Weekly Market Commentary - January 19th, 2023

The Markets

Bullish or bearish?

After last year’s geopolitical turmoil, economic malaise, and tumultuous stock market decline, many financial professionals – from investors to asset managers – have strong opinions about what will happen in 2023.

Some are bullish. While individual opinions are quite nuanced, in broad terms, bulls tend to think that central bank rate hikes will slow soon since inflation has been trending lower. Some bulls anticipate an economic recession and expect the banks to respond by reversing course and lowering rates to counteract the recession. Lower rates, in turn, may reinvigorate the economy and corporate earnings, and stock markets may move higher. Some expect the market to move lower before it moves higher.

Barron’s Roundtable member and stock asset manager Todd Ahlsten, speaking specifically about the situation south of the border, told Lauren R. Rublin of Barron’s, “The S&P 500…is trading for 17 times forward earnings, down from 21 times, which looks attractive. We see 60/40 odds that inflation is defeated and the economy has a soft landing or mild recession, as opposed to a hard landing. This is the year the Fed pivots. Rates probably peak in March…You’ve got to fasten your seatbelt for the next three to six months, but the S&P 500 could end the year above 4300.”

Some are bearish. Again, individual views are nuanced but, in broad terms, bears tend to think inflation will remain elevated. They see economic strength, particularly in the labour market, as a sign that central banks will need to continue to pursue its current course and sustain interest rates at a higher level over a longer period time. Economic growth and corporate earnings may slow, and markets might finish the year flat or lower.

Barron’s Roundtable member and bond asset manager Sonal Desai told Barron’s, “I am not an equity person, but based on my macro outlook, I expect the S&P 500, and equity markets generally, to be flat this year. The current market volatility is less about the data and more about everyone trying to second-guess what the Fed’s reaction will be. An unemployment rate of five percent isn’t massively recessionary. Interest rates of five percent aren’t massively contractionary. We just happened to have a 15-year period in which interest rates were close to zero. That isn’t normal.”

In conclusion, whether they were bullish or bearish, many financial professionals (Barron’s Roundtable members included) agree on one thing – there are attractive opportunities for investment, regardless of what 2023 brings.

Last week, the consumer price index showed inflation slowing on both sides of the border, although U.S. core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, moved higher (in Canada, the inflation level slowed regardless of whether food and energy were included). Investors focused on the headline numbers and major stock indices gained last week. Yields on longer-term U.S. Treasuries and Government of Canada bonds finished the week lower while the majority of shorter-term Treasury yields increased.

If you have any questions or concerns about current market events, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Source: FactSet

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Heal thyself!

Scientists have been developing smart materials that can heal themselves. These substances have the potential to make everything from bridges to bicycles more durable by repairing damage as it occurs. Last week, we learned that self-healing materials were engineered and used by the ancient Romans.

For years, scientists have marveled at the durability of Roman concrete. It was used to build the Pantheon’s dome, harbours, and other structures, and proved to be more robust than modern concrete. The Pantheon was built two thousand years ago, and it remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Scientists recently discovered that Roman concrete included lime clasts, a material that contains calcium oxide. When damage occurred in Roman concrete, cracks would form through the lime clasts. Then, as water traveled through the crack, a calcium-saturated solution would form and crystalize, repairing the crack.

Knowing the secret to the durability of Roman concrete is likely to improve modern concrete and extend the lifespan of many types of infrastructure. Concrete isn’t the only material that has the potential to repair itself, though. Scientists are engineering other smart materials to fight the effects of age, wear-and-tear, and defects in all kinds of products. Typically, these substances contain microcapsules filled with some type of repair material. When damage occurs, the microcapsules rupture, releasing their contents to combine with a catalyst and repair the damage. In some cases, the catalyst is water, light, or another environmental factor. In other cases, the catalyst is engineered into the material, too.

Self-healing materials could have many interesting applications. Imagine airplanes that can repair wing and fuselage cracks. The same might be possible for spaceships, satellites, automobiles, motorcycles, and bikes. Already, there is a coating that mends scratches in automobile paint. All you need is a self-healing clear coat and some sunshine.

The global market for self-healing materials is expected to grow rapidly.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.”

—Carl Sagan, astronomer and astrophysicist