With uncertainty returning to markets and the problems of debt continuing to trouble investors, the dollar remains the primary beneficiary. Of course, a strong dollar creates numerous problems for various asset classes. In a recent strategy note, David Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff notes the various ways to position yourself for a dollar rally:
Since the onset of the credit crisis in 2007, there have seen three occasions when a surge in risk aversion caused a period of U.S. dollar strength on flight-to-safety trades — July 15, 2008 to September 11 2008 (around the GSEs); September 22, 2008 to November 21, 2008 (post-Lehman financial collapse) and then from December 17, 2008 to March 5, 2009 (the final leg down in the financials). Here is what happened, on average, during these dollar-rally episodes — ultra-defensive strategies and heightened volatility:
- The DXY (U.S. dollar index) rallied an average of 12.3%.
- During these episodes, the Canadian dollar sank 11% against the U.S. dollar, but was only down 1.9% against a basket of non-U.S. currencies.
- The S&P 500 corrected an average of 18.5%. Underperforming S&P equity sectors included materials, energy, industrials and financials. Outperformers included utilities, staples, health care, tech and telecom.
- Despite the downdraft in commodities, the TSX performed in line with the S&P — losing 18%.
- In the TSX sectors, the winners and losers were different than in the U.S.A.: Financials and industrials actually outperformed. Only materials and energy seriously dragged down the Canadian market. As in the U.S., staples, health care, utilities, tech and telecom outperformed. Outside of resources, the TSX sectors actually outperformed their S&P comparable.
- Still, it pays to note that we are talking about “relative” performance. Every equity sector on both sides of the border was down during these periods.
- The oil price, on average, fell 26%, and gold was off an average of 11%. The CRB index corrected an average of 22%.
- The VIX index surge an average of 34% during these U.S. dollar-rally episodes.
- We saw a bull steepening in the bond market — 2-year T-note yields plunge an average of 36bps while 10-year T-note yields dipped 8bps.
- Baa corporate spreads widened an average of 54bps; and by 268bps for high-yield bonds.
Source: Gluskin Sheff
Mr. Roche is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Discipline Funds.Discipline Funds is a low fee financial advisory firm with a focus on helping people be more disciplined with their finances.
He is also the author of Pragmatic Capitalism: What Every Investor Needs to Understand About Money and Finance, Understanding the Modern Monetary System and Understanding Modern Portfolio Construction.
Comments are closed.