In July 2020 the average prudential balanced portfolio returned 1.7% (June 2020: 2.3%). Top performer is NAM Coronation Balanced Plus Fund with 2.5%, while Allan Gray Balanced Fund with 0.1% takes the bottom spot. For the 3-month period, NAM Coronation Balanced Plus Fund takes the top spot, outperforming the ‘average’ by roughly 2.2%. On the other end of the scale Allan Gray Balanced Fund underperformed the ‘average’ by 3.1%. Note that these returns are before (gross of) asset management fees.
The Monthly Review of Portfolio Performance to 31 July 2020 provides a full review of portfolio performances and other interesting analyses.
When can we expect to see double digit returns again?
In our latest Benchtest newsletter 07.2020, we present two articles that effectively address the same subject. Firstly ‘Governments must beware of the lure of free money’ that appeared in the Economist of 23 July wherein it is pointed out that we are currently dealing with a profound shift in economics as the result of policy decisions taken by governments across the developed world in response to the COVID pandemic. It talks of 4 defining features of the ‘new epoch’ induced by COVID. Firstly, the extent of government borrowing, secondly, the extent of money printing by central banks, thirdly the governments’ increasing roles as capital allocators in their economies and fourthly, a persistently low inflation rate. These ‘epochal features’ lay the foundation for how economies and consequently the financial markets will evolve for many years to come.
The second article ‘Portfolios need to be more active and flexible to ensure returns’, international asset manager Schroders believes that both, equity and bond returns, are likely to be lower in the future than during the past 10 years. Equities are facing economic headwinds and record valuations, while interest rates are at record lows and likely to remain low for years, affecting both the income and price appreciation potential for bonds...
Read part 6 of the Monthly Review of Portfolio Performance to 31 July 2020 to find out what our investment views are.