma. Anything over 18.8 percent for a 12-month period would be heading toward two sigma, which is when a buy or sell action is advised
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Now compare spot gold to the NYSE Arca Gold BUGS Index, which has a 12-month standard deviation of 35.5 percent-nearly double that of bullion. Plus or minus 35.5 percent might sound incredibly scary and volatile, but for gold stocks, a fluctuation of this sort is “normal,” occurring 68 percent of the time. It’s all about managing your expectations and emotions. Look at the following oscillator that charts the S&P 500 and gold bullion’s 60-day percent change over the past five years. Like the EKG tracings of a healthy patient, the lines bottom and peak, bottom and peak-but revert back to their mean with regular frequency.
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Oscillators are vital to identifying the optimal time to buy or sell. When prices exceed two sigma above the mean, it might be a good time to sell because the statistical data suggest the commodity is overvalued and, therefore, prices are due to drop toward their mean. When prices exceed two sigma below the mean, it indicates the commodity is undervalued. Buying the laggards at this time could enable you to participate in a potential rally.
No statistical tools are accurate 100 percent of the time, but investors can take ownership in how they use probability tools such as oscillators to manage the emotions of the market. It’s when an asset moves more than one sigma that the power of mean reversion raises your chances to capture opportunity. This is part of what makes investing so exciting.
Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
Part III (Coming Soon)
In the third and final part of this series on managing expectations, I’ll discuss the anatomy of a bear market such as what gold mining stocks have experienced for three years. I’ll also discuss how we use relative fundamental stock evaluations, growth at a reasonable price (GARP) to pick stocks and some of the statistical tools we use to trade around core positions.
The job of active managers and the need to trade around core holdings is extremely important, especially when the daily, monthly and annual volatility is so excitable.
Index Summary
Major market indices finished higher this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.66 percent. The S&P 500 Stock Index gained 1.22 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 2.15 percent. The Russell 2000 small capitalization index rose 0.91 percent this week.
The Hang Seng Composite Index gained 2.4 percent and Taiwan gained 1.3 percent. The KOSPI Composite Index was closed on Friday, but it gained 1.58 through Thursday.
The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 330 basis points to 2.34 percent.
omestic Equity Market
The market was on its way to have the largest weekly gain of the year until Friday when the momentum turned on news that Ukrainian forces attacked an armed Russian convoy. When the closing bell rang the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index ended the week up 1.2 percent. Trading volume on the week was on the lighter side.
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Strengths
The health care sector outperformed the broader market closing up 2.32 percent. Within health care, service names were pretty quiet, while Biotech, Pharma and Spec pharmaceutical names saw renewed strength as traders looked to continue investing money in the best-performing sector.
The technology sector wasn’t far behind health care. The sector went from being one of the weakest over the last two weeks to one of the strongest, closing up 1.8 percent. One standout was Pandora rising on takeover rumors; the stock rallied over 10 percent.
Monster Beverage was the strongest name in the S&P after rallying 30 percent on Friday. Coca-Cola agreed to buy a 17 percent stake in the company for $2.15 billion. The deal gives Coca-Cola greater exposure to the energy drink market, one of the fastest-growing segments in the beverage industry.
Weaknesses
Energy was the only sector in the red for the week, finishing down 0.5 percent. The weakness seems to be attributed to talk of an oversupply in crude oil. One of the weakest names in the sector was Pioneer Natural Resources, falling 3.3 percent for the week.
Fossil Group closed down 7.2 percent for the week making it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500. The company reported “in-line” earnings guiding higher for their core business, but evidently the street was expecting better.
Opportunities
Next week will be a big week for consumer earnings. Key companies reporting include Urban Outfitters, Home Depot, Target and Staples.
There is an energy conference in Denver next week which may direct investor focus and enthusiasm back to the energy sector
Threats
Similar to last week, we still have geopolitical tensions with Ukraine and Russia on the forefront.
