What was announced?
The dislocation in global interest rate and credit markets in 2022 is severe, with diversified bond market indexes showing negative returns in nominal terms of anywhere between -12 % and -25 %. This is the worst in 40 years - even without taking into account the additional inflation hit of about 10%. Ugly? No – Very Ugly!
However, even that gloomy picture has been put into the shade in the UK through a combination of unique political and financial market turmoil.
In short, September saw poor communication of a new, arguably inappropriate growth-oriented government policy from PM Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to be financed mostly by new government borrowing.
Given an already meaningful amount of UK debt needing to be sold (from a combination of the Bank of England unwinding QE and the existing negative ongoing fiscal position), the somewhat gung-ho, sloppy policy delivery led to a material repricing of UK interest rate and credit risk. Gilts and £-denominated corporate bonds sold off heavily. By itself, that repricing would be a challenging but manageable event: the UK has a solid AA/A credit rating from the major agencies, UK government debt is on average quite long duration (meaning that we are not under huge short-term re-financing pressures) and under normal circumstances there is good demand for corporate bonds from banks insurance companies and pension funds.
However, there turned out to be a hidden systemic point of failure in the financial system – derivatives used by UK defined benefit (DB) Pension schemes: LDI (Liability-driven Investment) swaps.
What does this mean?
In very broad terms, DB Scheme regulation from the late 1990s forced the purchase of Gilts and other bonds over many years in order to match cash flow liabilities. As Gilt Yields fell, schemes entered into derivative swaps whereby the scheme paid the secure Gilt cash flow in exchange for some higher, variable yields including inflation-adjusted payments. Leverage was needed for the schemes to earn enough to meet the estimated liabilities. This was all “ok” and stable expect for the fact that the security collateral for the swap was often a UK Gilt and if long-dated, e.g. 30 years, the price falls due to the “Mini Budget” created a huge downward spiral as cash collateral calls meant more selling - which pushed prices down.
Selling what they could to meet collateral calls, the DB schemes drove prices down even further, creating a negative feedback loop which was broken only by formal Bank of England intervention to support the long end of the Gilt market.
Is there any good news?
One silver lining in this maelstrom is that more than £100 billion of £-denominated corporate bonds are trading with cash prices below 80, meaning that at a return of at least 25 % (20/80) is available to investors and often a lot more.
UK tax rules offer a meaningful benefit to individuals who hold bonds directly in taxable accounts – as opposed to in a non-transparent fund wrapper. There is currently a “once in 30 years” opportunity to create model direct bond portfolios for the UK Wealth Management and Private Banking markets.
Recently I have been able to purchase Provident Financial (1 year), ESURE (2 year) Phoenix (9 year) and M&G debt (25 years) all at 10 % annual yield! These businesses will undoubtedly face challenging times as the combination of food and energy price inflation, higher interest rates and slowing economic activity hurt consumers, but they are large enough and well capitalized enough to withstand even a deep recession without risk of default. If we can continue to re-invest cash from maturing bonds and recycle into 10% yield assets then we will not only make money but over time we will deliver positive real returns because it is wholly unrealistic to expect inflation to remain at 10% and compound there for several years.
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The information contained in this document is for guidance only and does not constitute financial advice
The opinions are those of the author at the time of publication and are subject to change, without notice, at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the content of this document, neither Sanlam nor any other person makes any guarantee, representation or warranty, express or implied as to its accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained in this document, which has been prepared in good faith, and to the fullest extent permissible under UK law. Some parts/sections of this document may been compiled from external sources. Whilst these sources are believed to be reliable, the information has not been independently verified and is subject to material amendment, revision and updating, therefore no representation is made as to its accuracy or completeness. No reliance may be placed for any purpose whatsoever on the information, representations or opinions contained in this document nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of or act as an inducement to enter into any contract for any securities, and to the fullest extent permissible under UK law no liability is accepted or any such information, representations or opinions. The comments should not be construed as a recommendation of individual holdings or market sectors, but as an illustration of broader themes.