Inside the mind of investors

There is a notable shift out of Europe, driven by poor economic conditions. The European Central Bank cut rates this month despite rising inflation, labour costs and government bond yields. Perhaps it is pandering to the market rather than taking a confident stance. France’s deficit is now worse than Italy’s, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 111%. Germany’s outlook is also concerning and recent electric vehicle (EV) energy tariffs (following a similar move from the US) may ironically worsen the situation.

Geopolitical factors add another layer of complexity, with both the UK and France holding elections and the expectation of a Trump victory in the US. This political backdrop raises concerns about market valuations, especially with US indices hitting record highs.

A cautious move towards value stocks is evident, although mega-cap stocks continue to draw significant interest. A recent Financial Times article highlighted the surge in capital expenditure for major tech companies such as Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet, rising from $80bn to $140bn. Historically, high-capex tech companies have yielded good returns from investments but AI spend seems never ending and current record-high valuations could temper this trend. The shift to value stocks is a defensive strategy, reflecting limited downside risk as value can be found in the UK market where there is growing optimism. The mood is becoming more upbeat, with increased discussions and interest in the UK market, marked by a resurgence in IPOs and deal activity. Notably small- and mid-cap UK funds are performing well, benefiting from this rotation. Sector rotation is also crucial in this late-cycle environment. Investors continue diversifying into AI, while moving away from previous trends like EVs.