August has been a negative month every year over the past five years. With low volumes and overall market tiredness, any small news can cause this market to snap back. It seems the market is looking for reasons to make this the sixth year in a row
The Economy and Bond Market
Treasury yields declined this week as the U.S. 10-year yield fell to close at fresh 52-week lows, hitting 2.30 percent before pulling back to about 2.34 percent at end the week. Most U.S. economic data were relatively inline this week, though Initial Jobless Claims, Empire State Manufacturing Index, and the University of Michigan Confidence numbers came in a bit light. U.S. investors kept a close eye on global economic data and geopolitical events this week and while geopolitical tensions lessened late in the week, concerns about weakening European data rose.
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Strengths
The U.S. took part in a global bond rally on Friday as its 10-year yield fell to fresh 52-week lows. German, U.K., and Japanese 10-year bond yields also fell to new 52-week lows.
U.S. economic data were relatively inline or benign, and U.S. markets largely shrugged off potential geopolitical concerns.
Japanese second-quarter GDP data were better than expected, while Portugal, Spain and Greece also had relatively good second-quarter GDP numbers.
Weaknesses
U.S. Initial Jobless Claims, the Empire State Manufacturing Index and University of Michigan Confidence numbers all missed this week. Jobless Claims came in at 311,000, missing estimates of 295,000. Empire State came in at 14.69, missing expectations of 20.00, while the Michigan Confidence number of 79.2 missed expectations of 82.5.
While the U.K. had a solid showing in the second quarter, some eurozone GDP data were weak. Germany and France both contracted in the second quarter, while Italy contracted for a second-straight quarter, placing Italy in a technical recession.
Opportunities
With key global central banks in easy policy mode and inflation trending lower in many parts of the world, the path of least resistance for bond yields continues to be down. Weak European data elevates expectations for increased action and clarity from European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi and the ECB.
Mark Carney at the Bank of England (BOE) offered these reassuring words with respect to future U.K. rate hikes: “increases … when they come, are likely to be gradual and limited.” The BOE is a key central bank for investors to monitor, as the U.K. economy is a bit further along on the road to recovery than the U.S.
Small business optimism in the U.S. came in better this week, ticking higher to 96.0, better than analysts’ expectations of 95.7 and nearing the 52-week high of 96.6.
Threats
The possibility for central banking policy error remains elevated in the U.S. and globally.
U.S. wage growth continues to remains sluggish despite the recovery.
Europe remains something of a wildcard as data are weak and geopolitics highly relevant.
Gold Market
For the week, spot gold closed at $1,304.54, down $6.41 per ounce, or 0.49 percent. Gold stocks, as measured by the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, rose 0.50 percent. The U.S. Trade-Weighted Dollar Index rose 0.05 percent for the week.
Date
Event
Survey
Actual
Prior
Aug 12
Germany August ZEW Survey Expectations
17.0%
8.6%
27.1%
Aug 13
China July Retail Sales
12.5%
12.2%
12.4%
Aug 14
Eurozone July CPI
0.8%
0.8%
0.8%
Aug 15
U.S. July PPI Final Demand
1.7%
1.7%
1.9%
Aug 19
U.S. July CPI
2.0%
-
2.1%
Aug 20
U.S. Fed Releases Minutes from July 29-30 FOMC Meeting
-
-
-
Aug 20
China HSBC Pelim. Manufacturing PMI
51.5
-
51.7
Aug 21
U.S. August Pelim. Markit Manufacturing PMI
55.6
-
1.9%
Strengths
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Gold analysts and traders are bullish on the metal for the third-consecutive week, the longest run since February as geopolitical tensions continue to support the safe-haven demand. In addition, the weekly Bloomberg survey shows analysts are the most bullish in seven months after rockets were fired from Gaza before the 72-truce expired, and Ukraine reported it attacked a destroyed portion of a Russian military convoy entering Ukraine.
Klondex Mines reported strong second-quarter results, its first full quarter of operations. For the quarter, Klondex generated $7.4 million in free cash flow, setting it apart from both junior and senior peers, which have struggled to generate free cash flow at current gold prices. The company also reported earnings per share of $0.04 on record revenue generation. Analysts’ expect costs to decrease even further in the third and fourth quarters on lower mine-development costs and higher production from long stopes.
