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The United States has resumed its role as the engine of global economic growth. In the first quarter of 2021, US GDP grew at an annualised rate of 6.4% compared with the last quarter of 2020, thanks to strong fiscal support and the acceleration of the vaccination campaign, write Guy Wagner, Chief Investment Officer at BLI - Banque de Luxembourg Investments, and his team, in their monthly analysis, ‘Highlights’.

“Household consumption and business investment both contributed to the improvement in economic activity,” says Guy Wagner, Chief Investment Officer and managing director of the asset management company BLI - Banque de Luxembourg Investments. “Net trade was the only drag on growth, since the increase in imports resulting from the acceleration of domestic demand was not matched by an improvement in exports, which even fell slightly.” 

Expected reopening of European economies should boost the recovery

In the eurozone, GDP fell by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter, due to considerably more moderate fiscal stimulus and a less advanced vaccination campaign. “The expected reopening of the European economies in the coming months should boost the recovery that began in the second half of 2020.” 

China: household consumption and business investment are expected to pick up again

In China, signs of the economic recovery weakening in February and March were confirmed with the publication of Q1 growth figures. “Household consumption and business investment are expected to pick up again from the second quarter onwards, even though the monetary and fiscal support measures are much less generous in China than in the US.,” says the Luxembourgish economist. In Japan, the current disruptions in global supply chains are preventing the export sector from reaping the full benefit of the mini boom in global manufacturing demand. 

Federal Reserve leaves its monetary policy unchanged

As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee left its monetary policy unchanged at its April meeting. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his view that the current pick-up in inflation is temporary, and that any hint of a slowdown in the Fed's asset purchases would be premature despite signs of economic acceleration. Only a change in long-term inflation expectations above the 2% target could trigger a shift in the FOMC’s attitude towards a less expansionary stance. In Europe, the ECB opted for the status quo in terms of its anti-crisis toolkit, as expected. The significant increase in the pace of public and private debt buybacks decided in March is set to continue.

US Treasury bond yields stabilised; equity markets continue their good run

After rising since August 2020, US Treasury bond yields stabilised in April. In the eurozone, long-term interest rates saw little change, with yield spreads between core and peripheral countries widening slightly after narrowing the previous month. After a strong rise in share prices in the first quarter, the equity markets continued their good run in April. “Robust economic growth in the United States, the acceleration of the vaccination campaigns and the publication of excellent corporate results continue to provide a favourable climate for equities despite very high valuation levels.” All major indices gained over the month. The only index to retreat was the Topix in Japan. “Sector divergences were less pronounced in April, with tech stocks regaining favour among investors as most of the sector's leaders reported spectacular results. Meanwhile, oil stocks levelled off after rising sharply in the first quarter,” concludes Guy Wagner. 

Guy Wagner, Chief Investment Officer

Originally from a family of entrepreneurs in Luxembourg and with a degree in Economics from the Université Libre of Brussels, Guy joined Banque de Luxembourg in 1986, where he was successively responsible for the Financial Analysis and Asset Management departments, then became Managing Director of BLI - Banque de Luxembourg Investments, an asset management company newly created in 2005.

From July 2022 on, he devotes himself exclusively to his role as Chief Investment Officer, to the management of the portfolios and to the management of the team in charge management of the various funds.

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