Signs of a global economic recovery in the second half are emerging

Worries about the global economy percolate even as equities around the world rise, but an economist at Ned Davis Research says the worst of it may be over.

Alejandra Grindal, senior international economist at the firm, said the aggregate of manufacturing purchasing managers’ indexes (PMIs) from across the globe stabilized in March after falling for 10 straight months. Meanwhile, the number of countries reporting expansion in the manufacturing sector rose for the first time in six months. She noted these indicators usually bottom about four to eight months “before the next expansion begins.”

“We might be getting signs of a global economic recovery in the second half of the year,” Grindal said at the Ned Davis Research annual investment conference in Boston. “At least it’s sort of giving you some rays of light.”

Grindal’s comments follow the International Monetary Fund decreasing its 2019 growth outlook to 3.3%, which would be the lowest since the financial crisis, from 3.5%. In its report, the IMF highlighted risks such as the potential of increasing trade tensions as well as tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve.

Still, Grindal notes that tensions between China and the U.S. have cooled recently as both countries try to strike a deal on that front. Meanwhile, the Fed said in a summary from its late-March meeting that it does not expect to hike rates for the rest of 2019.

“The risks appear to be alleviating, although it’s not 100%,” she said, noting the lowering of these two risks appears to be boosting emerging markets. Manufacturing PMIs in emerging markets like China, Brazil, India and Mexico are all showing expansion in the sector.

Emerging market stocks have been on a tear this year along with global shares. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is up 14% in 2019 while the iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) has gained 14.6%.

However, there are still risks to the global economy, including political uncertainty from Europe, she said.

“The reasons behind the sovereign debt crisis … haven’t necessarily been solved,” the economist said. “You have countries essentially having the same currency, same monetary policy, but dramatically different levels of competitiveness, ways of doing things. I’m not predicting an implosion, but I’m not saying it’s not possible.”

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