JPMorgan says rebalancing could mean $300 billion exits stocks

JPMorgan says rebalancing could mean $300 billion exits stocks
The strong equity performance so far this month means large investors like balanced mutual funds may need to shift money into bonds before year-end
NOV 23, 2020

Rebalancing flows may lead to an exodus of around $300 billion from global stocks by the end of the year, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Large multi-asset investors may need to rotate money into bonds from stocks after strong equity performance so far this month, strategists led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note Friday. They include balanced mutual funds, like 60/40 portfolios, U.S. defined-benefit pension plans and some big investors like Norges Bank, which manages Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, and the Japanese government pension plan GPIF, the strategists said.

“We see some vulnerability in equity markets in the near term from balanced mutual funds, a $7 trillion universe, having to sell around $160 billion of equities globally to revert to their target 60:40 allocation either by the end of November or by the end of December at the latest,” the strategists wrote.

If the stock market rallies into December, there could be an additional $150 billion of equity selling into the end of the month by pension funds that tend to rebalance on a quarterly basis, they added.

Global stocks have outperformed bond returns quarter-to-date

An MSCI gauge of global stocks reached a record on Nov. 16. It’s up more than 10% this month as positive news about COVID-19 vaccines emerges and as concerns about the U.S. election began to fade. The Bloomberg Barclays Global-Aggregate Total Return Index has risen around 1.5%.

Latest News

In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset
In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor

Ex-Texas advisor gets 11 years for Ponzi scheme, Travis Kelce among victims
Ex-Texas advisor gets 11 years for Ponzi scheme, Travis Kelce among victims

Siddharth Jawahar was sentenced 11 years in prison and $31M in restitution for running Swiftarc Capital fraud scheme

HSBC, Citi unveil new high-life and luxury offerings for affluent clients, family offices
HSBC, Citi unveil new high-life and luxury offerings for affluent clients, family offices

Wall Street banks expand wealth services as ultra-high-net-worth client demands extend further above and beyond investment management.

Cerity Partners enters Iowa with Gilbert & Cook deal
Cerity Partners enters Iowa with Gilbert & Cook deal

The acquisition of $2 billion Gilbert & Cook extends a buying spree for the ultra-high-net-worth firm that has already touched six states this year.

The financial industry has a saving problem
The financial industry has a saving problem

After years of encouraging sacrifice and delayed gratification, advisors have to do the next emotional lift: helping clients let go of a potentially harmful scarcity mindset.

SPONSORED In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains