This research note was originally published by UOBAM on 29 July 2022.

Improved sentiment after a difficult first half

The Asian corporate bonds market rallied this past week. Since its low on 19 July 2022, the J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Index (USD) has risen by close to 2.0%. 

This mirrors the price rises exhibited by global bonds and reflects investors’ relatively improved sentiment in Asia, plus a growing desire to add some protection to their portfolios in the event of an economic slowdown. 

At the same time, investors welcome the elevated yields, even for high-grade, short-tenor bonds.

The uptick comes at the end of a steady downtrend that defined the first half of 2022. In the face of sticky inflationary pressures, steepening US interest rate hikes and a soaring US dollar (USD), Asian investment-grade and high-yield credits weakened by around 10% to 15% respectively.

During this period, new Asian bond issuances were at 10-year lows, and June 2022 saw particularly high fund outflows from emerging Asian bond markets.

Long-term support is becoming more evident

As such, whether the current rally is only a temporary blip or has staying power depends on the prevalence of a number of key factors:

1. Attractive valuations

The yield offered by Asian corporates is typically in excess of US Treasuries due to their relatively higher risk. This yield pick-up, also known as spreads, is currently at around 300 basis points (3%), more than double that of global corporates. 

In the face of the latest 75 basis point (0.75%) rate hike by the US Fed, Asian corporate bond spreads are expected to stay range bound. As a result, this sector should see good demand by those in search of yield.

Asia versus global credit spreads

2. Real yields

Asian investment-grade bonds are also offering real yields that are high enough to offset the rise in inflation. 

Unlike some other emerging markets such as those in Latin America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), inflation rates in Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are rising but still relatively low at 3.5% to 4.5% compared to potential credit yields.

Their role as commodity exporters are also helping to support growth, and companies here may actually benefit from higher global price rises. If this real yield can be maintained, demand is likely to stay robust.

3. Sensitive to global trends

Many Asian markets also tend to be well-correlated to economic trends and sentiment within the wider global community. 

Markets like South Korea and Taiwan are export-dependent, making them particularly sensitive to global developments. This means that any decline in US and European bond yields (and therefore higher bond prices) due to fears of an economic recession is likely to play out quickly in these Asian bonds. 

They therefore offer an effective way to hedge against a substantial decline in global risk sentiment over the coming months.

4. China’s selective outperformance

Within the emerging-market bond universe, Asian credit is generally regarded as higher quality, given its potential for better risk-adjusted returns. 

Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, some Asian credits were able to offer relatively high returns with less volatility. 

This is currently particularly true of selective China credit such as those within the infrastructure and utilities space. These sectors look likely to benefit from their strong policy mandate, and the fact that the country is loosening, rather than tightening, its monetary policy.

However, there is good reason to remain cautious of the Chinese property sector. We note that the widening of bonds spreads that has dominated the Chinese high-yield property sector also affects high grade bond issuers. 

Even recent policy moves by the Chinese government in support of the local property market appears not to be having the desired impact. In particular, the publicity surrounding abandoned housing projects has dampened buyer enthusiasm and prolonged the weak demand. 

As such, it is difficult to predict which Chinese property developers will still be standing at the end of the current crisis.

‍Read more: Reflections on a volatile bond market in the first half of 2022

‍This research note was originally published by UOB Asset Management on 29 July 2022.

UOBAM is a leading Asia-based asset manager with its headquarters in Singapore. From its establishment as a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank in 1986, it has grown extensively across Asia with a presence in nine markets, including Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Its assets under management (including subsidiaries) total more than S$37 billion.

Endowus has 11 funds from UOBAM (as of 7 Oct 2022), including the United SGD Fund, the United Global Durable Equities Fund, and the United Singapore Bond Fund.

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