Midway Gold updated its mineral resources estimate at its Spring Valley project in Nevada, boosting gold grades by 20 percent to 0.55 grams per tonne. It also boosted total measured and indicated resource by 102 percent to 4.37 million ounces of gold. Barrick Gold has agreed to carry Midway to production in exchange for a 75-percent stake in the project. Similarly, True Gold received funding for up to $120 million from Franco Nevada and Sandstorm, which fully funds remaining development and construction at the Karma project in Burkina Faso.
Weaknesses
Gold demand in China shrank in the second quarter as consumers in the largest global gold market purchased fewer bars, coins and jewelry amid a clampdown on corruption. For the three-month period ended June 30, China purchased 192.5 metric tonnes of gold, a 52-percent decrease from a year earlier. Fortunately, the decrease has been offset by the lack of physical gold exchange traded fund (ETF) liquidations. In India, official statistics show significant drops in consumption, which are questionable given the government has allowed multiple grey market participants to thrive.
Ernst & Young, in its latest quarterly report on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) for the mining sector, shows M&A activity subdued in the second quarter despite a strong deal pipeline and sizeable private capital funds sitting on the sidelines. The report highlights 112 deals worth $9.5 billion for the quarter, or a 21-percent decrease in deal volume from the previous quarter, 41 percent lower than the second quarter of 2013. Ernst & Young explained that commitment to capital discipline, together with lack of urgency given the lack of competition for assets, are reasons for the reduced deal volume.
Centamin reported second-quarter earnings that were nearly cut in half as a result of lower mine grade at its Sukari mine in Egypt. Earnings fell 49 percent to $32.6 million from a year earlier, while revenue fell 24 percent for the same period.
Opportunities
Oppenheimer’s analysts believe gold stocks can soar more than 40 percent from current levels. As the chart below shows, after underperforming gold since 2006, gold miners have begun to outperform as of late, breaking out from the long-term downtrend. Voicing similar comments was Dennis Gartman, highly respected and neutral gold market commentator. In his letter, Gartman asserts that the force keeping gold prices depressed may be well near defeat, leading a wave of big fund managers back into the sector.
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Paul Singer, founder of the $24.8 billion Elliot Management Corp., said in a letter to investors dated July 28, that gold presents a “unique and not really very expensive” trading opportunity, anticipating a rise in gold prices on mounting inflation concerns. Not surprisingly, 13F reports published this week by all major hedge funds show John Paulson’s Paulson & Co., the largest investor in physical gold ETFs, held its stake over the period, while Soros Fund Management increased its exposure to gold miners.
Macquarie U.S. Economics research argues underlying inflation continues to be dependent on wage growth, which it expects to accelerate, consistent with reduced labor slack. According to its research, current wage growth dynamics appear comparable to the second half of 2004, a period soon followed by accelerating wage growth. With 10-year government bond yields setting yearly lows this week, any acceleration in wage growth and inflation would translate into substantial negative impacts to real yields, and a strong tailwind for gold prices.
Threats
A new PwC report shows the productivity of Australia’s open-pit mining equipment is so poor it only ranks above African mining. After peaking in 2007, Australia’s productivity has trended down consistently, and now sits behind North American, Asian and South American productivity levels.
Imperial Metals’ shareholders are considering a class action lawsuit against the company as a result of the disastrous tailings breach at its Mount Polley mine in British Columbia. Meanwhile, Alaska’s senior U.S. senator asked the U.S. Secretary of State to reiterate “concerns about large scale mining in British Columbia, which has the potential to adversely affect downstream fisheries and communities in Southeast Alaska.”
China and Russia, which are already making bi-lateral agreements to trade their currencies and bypass the U.S. dollar, are progressing to challenge the dollar hegemony in world trade. Interestingly, the two countries hold the smallest proportions of their total foreign-currency reserves in gold. This may explain why China, and especially Russia have made significant investments to increase domestic gold production. Russia is likely to overcome Australia as the world’s second-largest producer of gold. The positive side is that gold produced will be purchased by their central banks and not released into the open market.
