Shunned UK markets emerge as haven from global storms
Repeats JULY 12 story.
Stable UK eyed as haven vs heightened uncertainty elsewhere
UK listings and inflows revival likely - bankers
But haven status needs solid long-term growth - investors
By Naomi Rovnick and Anousha Sakoui
LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) -Investors are looking at UK markets as a potential haven as political uncertainty rises in the U.S. and elsewhere in Europe, in what could mark a stunning turnaround for a country that appeared to have lost its traditional appeal to global capital.
A landslide election victoryfor Britain's centre-left Labour government this monthoffers the prospect of predictable policy and improved trade with the European Union to reboot an economy that has struggled since the 2016 Brexit vote.
Meanwhile, parliamentary gridlock in debt-laden France has stirred memories of previous euro zone crises, and investors are scrambling to guess what former U.S. President Donald Trump regaining the White House might mean for markets.
Britain's economy is picking up, and some bankers expect a revival for UK stock markets shrivelled by relentless selling during years of turbulence under successive Conservative governments.
BlackRock Investment Institute, a research arm of the world's largest asset manager, said on Tuesday it was bullish on UK stocks, potentially heralding a mood shift among major global institutions that have cooled on Britain since 2016.
But even those moving funds into the UK warned that its haven appeal may be short lived unless new Prime Minister Keir Starmer pulls off a bold plan to boost living standards without straining the nation's stressed finances further.
"The (UK) election improves things at the margin and the uncertainty on Europe driven by France means there could be a honeymoon period for Britain for a bit," said Pictet Wealth Management chief investment officer César Pérez Ruiz.
"The market is going to be asking for more detail on fiscal spending and (Starmer) hasn't given us a lot of information."
Pérez Ruiz said he sold some European corporate debt because of French political risk and bought UK equivalents instead, but may not hold the position beyond six months.
GREEN SHOOTS?
Investors have kept pulling money out of UK equity funds and stock market trackers since the July 4 election, daily data from information provider Lipper showed.
Yet there are also some positive signs.
After a dearth of London listings, potential large offerings are on the horizon from the likes of Shein and De Beers, with some bankers predicting the UK market will revive more broadly next year. On Thursday, the UK market regulator fast-tracked a swathe of listing rule changes in a bid to encourage more IPOs.
London's share of European IPO volumes dwindled to just 1% in the year to mid-May, down from 28% in the same period in 2021 when the market boomed.
"There's a couple of reasons to be positive and certainly relatively more positive about the UK than other regions," said Peel Hunt equity capital markets head Brian Hanratty.
"I don't want to say it is like a dam breaking."
He had observed companies holding early stage investor meetings and more discussions with accountants about IPOs, he added.
Some big investors are turning more optimistic too.
"We see a virtuous cycle taking hold," Fidelity International head of multi-asset Salman Ahmed said, if Labour rebuilds EU trade links and revives business spending. Fidelity has a neutral view on Britain although some funds are increasing exposure.
Matt Evans, portfolio manager at NinetyOne, said UK companies he meets with were readying investment projects that they had delayed under the Conservatives.
DEBT JITTERS
Weak UK public finances remain a source of concern, as state borrowing approaches 100% of economic output, and the 2022 market chaos unleashed by Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss' under-funded mini-Budget remains fresh in memories.
Labour wants to attract private investment into infrastructure and housing, potentially boosting 2024 growth beyond the 0.7% economists polled by Reuters expect.
Gilts had short-term support from expected Bank of England rate cuts but the UK was not a debt market haven unless Labour could prove an untested commitment to budgetary caution, said James Athey, fixed income manager at London investment group Marlborough.
While off highs hit in 2023, Britain's 10-year bond yield has still risen 58 basis points this year to 4.12% GB10YT=RR, underperforming U.S. and German peers.
BlueBay Asset Management chief investment officer Mark Dowding said he would not increase UK exposure while inflationary pressures remained.
In another sign of some caution, London's FTSE-100 index, .FTSE, valued on a price-to-earnings ratio almost 50% below that of U.S. stocks, has underperformed global benchmarks .MIWO00000PUS so far this month.
