Optimistic Outlook Among Fund Managers for 2013, Towers Watson Survey Finds

Optimistic Outlook Among Fund Managers for 2013, Towers Watson Survey Finds

But risk of sovereign defaults lingers and concern about government intervention grows

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fund managers have turned more optimistic about the prospects for equity returns while remaining negative on world growth and medium-term government bonds, according to a global survey of investment managers conducted by global professional services company Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW). The Global Survey of Investment and Economic Expectations also highlights the most important issues investment managers expect to face in 2013: government intervention, global economic imbalances and sovereign debt defaults, with inflation being a significant concern in the next five years.

"During the last quarter of 2012, when this survey was held, the move back to policy easing and consequent improvement in global financial conditions improved growth prospects, with the U.S. and China responding the most," said Matt Stroud, head of strategy and portfolio construction at Towers Watson. "In the United States, growth is now well above its trend because financial conditions are very easy, and those sectors that respond most to low interest rates have improved balance sheets. This is not the case in Europe, where those sectors, typically households and construction, are less able to respond to this stimulation. Growth in China has also improved, driven by modest amounts of monetary stimulation and increases in government investment spending. Other emerging regions have been slower to pick up, although this may just reflect a small lag as the improvements in external demand and production work their way through into improvements in domestic incomes. So while these are positive signs that influenced managers' outlook for 2013, a sustained global economic recovery is likely to remain fragile, set as it is against the unavoidable situations of extreme indebtedness in the Western world: ongoing double- and triple-dip recessions, and weak and uncertain prospects for growth in many markets."

The global survey shows that guarded optimism has returned to this influential group of investment managers, witnessed by their view that institutional investors are expected to either modestly increase risk or keep their portfolio risk level the same in 2013. The survey, which includes responses from 169 investment managers (the majority having institutional assets under management above $5 billion and retail assets under management above $1 billion), indicates that a significant number of them still expect a sovereign debt default in the Eurozone and continuing weak fiscal situations in the U.S., the U.K. and Japan.

Carl Hess, global head of investment at Towers Watson, said, "Eurozone countries face highly political, long-term structural reforms, as well as fiscal austerity, which are proving difficult to implement, pushing out further any real global recovery. Politics have become increasingly enmeshed in the financial world since the global economic crisis began, and investment managers have again identified this as the top issue for them. There are some positive economic signals coming out of the U.S., which, even though driven largely by government policies, seem to be reflected in managers' view that the U.S. is the region with the most rewarding investment opportunities in 2013, followed by China, the Eurozone and frontier markets. While government policies are clearly intended to stimulate growth and address the massive U.S. fiscal deficit, we see the risk skewed toward deflation rather than inflation. That said, the housing market still remains key to a U.S. recovery — if the headwind of negative equity can be overcome."

In contrast to last year, managers expect better equity returns in 2013 in most markets than they did in 2012, with the exception of the U.S. and Australia, where equity return expectations are the lowest they have been since the survey started in 2008. In addition, managers anticipate equity returns to remain muted over the longer term, but indicate a preference toward the U.S. and China, and away from the Eurozone. They expect equity markets in 2013 to deliver returns of 7.0% in the U.S. (compared to 8.0% in 2012), 6.0% in the U.K. (5.0%), 7.0% in the Eurozone (6.0%), 6.0% in Australia (7.0%), 6.0% in Japan (5.0%) and 10% in China (7.8%).

The survey also shows that expected equity volatility for 2013 is in the 15% - 20% range for major economies, somewhat lower than previous years, but still elevated compared to longer-term averages. Most managers in the survey hold overall bullish views for the next five years on emerging market equities (83% vs. 75% in 2012), public equities (78% vs. 72%) and real estate (57% vs. 48%). For the same time horizon, the majority remains bearish overall on nominal government bonds (80% vs. 77% in 2012), money markets (47% vs. 43%), investment-grade bonds (47% vs. 29%) and inflation-indexed government bonds (47%, same as 2012).

"Volatile markets and heightened risk awareness continue to make asset allocation very challenging, as investors balance priorities such as long-term de-risking, short-term market opportunities, rebalancing and maintaining a strategic asset allocation mix. In terms of specific asset classes, we think that government bonds do not represent great value at the moment and that equities represent relatively better value. However, it is challenging to know how to respond when the goal for many funds is to reduce risk overall and diversify from existing equity holdings. As a result, many funds are buying fewer bonds than before, and those that are considering adding risk to their investment portfolios are most often diversifying into alternative assets rather than simply buying equities," said Stroud.

According to the study, real GDP growth expectations for 2013 continue a downward trend and range from just above 0% in the Eurozone (0% in 2012) to 7.5% in China (8.0%), followed by 2.5% in Australia (3.0%), 2.0% in the U.S. (2.0%), 1.0% in the U.K. (1.0%) and 0.9% in Japan (1.5%). With the exception of China, managers' 10-year GDP growth forecasts are slightly above their one-year view, but below historical trends. The survey shows that managers expect unemployment to remain a tough challenge for some Western economies, especially for the Eurozone countries implementing fiscal austerity measures. According to managers, expansionary monetary policies are expected to hold in 2013, with exceptionally low interest rates in some Western economies, but to gradually tighten in the years ahead. Inflation is viewed as a moderate near-term risk, with some very concerned about long-term inflation risk in both the U.S. and Europe.

Turning to 10-year government bond yields, for 2013, managers predict the continuation of a downward movement of yields to historic lows, reflecting persistent economic weakness and continued central bank asset purchases. Predicted yields on 10-year government bonds have fallen in every market since the 2011 survey, with the U.S. falling from 3.8% to 2.0%, mirrored by the U.K. (4.0% to 2.0%), the Eurozone (3.5% to 2.0%), Australia (6.0% to 3.3%), Japan (1.6% to 1.0%) and China (5.0% to 3.8%).

Other findings from the survey include:

• For 2013, managers expect unemployment to be lower than in the recent past in the U.K. (7.7% vs. 8.5% in 2012) and the U.S. (7.5% vs. 8.5%), but higher in the Eurozone (11.5% vs. 10.6%).

• The managers' consensus is that crude oil is expected to rise at a fair pace, reaching $90 a barrel this year (they predicted $100 for 2012) and $100 a barrel in the next 10 years — significantly down from last year's 10-year prediction of $120.

• Managers expect major currencies to maintain roughly stable values despite the uncertain economic environment.

About Towers Watson Investment

Towers Watson Investment is focused on creating financial value for the world's leading institutional investors through its expertise in risk assessment, strategic asset allocation and investment manager selection. It is a division of Towers Watson's Risk and Financial Services business, has over 750 associates worldwide and assets under advisory of over US$2 trillion.

About Towers Watson

Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW) is a leading global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance through effective people, risk and financial management. The company offers solutions in the areas of benefits, talent management, rewards, and risk and capital management. Towers Watson has 14,000 associates around the world and is located on the web at towerswatson.com.

Towers Watson
Ed Emerman, +1 609-275-5162
eemerman@eaglepr.com
or
Binoli Savani, +1 703-258-7648
binoli.savani@towerswatson.com

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