Energy and Natural Resources Market
click to enlarge
Strengths
Dry Ships had an unbelievable turnaround from the prior week. The rally coincides with the recent rise in the Baltic Dry Index, which was up 21.24 percent this week. After reporting a loss of 1.59 percent last week, this week saw the Bloomberg Dry Ships Index rise 11.37 percent. Kinghtsbridge Tankers Ltd. rallied significantly with the index, gaining 12.63 percent.
Refiners are at it again, putting up strong gains for the week. The S&P Supercomposite Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing Index rose 1.40 percent this week. Valero Energy Corp. rose 2.20 percent and Marathon Petroleum Corp. gained 1.81 percent.
Rail stocks jumped ahead this week, with the S&P Supercomposite Railroads Index rising 3.00 percent. Union Pacific Corp. saw strong gains this week, rallying 3.40 percent.
Weaknesses
Franco-Nevada Corp. is struggling to sell shares of its $500 million equity offering. After pricing the shares at $ 59.75, a small 1.8 percent discount to Wednesday’s closing price, the stock fell to $58.10, making it cheaper to buy the stock in secondary markets. This, combined with the general negativity of increasing the supply of shares, has caused Franco-Nevada’s stock to dip further, dragging down other royalty companies as well.
After seeing slight gains through Thursday, gold fell on Friday, bringing the weekly return down to minus 0.37 percent. The sudden drop comes on the back of recent equity rallies and decreased geopolitical tensions, specifically Putin’s pledge to work to halt further conflict, the extension of the truce between Hamas and Israel, and the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki.
Base metals continue to decline amid fears that global growth and demand are slowing. The S&P/TSX Capped Diversified Metals and Mining Index fell 2.06 percent this week, making this the third straight week of negative returns.
Opportunities
The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI is set to come out next Wednesday. Economists’ consensus places the index at 51.5, signaling expansion in Chinese manufacturing. A strong PMI reading could serve to prop up base metals that have been on the decline due to weaker growth outlooks.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), U.S. shale oil production will rise 89,000 barrels per day in September from a month earlier.
Turquoise Hill Resources, the operator of the Oyu Tolgoi coppermine, announced on Thursday the signing of a Power Sector Cooperation Agreement with the Mongolian government. The agreement might not have any tangible effect in the short term but is positive news in terms of the miner’s troubled relations with the government.
Threats
The Treasury Department announced it is looking into Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). Aiming to identify instances where the tax base may be weakened, the Treasury Department is suspicious of the increased use of MLPs. Although the growing attention from the Treasury Department could negatively impact MLPs, any true effects should be slim to none in the near term.
Lower than expected oil deliveries in the second quarter, along with a weaker economic outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has led the IEA to lower its 2014 global oil demand growth forecast to 1 million barrels per day. The weaker demand could place downward pressure on oil prices moving forward.
Emerging Markets
Strengths
Russia was the best-performing emerging market this week after President Vladimir Putin pledged to “do all we can” to end the deadly conflict with Ukraine. The Russian market, which trades at five times estimated earnings, making it the cheapest market among developing nations, saw buyers come in as price-to-earnings multiple valuations hit record lows.
Hong Kong remained the best-performing country in Asia this week, despite weaker-than-expected Chinese bank credit, industrial production and fixed-asset investment in July. Although equity fund inflows to China moderated to $0.53 billion for the week ending Wednesday, August 13, it was the third-consecutive week that China reported the largest inflows among emerging markets.
Health care was the best-performing sector in emerging markets this week, led by Indian health care and biotechnology stocks. A wave of positive quarterly reports, showing strong top-line and bottom-line results led the sector higher in India. In addition, Ranbaxy Pharma, India’s largest drug maker by market value announced it will continue to be an active buyer in the merger and acquisition (M&A) space, leading smaller pharmacy companies higher.
