Frank Uhlenbruch, Investment Strategist in the Janus Henderson Australian Fixed Interest team, provides his Australian economic analysis and market outlook.

Market review

Offshore and domestic yields continued to rise, reflecting inflation pressures and expectations for a more aggressive and front-end loaded central bank tightening cycle. Risk appetite soured, with equity and credit markets softer, while inflation expectations edged upwards. Higher yields across the curve meant that the Australian bond market, as measured by the Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index fell 1.49%.

Three consecutively higher core inflation readings provide the RBA with the smoking gun needed for a May lift-off in the cash rate.

The domestic yield curve lifted and flattened over the month. At the shorter end, the three-year government bond yield rose as tightening expectations were brought forward and ended 37 basis points (bps) higher at 2.71%. Rises in yields were also experienced at the longer end of the yield curve, but not to the same extent. 10- and 30-year government bond yields rose by 29bps and 21bps to end the month at 3.13% and 3.46%, respectively.

The key economic release was the March quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI). A much higher than expected 2.1% quarterly rise in the headline rate and 1.4% quarterly lift in the trimmed mean pointed to broad based price rises. Elsewhere, the March NAB Business Survey showed a lift in activity and business confidence. Consumer sentiment fell again in April, the fifth consecutive fall, with the prospect of higher interest rates and cost of living pressures weighing on consumers’ minds.

The rate of improvement in the labour market slowed in March, with a 17,900 lift in employment below market expectations. The unemployment rate lifted from 3.9% to 4.0%. Forward-looking labour market indicators point to ongoing near-term labour market strength.

The short-term money market continued to reflect the pivot to an earlier start to a large tightening cycle. The three-month bank bill yield ended the month 48bps higher at 71bps, while six-month bank bills ended 75bps higher at 1.45%. In terms of the tightening cycle, markets are looking for a May tightening, with the cash rate lifting to 2.50% by December and 3.25% by mid-2023.

Risk sentiment continued to be impacted by the prospect of aggressively tightening financial conditions to tackle elevated inflation, with consequent negative implications for medium-term growth. Global investment markets led the domestic market lower. The Australian fixed and floating rate credit indices closed 9bps and 6bps wider respectively, while the Australian iTraxx Index widened 14bps to 95.5bps.

In credit markets, the theme was higher rates, wider spreads and increasingly appealing outright yields. In the primary market, Australian corporates were especially active in offshore issuance. Well-known names CSL Limited, Goodman Group and Fortescue issued well-received bond transactions in US dollars. The latter two were in sustainability-linked and green formats, respectively. Notable domestic primary transactions included CBA issuing a Tier 2 subordinated debt transaction (callable in five years) at an attractive spread of swaps +190bps in both floating and fixed rate format, while NBN Co. issued its inaugural green bond (rated A1) at swaps +123bps.

Market outlook

Three consecutively higher core inflation readings provide the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) with the smoking gun needed for a May lift-off in the cash rate. Our base case has the cash rate lifting and the RBA signalling that it will allow maturing bonds to roll of its balance sheet on maturity.

There are currently numerous cross currents, making it difficult to determine the exact sources and persistency of the current inflation pulse. Global pandemic fiscal stimulus no doubt played a role, as did disruptions to global supply chains and higher energy prices pre and post Russia’s Ukraine invasion. We see a large portion of the inflation pulse as cyclical but see an emerging trend towards deglobalisation as lifting core inflation over the years ahead.

The IMF responded to recent shocks by downgrading their 2022 world growth forecast from 4.4% in January to 3.6% and their 2023 world growth forecast from 3.8% to 3.6%. They also saw inflation risks as tilted to the upside.

Against this uncertain backdrop, and at a starting point where the economy is only 3% larger than it was at the end of 2019 just after the RBA cut the cash rate from 1% to 0.75% in October, the RBA will have to decide how quickly to normalise the cash rate.

Our view remains that their goal is to extend, not end, the current expansion. A more moderate tightening cycle which has the cash rate at 1% at the end of this year and 2% at the end of 2023 gives the RBA the best chance to meet its full employment, welfare and inflation objectives.

Market pricing remains aggressive, with futures markets pricing in a 2.50% cash rate by December and 3.25% by mid-2023. Such a lift would take monetary conditions from accommodative to restrictive and runs the risk of creating financial instability via falling asset prices and outright recession. The nature of the current inflation pulse does not warrant such a strong response in our view.

Furthermore, by tightening sooner than expected several months ago, the RBA reduces the risk of getting behind the inflation curve. At month end levels, we still see value at the shorter end of the yield curve. Likewise, we see 10-year government bond yields at month end levels of 3.13% as beginning to offer value, providing investors with term premia at a time of heightened inflation risk.

We continue to expect further bouts of volatility caused by geo-political events, pandemic machinations, and central bank actions to roil credit markets. These periods can provide opportunities when spread widening is in excess of fundamentals. As macro policy settings transition from accommodative to more neutral levels, we remain very active and selective, favouring relative value within sub-sectors, whilst being judicious on overall credit beta. Recent spread widening has allowed us to access high quality names at attractive levels.

We remain attracted to semi-government securities, particularly those issued by NSW, as market pricing has adjusted to the removal of formal quantitative easing from the RBA. We hold onto our inflation protection strategies, especially as the Russian invasion elevates oil prices and exacerbates supply chain pressures.

Views as at 1 May 2022.

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