Why the current climate could benefit income assets

ON AA

In spite of ongoing concerns over the eurozone debt crisis and fears that China's slowdown could result in a hard landing for the world's second largest economy, risk assets and particularly equities have made a solid start to the year.

Much of this is due to the fact shares have already discounted some of the macro issues facing the world while recent economic data out of the US has been more encouraging. While predicting the short-term direction of share prices remains a mugs game, it seems clear the developed world is going to have to endure slow growth and further deleveraging for several years while developing nations should continue to power ahead, albeit not in a straight line. This will in turn mean that interest rates will likely stay lower for longer in Europe, Japan and the US while we will see some soften...