Views and Ideas

“What is your outlook on European equity for the second half of 2021?”

18 June 2021

This content is for professional investors only as defined by the MiFID.

We are still constructive on European equity markets. Fundamentals remain supportive with vaccination finally getting done, economies on the verge of full reopening and corporate earnings looking great thanks to the very low 2020 comparison.

Governments will probably be sluggish to unplug support to the economy, which will translate into an abundance of liquidity – usually positive for equity markets. What’s more, the bravest ones like Mr. Biden’s are even discussing adding stimulus. This will make investors more confident about growth – another positive for equities.

Similarly, central banks have pledged not to remove stimulus for the time being. The Fed's first hike will not happen in 2021 but most probably in the second half of 2022. The ECB will keep buying corporate bonds for the foreseeable future: the first program to be wound down will be the PEPP, which is only made of sovereign debt, not corporate bonds. Firms will therefore continue to enjoy abundant liquidity, another positive factor for Equity markets.

Although they are expensive in the US, valuations in Europe are not stretched, especially if looking at risk premium (earnings yield minus German bunds yield). Lastly, equities have historically been a good inflation hedge, which makes them attractive in the current environment.


Disclaimer

This commentary is intended for professional investors only within the meaning of MiFID II. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a forecast, research product or investment advice and should not be construed as such. It may not constitute investment advice or an offer, invitation or recommendation to invest in particular investments or to adopt any investment strategy. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. The opinions expressed by La Française Group are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. These opinions may differ from those of other investment professionals. Published by La Française AM Finance Services, head office located at 128 boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris, France, a company regulated by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel as an investment services provider, no. 18673 X, a subsidiary of La Française. La Française Asset Management was approved by the AMF under no. GP97076 on 1 July 1997.

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