{{r.fundCode}} {{r.fundName}} {{r.series}} {{r.assetClass}}

You are currently viewing the Canadian website. You can change your location here.

Terms and conditions for Canada

Welcome to the new RBC iShares digital experience.

Find all things ETFs here: investment strategies, products, insights and more.

.hero-subtitle{ width: 80%; } .hero-energy-lines { } @media (max-width: 575.98px) { .hero-energy-lines { background-size: 300% auto; } }
by  Mark Dowding Oct 1, 2018

This video discusses why BlueBay sees scope for big moves (and opportunities) in U.K. financial markets in response to the outcome of Brexit. Mark also discusses how populism is driving many political trends around the world and how these trends will likely affect financial markets and economic trends going forward.

View transcript

European markets appear volatile. How will Brexit affect volatility?

Well, Brexit has been a real journey so far. We’ve seen more than two years of that since our vote to leave the EU and at the moment nothing has really happened. But this is now all building to a crescendo of course, and a lot of this will be resolved in the course of the coming weeks and next couple of months. Ultimately, we think that Brexit is very difficult to deliver. Within Brexit, we think we’re heading towards a messy divorce because intrinsically, the UK cannot have what it wants and the EU is not incented to actually let the UK have its cake and eat it. They don’t want to do something that encourages others to actually leave this community and therefore we feel that Theresa May, in trying to deliver an agreement with the EU, is really struggling to reconcile with the position even within her own conservative party and this could mean that the risks in the course of the weeks to come see us veering towards more of a danger of a hard Brexit, a falling out without a deal if legislation cannot be successfully passed. And it could be that the UK collectively needs to look over the edge of the cliff in terms of what this hard Brexit could look like before, at some point, maybe later on from now, we end up with a political break occurring and this could mean another election. It could mean another referendum. It could mean Brexit being delayed or deferred for a time. We’re not quite sure just yet. But one of the things that we can observe is that for many, the whole topic of Brexit has become dull and boring because nothing has happened since the vote in 2016 but actually all of the volatility and opportunity is right ahead of us and is there to play for. We can see scope. There are some big moves in UK asset prices. Depending on the outcome, for example, of a general election, an election where a Labour government under Jeremy Corbyn could win, could easily see a situation where bond yields would be much, much higher in the UK going forward than they currently are today.


Populism is driving many political trends around the world. How will this affect global financial markets going forward?

Populism has really been a defining and important trend in recent years and I think at the heart of this move toward populism in politics is the fact that median incomes for a lot of individuals have stagnated. People are no better off today than they were ten or fifteen years ago and this frustration has led voters to alternative outcomes. What I do think we’re seeing within populism is almost a realization that in the recent past, in a period of globalization, a rising share of GDP has been going towards capital and a declining share has been going towards labour. I’d suggest that going forward from here, we could well be in an environment where that labour share needs to grow, wages need to go up, and this could make it more difficult for capital. If there’s more going to labour, there’s less going to capital, and therefore this may create something of a headwind, I think, for corporate earnings on a medium-term view looking forward from here. But higher wages could mean slightly higher inflation, could mean slightly higher interest rates as well. So, when we look at these trends around populism, I do think that they all have important ramifications in financial markets but ultimately and intrinsically, within the whole idea. Populism is about presidents, prime ministers trying to deliver what the populace wants and I think that higher wages is at the heart of this. When you look at topics like immigration, we’re seeing a move away from accepting immigration and maybe a more xenophobic outcome, but at the heart here is the erosion of wages which is leading to these underlying tensions. This also speaks to trade as well and I do think that this moving and globalization is going to see us go somewhat against policies of free trade, with fair trade being more at the heart of the agenda on a forward-looking view. So when I look at a place like China, I do see downside risks, because ultimately, in meeting with US policymakers recently, I’ve really come to understand that there is a desire to actually limit the rise of the Chinese superpower at this point. There’s a desire to stop Chinese hegemonic power and China taking over, and so there may not be a lot that China can actually do to avoid tariffs ultimately being applied to all of its exports. So, understanding these trends, understanding the winners and the losers, creates opportunities both on the short side and the long side and as an active investor if we can be positioned the right way, this is where the alpha opportunity will be.

Disclosure

This report has been provided by RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) for informational purposes only and may not be reproduced, distributed or published without the written consent of RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM Inc.). In Canada, this report is provided by RBC GAM Inc. (including Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management). In the United States, this report is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., a federally registered investment adviser. In Europe this report is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In Asia, this document is provided by RBC Investment Management (Asia) Limited, which is registered with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong.

RBC GAM is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) which includes RBC GAM Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, RBC Investment Management (Asia) Limited, and BlueBay Asset Management LLP, which are separate, but affiliated subsidiaries of RBC.

This report has not been reviewed by, and is not registered with any securities or other regulatory authority, and may, where appropriate, be distributed by the above-listed entities in their respective jurisdictions. Additional information about RBC GAM may be found at www.rbcgam.com.

This report is not intended to provide legal, accounting, tax, investment, financial or other advice and such information should not be relied upon for providing such advice. The investment process as described in this report may change over time. The characteristics set forth in this report are intended as a general illustration of some of the criteria considered in selecting securities for client portfolios. Not all investments in a client portfolio will meet such criteria. RBC GAM takes reasonable steps to provide up-to-date, accurate and reliable information, and believes the information to be so when printed. RBC GAM reserves the right at any time and without notice to change, amend or cease publication of the information.

Any investment and economic outlook information contained in this report has been compiled by RBC GAM from various sources. Information obtained from third parties is believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by RBC GAM, its affiliates or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. RBC GAM and its affiliates assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

All opinions and estimates contained in this report constitute RBC GAM's judgment as of the indicated date of the information, are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility. Interest rates and market conditions are subject to change.

Return estimates are for illustrative purposes only and are not a prediction of returns. Actual returns may be higher or lower than those shown and may vary substantially over shorter time periods. It is not possible to invest directly in an unmanaged index.

A note on forward-looking statements
This report may contain forward-looking statements about future performance, strategies or prospects, and possible future action. The words "may," "could," "should," "would," "suspect," "outlook," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "forecast," "objective" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties about general economic factors, so it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic, political and market factors in Canada, the United States and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, technological changes, changes in laws and regulations, judicial or regulatory judgments, legal proceedings and catastrophic events. The above list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Before making any investment decisions, we encourage you to consider these and other factors carefully. All opinions contained in forward-looking statements are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility.



Recorded October 18, 2018