Weaknesses
Turkey was the worst-performing emerging market for the week following Prime Minister Erdogan’s victory in the country’s first direct election to the presidency. Fitch Ratings said the election of Erdogan as president will do little to improve the country’s credit profile, while The Economist criticized Erdogan’s plans to give the presidency, hitherto a ceremonial job, far more power. The compounding factor was a report by the central bank showing a widening of the current account deficit to $4.1 billion in July after exports to Iraq, Turkey’s second-largest trading partner, declined significantly as a result of violent confrontations taking place in the country.
Singapore was the worst-performing country in Asia this week. This was led by worries on negative earnings revisions, a slowdown in GDP growth, rising domestic wage pressures (related to protectionist labor policies), along with a continuous decline in tourist arrivals due to a strengthening Singapore dollar against regional currencies in recent years.
The worst-performing sector within the emerging markets complex was materials, led lower by iron ore producers and steelmakers. Brazilian steelmakers dropped the most on average following the bearish sentiment displayed during the annual Brazilian Steel Congress. Senior executives of the global steelmakers highlighted their concerns over slowing Chinese demand, excess capacity and structural inefficiencies. In Brazil’s case, poor first-half results that were initially blamed on the World Cup have turned more severe as domestic consumption from autos, construction and machinery all remain especially weak.
Opportunities
Emerging market stocks posted the biggest weekly advance in four months as analysts grew bullish on emerging markets on the back of strong inflows. In addition, strategists at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, said emerging market valuations relative to developed markets were at the most attractive levels in 10 years. The S&P 500 trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.7, compared with 13.69 for emerging markets. After a period of under-allocation to emerging markets in many portfolios, analysts believe this is a favorable time to re-enter the space ahead of further money inflows.
Despite the negative surprise embedded in China’s July macroeconomic data, investor skepticism was more than offset by expectations for further government policy easing ahead. Historically, the year-over-year trend in China’s producer price inflation (PPI) was highly correlated with nominal GDP growth. Slow but steady reduction of deflationary pressure in China should instill more confidence in the ongoing recovery in the country, benefitting cyclical sectors the most.
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The Greek Statistics office announced a better-than-expected, second-quarter GDP reading – a decline of 0.2 percent, versus consensus of -0.5 percent. The trend reversal is evident and the full-year forecast of 0.6 percent growth appears achievable. According to Wood & Co. analysts, macro data and leading indicators support an exit from recession in the second half of the year, led by strong tourism, the restart of infrastructure projects and better private consumption. In addition, Greek banks are showing a huge reduction in reliance on the European Central Bank (ECB), improving deposits and a deceleration in new non-performing loans.
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Threats
Rosneft reportedly asked the Russian state for as much as $42 billion of aid after U.S. sanctions drained liquidity to Russian borrowers. Rosneft, which is due to repay $12 billion by the end of the year and $15 billion next year, presented a proposal to buy back as much as $42 billion worth of debt using money from Russia’s National Wellbeing Fund. The proposal is unrealistic, with some reports showing it would fully deplete the fund’s resources since the fund is supposed to support the pension system.
German economic data continues to indicate an ongoing inability to gain traction in the country and region, according to Prime Execution strategists. Over the past several months, indicators of consumer and business sentiment have fallen, foreshadowing the second-quarter GDP contraction in the German economy. Germany is the main destination for Eastern European exports, making economic growth in the periphery highly dependent on German economic conditions.
Since the Second-Child policy was approved in China earlier this year, eligible couples have been slow to embrace looser restrictions based on provincial statistics. Growth prospects of China’s mass consumer sector, such as infant foods and diapers, has significantly diminished due to structural migration to e-commerce and rising competition to name brands.
Leaders and Laggards
The tables show the weekly, monthly and quarterly performance statistics of major equity and commodity market benchmarks of our family of funds.