"The (UK) risk-reward is pretty favourable," BNP Paribas head of equity strategy Dennis Jose said.
But as for capital coming back? "Not yet. It will take a little more time."
UK business investment lags other developed economies https://reut.rs/3zBRKRp
Funds investing in UK stocks have seen 44 months of outflows https://reut.rs/3Y9RTpx
UK borrowing costs have risen sharply since 2021 https://reut.rs/3XKN85s
Reporting by Naomi Rovnick and Anousha Sakoui. Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe and Yoruk Bahceli; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe and Mark Potter
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تازہ ترين خبريں
دستبرداری: XM Group کے ادارے ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت تک صرف عملدرآمد کی خدمت اور رسائی مہیا کرتے ہیں، کسی شخص کو ویب سائٹ پر یا اس کے ذریعے دستیاب کانٹینٹ کو دیکھنے اور/یا استعمال کرنے کی اجازت دیتا ہے، اس پر تبدیل یا توسیع کا ارادہ نہیں ہے ، اور نہ ہی یہ تبدیل ہوتا ہے یا اس پر وسعت کریں۔ اس طرح کی رسائی اور استعمال ہمیشہ مشروط ہوتا ہے: (i) شرائط و ضوابط؛ (ii) خطرہ انتباہات؛ اور (iii) مکمل دستبرداری۔ لہذا اس طرح کے مواد کو عام معلومات سے زیادہ کے طور پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے۔ خاص طور پر، براہ کرم آگاہ رہیں کہ ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت کے مندرجات نہ تو کوئی درخواست ہے، اور نہ ہی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں کوئی لین دین داخل کرنے کی پیش کش ہے۔ کسی بھی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں تجارت میں آپ کے سرمائے کے لئے ایک خاص سطح کا خطرہ ہوتا ہے۔
ہماری آن لائن تجارتی سہولت پر شائع ہونے والے تمام مٹیریل کا مقصد صرف تعلیمی/معلوماتی مقاصد کے لئے ہے، اور اس میں شامل نہیں ہے — اور نہ ہی اسے فنانشل، سرمایہ کاری ٹیکس یا تجارتی مشورے اور سفارشات؛ یا ہماری تجارتی قیمتوں کا ریکارڈ؛ یا کسی بھی فنانشل انسٹرومنٹ میں لین دین کی پیشکش؛ یا اسکے لئے مانگ؛ یا غیر متنازعہ مالی تشہیرات پر مشتمل سمجھا جانا چاہئے۔
کوئی تھرڈ پارٹی کانٹینٹ، نیز XM کے ذریعہ تیار کردہ کانٹینٹ، جیسے: راۓ، خبریں، تحقیق، تجزیہ، قیمتیں اور دیگر معلومات یا اس ویب سائٹ پر مشتمل تھرڈ پارٹی کے سائٹس کے لنکس کو "جیسے ہے" کی بنیاد پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے، عام مارکیٹ کی تفسیر کے طور پر، اور سرمایہ کاری کے مشورے کو تشکیل نہ دیں۔ اس حد تک کہ کسی بھی کانٹینٹ کو سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیقات کے طور پر سمجھا جاتا ہے، آپ کو نوٹ کرنا اور قبول کرنا ہوگا کہ یہ کانٹینٹ سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیق کی آزادی کو فروغ دینے کے لئے ڈیزائن کردہ قانونی تقاضوں کے مطابق نہیں ہے اور تیار نہیں کیا گیا ہے، اسی طرح، اس پر غور کیا جائے گا بطور متعلقہ قوانین اور ضوابط کے تحت مارکیٹنگ مواصلات۔ براہ کرم یقینی بنائیں کہ آپ غیر آزاد سرمایہ کاری سے متعلق ہماری اطلاع کو پڑھ اور سمجھ چکے ہیں۔ مذکورہ بالا معلومات کے بارے میں تحقیق اور رسک وارننگ ، جس تک رسائی یہاں حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔
