This time last year I was more jittery than I need have been but the broad thrust ofmy arguments have stood the test of time.
I avoid too much navel-gazing on the success, or otherwise, of the investment ideas on these pages. Most of the strategiesI discuss are for investors with a time horizon of decades so 12 months of returns doesn't tell us much. But I do think it is worth reviewing my articles from this time last year, to see whether the broad thrust of the argument has changed.
Last week, I looked at income-producing assets, including real estate investment trusts, and concluded there's still some upside, although total returns might be down on past years. This week, I want to look at equities and bonds generally. The last year has been pretty grim the Barclays Fixed Income Multiverse (bonds globally) is down 3.3%, while the MSCI World (global equities) is down 4%.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
I'm not a Japan bull yet
I accept that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's changes are real, and that many companies are changing their behaviour, but I still don't quite believe Japan has escaped deflation. That said, the MSCI Japan index is up more than 7% over the last year. However, I'm still underweight Japan, with one exception Japanese dividend-orientated stocks tracked by Coupland Cardiff's new investment trust, CC Japan Income & Growth Trust (LSE: CCJI), mentioned here a few weeks back.
On the UK, I've always thought the domestic recovery robust, but I was far more worried than I had to be about elections and the Scottish referendum. Perhaps the EU referendum will be a damp squib too, though I'm not so sure. My concern about resource prices and global investor sentiment towards UK assets made me very bearish on the large-cap FTSE 100, but I was far more bullish on the mid-cap FTSE 250, a cleaner way of investing in the UK recovery. This has played out well the FTSE 100 is down 8%,while the FTSE 250 is up 7%.I think this will continue next year.
Stick with the eurozone and Asia
Henderson's European Focus Trust (LSE: HEFT)
Greater Europe (LSE: BRGE)
Jupiter European Opportunities (LSE: JEO)
Another stand out has been smart beta, low-volatility funds (which passively track stocks whose share prices are less volatile than average). S&P 500-based versions are up by just under 5%, while European versions based on the MSCI Europe index are up 19%. Stick with these in 2016 as investors grow more cautious on growth prospects, such stocks, many of them defensive, with strong balance sheets, should outperform.
I've also been fairly optimistic on emerging markets. My core view has been to short Brazil, Russia and India (where investors have overestimated the pace of reform), and go long Asian stocks (excluding Japan and India). This hasn't proved a great strategy, but the Asian Total Return Trust (LSE: ATR) regularly mentioned here is roughly flat on the year, versus benchmark losses of 3.5%. Again I'd stick with this strategy.
As for bonds I view them as expensive, and suggested focusing on investment-grade US corporate credit. This has produced meagre gains of just under 1%, not bad compared to US high-yield credit losses of not far off 5%. So if you have to own bonds, stick with these.
The tech boom has further to go
I also believe this extraordinary cycle in the US tech sector might have another year or so to run, despite the general view that tech is a giant bubble (again). We've seen the back of some of the more ludicrous initial public offerings, with many unicorns (private businesses valued at $1bn-plus) now being forced to revise down their estimates for future public valuations. I wouldn't add new money to the sector, but gains might continue into the first half. On our return in January, I'll update you on how to survive 2016 which I think might be even trickier than 2015. Happy Christmas and see you in the New Year!
