15 February 2019
EM Special Publication
(FX hedged). If DB's scenario of a soft patch in H1 followed by recovery in H2
materializes, this means negative returns for low yielders this year. However, it
is important to stress that EM LFI is one of the most idiosyncratic asset classes
within EM. Select high yielders still offer value - if anything - because of still benign
inflation outlooks and still high risk-neutral rates and TP. That said, investors do
need to be more selective.
In this report, we provide a brief description of our methodology and reassess TP
valuation. In particular, we analyze the recent development in term premium and
risk-neutral rates, study TP's underlying drivers, examine the remaining cushion
for policy normalization, identify dislocations in basis of bond TP vs swap TP, and
provide strategy implications in the end.
Figure 3: EM local bonds have rallied over the last three
months...
Figure 4: ...Similar to previous rallies, the rally is largely
driven by the compression of TP
3.00
5.00
7.00
9.00
Jul 13 Jun 14 May 15 Apr 16 Mar 17 Jan 18 Jan 19
EM 10Y bond constant maturity bond yields, %
LatAm_10Y EMEA_10Y Asia_10Y
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5125
130
135
140
145
150
Jul 13 Jun 14 May 15 Apr 16 Mar 17 Jan 18 Jan 19
EM local bonds total return hedged vs EMTP
hedged EM_TP( %, rhs, rev.order)
Source: Deutsche Bank, Bloomberg Finance LP Source: Deutsche Bank, Bloomberg Finance LP
Term premium: How much left?
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TP serves as cushion for duration during hiking cycles.
■
Regardless of the recent compression of TP, we still see TP high or at
historical highs in Peru, Romania, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Chile and
Malaysia. This contrasts with already low and further reduced TP in
South Korea, Czech Republic and Turkey.
■
On the other hand, risk-neutral rates are still high in South Africa,
Russia, Mexico, India, Indonesia and Brazil.
Breaking down EM yields into policy and risk: We decompose EM 10Y constant
maturity bond yields into two components using the methodology described
in Appendix A: Methodology of yield decomposition (we also apply the same
methodology to swap curves). The first component - the risk-neutral rates (RN) -
reflects the expected path of short-term rates. As such it depends on growth and
inflation trade-offs. The second component, TP, is the residual after excluding RN
from market yields. It captures all the risk factors derived from policy uncertainty,
inflation, credit, market volatility and appetite for risk. It reflects the premium
required to compensate risk-averse investors.
On policy normalization and RN: EM CBs entered an easing cycle starting early
2016 as foreign credit conditions tightened (on stronger USD and reduced USD
cross-border liquidity). As the USD weakened and external liquidity conditions
eased, CBs have turned more hawkish - especially since early 2018 as the chart
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Deutsche Bank AG/London