Investors continue to abandon emerging markets. As I write in my new weekly commentary, last week marked the 14th week of outflow from emerging market equity funds and the largest weekly outflow seen since August 2010.
Last week’s selloff came as number of emerging market countries – including Turkey – raised their benchmark interest rates in an effort to stem the pressure on their currencies, and as political turmoil in the Ukraine and Thailand continued. As we’re coming off a long period of market complacency that sent risk assets to relatively high levels, these local emerging market headlines are starting to have an effect amid relatively fragile market sentiment and a generalized flight to quality.
However, regardless of what sparked the latest selloff, the correction we are seeing, like the ones we saw in May and June, is a good reminder of these three truths about emerging market investing.
Truth: Volatility in these markets can’t be avoided. Emerging markets tend to be volatile, and they’re likely to remain so, at least in the near term. As emerging market currencies remain under pressure, the Federal Reserve tapers and several countries struggle with lingering structural issues, emerging market volatility is likely to remain high in the coming months.
Truth: Not all emerging markets are created equal. In other words, the issues facing countries like Turkey and Indonesia are not the same ones facing other emerging markets. Despite the dour emerging market headlines, some emerging markets, particularly in Northern Asia, appear more resilient. For example, both China and South Korea are running current account surpluses and both have large foreign exchange reserves.
Meanwhile, though I still advocate some caution toward Mexican stocks, Mexico’s fortune is tied to the improving U.S. economy, and the country has recently witnessed a number of key structural reforms. In addition, Fed tapering is likely to impact emerging markets differently given the markets’ differing fundamentals. Countries dependent on foreign funding, such as Turkey and South Africa, are likely to struggle disproportionately. In contrast, countries such as China and Korea are likely to be more resilient to U.S. tightening fears.
Truth: Emerging markets offer deep value. Given that they’re generally growing faster than their developed world counterparts, emerging markets still look cheap by most metrics. Currently, emerging market equities are trading at about a 40% discount to developed country stocks. This represents the largest discount since the financial crisis.