Market Update: December 2020
December 2020
ECONOMIC UPDATE
As we know economic growth collapsed in the first half of 2020 as Covid-19 enforced lockdowns and restrictions were introduced weighting on economies.
The announcement of successful vaccines in November from Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, and closer to home AstraZeneca / Oxford were a huge boost to life ‘returning to normal’ as 2021 progresses.
However, there are a number of hurdles still to jump; regulatory approval, manufacture and distribution of the vaccine – but these are likely to be overcome in the coming weeks/months.
Unfortunately, not all problems are solved by a vaccine – UK unemployment is likely to continue to increase. Some areas still look vulnerable – traditional retailers – this is highlighted by the recent demise of Topshop and Debenhams. This also adds pressure on property companies who have a large exposure to retailers. The sector also remains oversupplied.
Economic growth in 2021 is likely to rebound significantly from lows and it could be a record-breaking year as confidence returns to individuals and companies:
US ELECTION
Away from Covid-19, the US election has provided some certainty and hopefully stability in 2021. On Wednesday 20th January 2021 Joe Biden will be the 46th president of the United States. However, the US Senate is not yet decided. Two run-off elections are taking place in January 2021 and it looks likely it’ll be a Republican Senate – therefore a Democratic President and a Republican Senate.
It appears unlikely that trade negotiations between the US and China will reverse (which weighed on markets in 2018) however, more cordial relations are expected going forward and less Twitter led politics.
BREXIT
Talks have made significant progress in recent weeks, but it looks like it will run down to the wire with the 31 December deadline fast approaching.
There is an expectation of a trade agreement between the UK and EU – it is not in either party’s interest to not get an agreement – particularly as economies are still feeling the impact of Covid-19. Some of the sticking points include:
If a deal is agreed, it could be supportive for sterling and UK assets which look cheap relative to other global currencies and stock markets. The ever-present risk of a ‘no deal’ Brexit from the transition period at year-end is one of the factors to have kept the Pound from attaining 2018 highs in line with those of other currencies, so Sterling might have scope for a substantial rally in the event that a deal is announced.