Asset class returns during inflation and growth periods

Contributed by CIP Asset Management (CIPAM)

With US inflation at 7.0% and US real GDP at 5.5% yoy (Dec 20 – Dec 21) we have entered an economic scenario not seen in decades. We recognise that both numbers are somewhat distorted by the pandemic but nevertheless only a few investors would have predicted this outcome in December 2020.

This month we look at how various asset classes have performed in the rising and falling growth and inflation regimes. We have defined a rising (falling) inflation regime as the times when inflation is above (below) its 10y average. The same methodology to real GDP growth to determine the growth regimes.

Figure 1: Growth and inflation regimes

 

For each regime we have calculated the median monthly returns of equities, property, fixed income, cash, gold, commodities and crude oil going back to 1971. Table 1 below shows the asset classes ranked by their median return in each regime. As can be seen, more traditional asset classes – namely equities, fixed income and property – perform well in falling inflation regimes. It’s worth noting that the period from March 2020 to Feb 2021 was classified as falling inflation, falling growth period, but equities and property produced above-average returns during this time which lifted the median return in this regime.

However, property and equities delivered a subdued performance in inflationary growth and stagflation environments. Over recent months many Australian investors have been looking to inflation-proof their portfolios considering allocations to inflation-linked bonds, commodities, oil. Table 1 shows that commodities and oil have historically been the best assets to own in the current inflationary growth regime.

It’s also worth remembering that inflation-linked bonds owners are compensated for inflation by earning real yields. However, rising growth regimes generally go hand-in-hand with rising real yields and therefore underperformance of inflation-linked bonds. The returns are protected against rising inflation but not rising growth.  If real yields keep rising over the coming months there may be an inflection point where inflation-linked bonds become attractive to own to hedge against inflation, but until then including a dynamic allocation to the commodity complex can benefit the overall portfolio during this inflationary growth environment.

Table 1: Asset class performance ranking per regime

Important Notice

Financial services provided by Challenger Investment Solutions Management Pty Ltd (ABN 63 130 035 353 AFSL 487354) (CIP Asset Management, CIPAM). CIP Asset Management is an alternative investment manager covering a global opportunity set in Fixed Income investments, Real Estate investments and Solutions.

The material in this document is general background information about Challenger’s Investment Solutions activities and is current at the date of this document. It is information given in summary form and does not purport to be complete. It is not intended to be relied upon as advice to investors or potential investors and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular investor.

Material published in SAFAA Newsroom is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. Any requests for reproduction will be referred to the contributor for permission.

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