Fortem Capital Alternative Growth Fund

UK & EU – For professional and institutional investors only
Switzerland – this is an advertising document for professional and institutional clients as defined by the Swiss Financial Services Act only
Monthly Commentary – 31st March 2023
The first quarter of 2023 will in time be remembered as an extraordinary one.
When one looks at the end result, it has been a welcome respite for risk assets as well as the 60/40 portfolio after a difficult 2022. Global equities have annualised at 35% and global bonds 14%.
However, the journey of travel has been, as is the norm now with the amount of leverage in the system, anything but smooth to get there.
As we entered the year, headline inflation had been falling and data improving, causing markets to begin to price in a ‘no landing’ scenario and a return to loose monetary conditions much sooner than was previously forecast, to the benefit of risk assets across the board.
February saw some reversal as the ‘headwind’ of strong data surprises as well as a reacceleration in core inflation numbers forced investors to once more reassess both the terminal rate and more importantly how long rates may remain elevated for; the market was back to the 2022 scenario of bonds and equities struggling simultaneously.
The prospect of rates staying higher for longer caused some cracks to appear in the banking sector in March, albeit consigned to smaller banks that had a duration mismanagement / no management issue coupled with a concentration of potentially flighty VC fund deposits. In mid-March the market had a significant wobble followed by the extremely unusual scenario in which the bond market was pricing in a banking crisis whilst equity and credit were unmoved and latterly buoyant; the Fed put is back it would seem.
The Fund returned -0.3% for the month and 0.3% for the quarter.
Once more the Fund, in the eye of the storm in March, showed its defensive qualities as it began on its usual upward convex trajectory as the mini-banking crisis unfolded.
The strategies that performed particularly well during that period were the Fund’s protection strategies, namely the long CDS positions and put spreads. As the month wore on, and the market embarked on a swift recovery and credit spreads collapsed, those gains were given back.
The main detractors, as one might imagine, given that the bond market has priced in a crisis and the associated cuts to rates starting as soon as June, were the rates volatility strategies.
We are now in the extraordinary position in which, in spite of rising geopolitical tensions, core inflation that remains stubbornly elevated, worsening data, and cracks appearing in the fabric of the financial system, global equities are running at an annualised 35% whilst the bond market is pricing in a recession; one of them must be wrong.
The market, so used to intervention at the first sign of trouble, blindly assumes that liquidity will be added as and when required in order to keep asset prices buoyant; animal spirits are the only explanation for the current rally we are seeing. The Fed may abandon their inflation mandate. It would be a policy error, but would not be the first. However, they themselves are adamant they will not, and the market once more may be forced to grapple with this reality. Either way, equities and bonds remain correlated, predicated on central bank policy, and investors absolutely must maintain some form of diversification in case the liquidity deluge that is priced in is not in fact set to continue, never mind if there is a hard landing that awaits.
Total Return | 2023 | Mar |
---|---|---|
UK 100 | 3.5% | -2.5% |
US 500 | 7.4% | 3.6% |
Europe 50 | 14.2% | 2.0% |
Japan 225 | 8.3% | 2.9% |
Hong Kong 50 | 3.5% | 3.5% |
US 2000 | 2.7% | -4.8% |
Swiss 30 | 5.1% | 1.6% |
BCOM | -6.5% | -0.6% |
US Treasury | 3.0% | 2.5% |
Euro Property | -4.5% | -11.4% |
PGF | 5.0% | 0.3% |
AGF | 0.3% | -0.3% |
DGF | 2.0% | -0.5% |
US Equity Income | 7.1% | 3.4% |
Disclaimer
– This document has been issued and approved as a financial promotion by Fortem Capital Limited for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Acts 2000. Fortem Capital Limited registration number 10042702 is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 755370.
– This document is intended for Professional Investors, Institutional Clients and Advisors and should not be communicated to any other person.
– The information has been prepared solely for information purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the product.
– Data is sourced from Fortem Capital Limited and external sources. The data is as at the date of this document and has been reviewed by Fortem Capital Limited.
– Information, including prices, analytical data and opinions contained within this document are believed to be correct, accurate and derived from reliable sources as at the date of the document. However, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied is made as to the correctness, accuracy or validity of such information.
– Fortem Capital Limited assumes
no responsibility or
liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracy with respect to the information contained within this document.
– All price and analytical data included in this document is
intended for indicative purposes only and is as at the date
of the document.
– The information within this document does not take into account the specific investment objective or financial situation of any person. Investors should refer to the final documentation and any prospectus to ascertain all of the risks and terms associated with these securities and seek independent advice, where necessary, before making any decision to buy or sell.
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– The Fortem Capital Alternative Growth Fund is a Sub-Fund of Skyline, an open-ended investment company with variable capital incorporated on 1 June 2010 with limited liability under the laws of Ireland with segregated liability between Funds. The Company is authorised in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland pursuant to the UCITS Regulations.
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