- Europe’s economy is going back in the trash as GDP is flat with even all mighty Germany turning negative (see red bars indicating economic growth from the prior period):
- This has been a persistent theme, since 2009 other developed economies – US, Japan, Britain – have grown faster while Europe has stagnated:
- European stocks have reflected this economic weakness as US stocks (SPX on chart below) have returned much more than European stocks (FEZ on chart below) since the end of 2008 (note: the S&P 500* bottom early March 2009, though chart is intra-month making bottom appear to be February 2009):
- However, this underperformance of European stocks has possibly presented an opportunity though as European stocks are now cheaper (note: cheap stocks in general should have more room to grow than more expensive stocks):
- Further, the ECB has yet to institute quantitative easing (QE), but the rumors are swirling. In the US, QE worked out nicely for US equity markets as each listed program in the chart below resulted in a subsequent move higher in the stock market:
- Thus, if/when the ECB version of QE it could have a positive effect on European equity prices as it did on the US. Plus the stocks are relatively cheap so there could be some more room to grow.
Caveat: the trend in the European stocks is weak so for the time being caution should be used.
Note: On 09/04/14 the ECB cut interest
rates and may or may not enact quantitative easing later in the day or in
coming months. European stock markets
were higher. This post was written
before today’s news.
*Please see the important disclosures that apply to this
commentary HERE. The above charts are for illustrative
purposes only and do not attempt to predict actual results of any particular
investment.
