Inescapable investment truths for the decade ahead

Charles Prideaux, Global Head of Product and Solutions, and Keith Wade, Chief Economist & Strategist, both Schroders, present their inescapable truths as the economic forces and disruptive forces they think will shape the investment landscape over the years to come.

It seems clear to us that the world investors have got used to over the last few years is very different to the one we need to get accustomed to in the years to come.

We have identified a number of economic forces and disruptive forces we think will shape the investment landscape ahead of us. They represent our “inescapable truths”.

Our full paper available at the foot of the page explains these “truths” in more detail through a series of telling charts.

This summary captures the argument.

Economic forces

We believe a confluence of factors will set the scene for a slowing global economy in the next decade:

• Slower growth in the global labour force
• Poor productivity growth
• Ageing populations
• A growing role for China
• Low inflation
• Low interest rates

This backdrop is similar to what we’ve seen since the global financial crisis, where equity and bond markets have performed well despite low growth and inflation. However, the big difference for the years to come is that there will no longer be the tailwind of ultra-loose monetary policy, where interest rates have been kept well below inflation.

As interest rates normalise and quantitative easing (QE) unwinds, we think there will be a greater focus on the reliability of corporate earnings as market volatility increases. Just because GDP growth will be lower, it does not necessarily mean that companies’ profit growth will be lower.

Returns from market indices will also be lower, we believe. Investing passively (tracking a market index) is not likely to reap the returns investors have grown to expect.

The implication is simple: there will be greater need for active fund managers who can generate alpha – i.e. who can beat the market – in the period to come.

Disruptive forces

We think disruption will come from a number of angles in the years to come. 

Market disruption

• Changing patterns of finance. Banks are likely to play a reduced role in financing economic activity and other forms of funding will grow in importance. We expect the corporate bond market to expand along with private equity and alternatives such as peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding.
• The end of QE. Other central banks are likely to follow the US’ lead in gradually reducing the assets on their balance sheets. These were assets bought via QE – a measure to ward off the fallout following the financial crisis. This unwinding will increase the supply of government bonds and corporate bonds to the private sector. It should be welcomed given the present shortage of these supposedly “safe” assets and with more retiring savers seeking investments that may offer greater financial security.

Technological disruption

• Changing business models. Technology creates unique challenges for investors through its tendency to disrupt existing businesses and create winners and losers. Clearly picking those who are on the right side of technological progress will continue to be key for investment performance.
• Displacement of jobs. Technology can bring greater efficiency in production, but can also increase displacement in the labour market as traditional jobs become obsolete. The increased use of robotics and AI (artificial intelligence) will affect a wider range of professions. This may worsen the problems of inequality and potentially bring even greater political disruption.

Environmental disruption

• Rapid action needed. Our views of the future are complicated by growing tensions between the real economy and the natural environment – and climate change in particular. The challenge has been centuries in the making, but remedial action will have to be far faster to avoid its worst impacts.
• Unchecked environmental damage will have severe economic and social consequences. While inaction implies significant long-term risks, steps to avoid the worst effects of climate change will also prove necessarily disruptive.

Political disruption

• Government finances will come under pressure. The economic outlook will undermine government finances, while ageing populations will increase pension spending and demand for healthcare. The ability of governments to meet voter expectations will become increasingly challenged and may feed further populist unrest.
• Pressure on individuals will grow. Government challenges will mean people will have to take greater individual responsibility for funding their retirement and healthcare.
• The rise of populism will increase political complexity. Policies to temper the impact of globalisation through restrictions on trade, immigration and capital flows are increasingly likely to emerge.

In summary, after almost a decade of strong returns many investors have become complacent about the outlook. This assessment suggests that in a more challenging future environment factors such as asset allocation, access to multiple sources of return, active stock selection and risk management will be critical in meeting the goals of investors over the next decade.

As we enter the next phase of the post-global financial crisis era, these inescapable truths can help guide investors through a time of unprecedented disruption.