Weekly Performance
Index
Close
Weekly
Change($)
Weekly
Change(%)
Natural Gas Futures
3.78
-0.19
-4.67%
S&P/TSX Canadian Gold Index
203.95
+0.64
+0.31%
XAU
101.97
+0.71
+0.70%
Russell 2000
1,141.65
+10.30
+0.91%
Gold Futures
1,305.50
-5.50
-0.42%
S&P Basic Materials
313.24
+2.80
+0.90%
S&P Energy
700.15
-3.35
-0.48%
Nasdaq
4,464.93
+94.03
+2.15%
DJIA
16,662.91
+108.98
+0.66%
S&P 500
1,955.06
+23.47
+1.22%
Oil Futures
97.10
-0.55
-0.56%
Hang Seng Composite Index
3,409.41
+80.57
+2.42%
10-Yr Treasury Bond
2.34
-0.08
-3.30%
Monthly Performance
Index
Close
Monthly
Change($)
Monthly
Change(%)
S&P/TSX Canadian Gold Index
203.95
+7.05
+3.58%
Gold Futures
1,305.50
+4.20
+0.32%
Nasdaq
4,464.93
+38.96
+0.88%
S&P Basic Materials
313.24
-1.43
-0.45%
S&P 500
1,955.06
-26.51
-1.34%
XAU
101.97
+2.07
+2.07%
DJIA
16,662.91
-475.29
-2.77%
S&P Energy
700.15
-31.44
-4.30%
Russell 2000
1,141.65
-9.90
-0.86%
Oil Futures
97.10
-4.10
-4.05%
Natural Gas Futures
3.78
-0.34
-8.30%
10-Yr Treasury Bond
2.34
-0.19
-7.36%
Hang Seng Composite Index
3,409.41
-332.01
-14.83%
Quarterly Performance
Index
Close
Quarterly
Change($)
Quarterly
Change(%)
XAU
101.97
+13.11
+14.75%
S&P/TSX Canadian Gold Index
203.95
+26.94
+15.22%
Hang Seng Composite Index
3,409.41
+306.64
+9.88%
Nasdaq
4,464.93
+374.34
+9.15%
S&P Basic Materials
313.24
+11.65
+3.86%
S&P 500
1,955.06
+77.20
+4.11%
S&P Energy
700.15
+19.02
+2.79%
Russell 2000
1,141.65
+38.75
+3.51%
Gold Futures
1,305.50
+11.30
+0.87%
DJIA
16,662.91
+171.60
+1.04%
Oil Futures
97.10
-4.92
-4.82%
10-Yr Treasury Bond
2.34
-0.18
-7.25%
Natural Gas Futures
3.78
-0.64
-14.41%
Please consider carefully a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Distributed by U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor.
Foreign and emerging market investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and less public disclosure, as well as economic and political risk. By investing in a specific geographic region, a regional fund’s returns and share price may be more volatile than those of a less concentrated portfolio.
The Emerging Europe Fund invests more than 25 percent of its investments in companies principally engaged in the oil & gas or banking industries. The risk of concentrating investments in this group of industries will make the fund more susceptible to risk in these industries than funds which do not concentrate their investments in an industry and may make the fund’s performance more volatile.
Because the Global Resources Fund concentrates its investments in a specific industry, the fund may be subject to greater risks and fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries.
Gold, precious metals, and precious minerals funds may be susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory developments due to concentrating in a single theme. The prices of gold, precious metals, and precious minerals are subject to substantial price fluctuations over short periods of time and may be affected by unpredicted international monetary and political policies. We suggest investing no more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your portfolio in these sectors.
Stock markets can be volatile and can fluctuate in response to sector-related or foreign-market developments. For details about these and other risks the Holmes Macro Trends Fund may face, please refer to the fund’s prospectus.
Bond funds are subject to interest-rate risk; their value declines as interest rates rise. Tax-exempt income is federal income tax free. A portion of this income may be subject to state and local income taxes, and if applicable, may subject certain investors to the Alternative Minimum Tax as well. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that pay taxable interest. Income or fund distributions attributable to capital gains are usually subject to both state and federal income taxes. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund may be exposed to risks related to a concentration of investments in a particular state or geographic area. These investments present risks resulting from changes in economic conditions of the region or issuer..
Investing in real estate securities involves risks including the potential loss of principal resulting from changes