The current market downturn sweeping the United States and Europe is expected to persist for another one to three months and will not be as bad as the 2008 financial crisis, according to Jack Malvey, chief global market strategist for BNY Mellon Asset Management.
“The worst case would be a mild brief recession, but we are more likely to experience a low-growth recession over the next three to six months,” he says. “While the worst of the current downdraft likely is behind us, it is difficult to determine the exact market bottom for these types of corrections.”
Malvey characterized the current environment as an aftershock to the Great Recession and says anxiety about a second economic dip after a primary recession has long been common. Typically, such concerns and negative market reaction about a possible secondary recession tend to dissipate within three months as a result of negative news exhaustion, markets finding an equilibrium state, and the emergence of attractive equities and credit debt after their decline to discounted valuations, he says. Malvey also noted that risky assets tend to rally before the end of recessions.
The current market volatility has been sparked by a combination of catalysts, including anxiety about a potential US default arising from the spirited Washington debate over raising the US debt ceiling, the ensuing downgrade of the US by S&P from AAA to AA+, the threat of European contagion and growing evidence of global economic growth deceleration. Taking a long view, these developments mark the first step in a major political and economic course adjustment for the United States and Europe, according to Malvey. The anemic post-recession recovery and the pronounced market volatility indicate that both the US and portion of Europe are on an unsustainable path because of reduction in potential economic growth, aging demographics and rising entitlements, he says.
“This will be a long journey,” Malvey says. “Additional difficult decisions will be required in coming years along the road to fiscal rectitude. Adding to the difficulties in the US is the concern about whether the new congressional super committee can agree to further deficit cuts in December 2011 without the enactment of draconian automatic triggers.”
Malvey also says that many market observers are questioning the advisability of federal government spending cuts in a high-unemployment, near-recession environment.
Regarding the sovereign issues in Europe, Malvey says, “It remains to be seen if the European Union, International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank can shore up the capital markets and prevent the issues in the weaker European economies from spreading.”
Concluding in looking at the current low-interest environment, Malvey says that dividend-paying equities could become increasingly attractive. He added that the unresolved European debt issues could drive the dollar higher against the euro in the short run, although he expects the dollar to continue to decline against most other currencies over the medium term.
(CM)