Chart of the month: Mega-cap stocks driving the S&P 500 performance. If you strip out the largest mega-cap stocks’ performance from the S&P 500, the remaining 493 companies have returned 1% on a year-to-date basis (as of the 26th of May 2023). Thus, showing how mega-cap stocks have been driving the performance of the S&P 500 so far this year.
Source: Goldman Sachs
Global Market and Economic Update
In May, global markets experienced a more subdued performance, with the majority of global equity markets ending lower. A major exception was the US equity market, driven higher by the tech sector, which saw significant gains during the month, primarily driven by mega-cap tech stocks. Despite generally positive economic data from developed markets, market participants were concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the lifting of the US debt ceiling during the month. In the end, the US debt negotiations concluded without major disruptions, as house representatives voted in favour of lifting the debt ceiling, thus easing concerns of a US default. However, the uncertainties surrounding this issue resulted in significant volatility across most risk assets during the month. Central bank actions were largely in-line with expectations, as central banks continued to hike rates albeit at a more subdued pace, suggesting that many developed nations are potentially nearing the end of their hiking cycles.
Inflation remained elevated and above most central banks’ inflation targets. However, inflation has been trending lower over the past few months. The Euro Area’s consumer price inflation rose 7.0% (year-on-year to April 2023), slightly higher than the previous month’s reading of 6.9%. Euro Area core inflation, on the other hand, eased slightly to 5.6% but remained near the all-time high of 5.7%. The annual inflation rate in the US fell to 4.9% (year-on-year to the end of April), the lowest since April 2021, and below the consensus forecast of 5%. China’s annual inflation rate fell to 0.1% (year-on-year to the end of April 2023) from 0.7% in the previous month, below consensus estimates of 0.4%. This was the lowest inflation print in China since 2021 amid an uneven economic recovery after the removal of a zero-COVID policy, with prices of both food and non-food items easing further. The consumer price inflation in the UK fell to 8.7% year-on-year in April 2023, the lowest since March 2022, due to a sharp slowdown in electricity and gas prices. However, the inflation rate exceeded consensus expectations of 8.2% and remains well above the Bank of England’s target rate of 2.0%.
Policymakers continued to signal a slowing pace of policy tightening as borrowing costs have increased to levels last seen prior to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. In the US the Fed raised the fed funds rate by 0.25% to a range of 5%-5.25% during its May meeting, marking the 10th increase and bringing borrowing costs to their highest level since September 2007. The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its key interest rates by 0.25% during its May meeting, signalling a slowing pace of policy tightening. Borrowing costs in Europe have now reached their highest level since July 2008, following seven consecutive rate increases as the ECB strives to combat high inflation despite ongoing recession risks. The Bank of England raised rates by 0.5% to 4.5% in May 2023, marking the twelfth consecutive rate increase, pushing borrowing costs to levels not seen since 2008.
Turning to the jobs market, developed markets’ unemployment rates continue to remain at or close to historic lows, providing more room for central banks to move rates higher to curb inflation. The unemployment rate in the Euro Area decreased slightly to 6.5% (at the end of March 2023) marking the lowest rate on record and coming in just below expectations of 6.6%. The tight labour market gives the European central bank more leeway for policy tightening. The unemployment rate in the United States edged down to 3.4% (at the end of April 2023), below expectations of 3.6%. The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom experienced a slight increase to 3.9% (at the end of March 2023) slightly above the consensus expectation of 3.8%.
South African Market Update
South African equities ended the month lower, as all sectors produced negative returns. Financials were the biggest laggard this month, dragged down by performances of index heavyweights Capitec (-13.7%) and Firstrand (-6.4%).
Resources produced a resilient albeit negative return this month, as gold shares and rand hedges produced a resilient performance. Industrials ended lower dragged down by retailers Spar (-24.7%), Mr Price (-17.5%) and Pepkor (-16.8%), who all moved significantly lower this month.
Local bonds ended the month lower, producing their fourth worst return in 22 years, as yields shifted higher across the curve leading prices lower. The negative move was largely on the back of the hawkish tone from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) as they continued to hike rates to tame elevated inflation. Poor sentiment towards South Africa also saw foreigners being net sellers of South African bonds every day of the month of May.
Local property followed other South African asset classes lower. Europe focused counters outperformed this month, producing strong returns as the rand weakness provided a tailwind to their performance.
South African Economic Update
The SARB increased rates by 0.5% to 8.25% during its May meeting, the 10th consecutive increase in interest rates, pushing borrowing costs to their highest level since May 2009. Policymakers cited concerns regarding the depreciation of the rand and the second-round impacts on inflation as reasons behind the rate adjustment. The SARB also revised its inflation forecasts upwards with inflation now projected to average 6.2% in 2023, higher than the original estimate of 6.0%.
South Africa’s annual inflation rate followed the global trend lower and fell to an 11-month low of 6.8% (year-on-year to the end of April 2023) down from 7.1% in March and below market forecasts of 7%. Inflation continues to be above the upper limit of the SARB’s target range of 3%-6%. On the other hand, core inflation rose to a six-year high of 5.3% (year-on-year to the end of April), up from 5.2% in March.
South Africa’s unemployment rate moved higher to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023, the first rise in over a year. The expanded definition of unemployment, which includes those discouraged from seeking work, was 42.4% in Q1, down from 42.6% in the fourth quarter. The youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers between 15 and 24 years old, rose to 62.1% in Q1, from 61% in the previous three-month period.
Chart of the month: Mega-cap stocks driving the S&P 500 performance. If you strip out the largest mega-cap stocks’ performance from the S&P 500, the remaining 493 companies have returned 1% on a year-to-date basis (as of the 26th of May 2023). Thus, showing how mega-cap stocks have been driving the performance of the S&P 500 so far this year.
See below for a summary of the key market movements for the month of May:
- (-5.3%) ended the month lower, as the property sector came under pressure, pushing the index into negative territory on a year-to-date basis. Europe focused counters outperformed this month, with index heavyweights Nepi Rockcastle (+1.9%) and MAS (+3.8%) producing positive returns.
- (-4.8%) ended the month lower, as yields shifted higher across the curve in a parallel manner. Yields moved higher (moving prices lower) as market participants anticipated rates to stay elevated for longer on the back of the hawkish tone from the reserve bank and as foreign market participants were net sellers of South African bonds throughout the month of May.
- was the only local asset class to produce a positive return this month. Cash delivered +0.7% in May, and the expected return continues to move up on the expectation of higher interest rates.
- In terms of the major commodities, Gold (-0.9%), Platinum (-6.6%) and Oil (-8.7%) all ended the month lower.
Note: The performance of Local Market Indices and Local Market Sectors is quoted in rands and the performance of Global Market Indices and Commodities is quoted in US dollars. All data is sourced from Morningstar Direct as at 31/05/2023.