Fears of inflation are overblown, but it could still trigger near-term stock market volatility, UBS says
- UBS says that inflation may spike in the near-term as pent-up demand meets constrained supply.
- But fears of long-term inflation are overblown, the firm added.
- Such concerns could still trigger bouts of market volatility and investors should own cyclical stocks, said UBS.
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UBS's chief investment officer of global wealth management says investors should brace for a near-term spike in inflation, but concerns about a long-term rise are overblown.
"...While we think inflation may spike in the near term as pent-up demand meets constrained supply, we believe fears about a persistent rise are likely to prove overdone. However, such concerns could still trigger bouts of market volatility-S&P 500 futures were down 0.7% on Monday-and may test investors' resolve," said Mark Haefele in a Monday note to clients.
The CIO recommends to investors to "keep going cyclical for the recovery," against this volatile backdrop. Cyclical stocks are those that react positively when the broader economy improves. UBS favors small-and mid-cap stocks globally and US large-cap stocks in financials, energy, industrials, consumer discretionary, and healthcare.
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining in the US and vaccinations on pace for roughly 2 million shots a day, Haefele expects a wider opening of the US economy in the second quarter of 2021. Congress will likely pass a relief package north of $1.5 trillion before the end of March and the Fed will remain accommodative. Additionally, S&P 500 companies' fourth quarter earnings exceeded expectations by almost 20%. This should be a positive environment for the cyclical rotation to continue, Haefele said.
Investors concerned about an uptick in US inflation will be watching the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for January that will be released Friday.
Meanwhile, UBS economists forecast that while the stimulus out of Washington may be larger than necessary, the package's effect on inflation "likely will be small."