The Fund’s A3 share class returned -8.8%* in euro terms in June. This Fund’s target benchmark, the MSCI Europe Small Cap Index, returned -11.8%.
The World Bank’s June edition of its Global Economic Prospects warned of several years of above-average inflation and below-average growth as it cut its 2022 growth forecast from 4.1% (at the time of the January report) to 2.9%.
One of the factors in the downgrade is the impact of interest rate normalisation, and this continued apace in June. A Wall Street Journal article leaked the US Federal Reserve’s intention to raise rates by 0.75%, rather than the 0.5% previously expected, and a couple of days later the central bank duly delivered its largest hike since 1994. Fed Chair Jay Powell later commented in Senate testimony that a US recession is “certainly a possibility” and was largely out of its control. Following news that the UK economy had shrunk 0.3% in April, the Bank of England continued its tightening with a fifth consecutive hike, but opted for another 25 basis point increase rather than a larger move.
The rapid rise in interest rate expectations this year had contributed to the MSCI Europe Value Index outperforming its Growth counterpart by almost 19 percentage points year-to-date heading into June. Despite the monetary tightening seen in June, investors are now increasingly focused on the potential recessionary impact of high rates, with the likelihood that this may necessitate future cuts. The market expectation for US peak rates in this cycle shifted up from under 3.0% to nearly 3.5%, but it is also now expected to peak earlier – the first half of 2023 – with cuts taking it back under 3.0% by the end of 2023.
Against this backdrop, the MSCI Europe Value Index fell more heavily during June’s market drop, returning -9.1% compared with -6.3% for Growth.
All sectors of the MSCI Europe Index registered negative returns during June, although those viewed as typically defensive held up best: health care (-2.3%), consumer staples (-2.5%), and communication services (-4.2%). The more cyclical areas of real estate (-17%), materials (-15%), energy (-11%), IT (-11%) and industrials (-11%) were hardest hit.
Amid resurgent recessionary fears, Fund holdings exposed to cyclical weakness included jewellery retailer Pandora (-19%), steel wire manufacturer Bekaert (-17%), financial services provider Deutsche Pfandbriefbank (-17%), merchandise specialist 4imprint (-14%), recruiter PageGroup (-14%) and retailer WH Smith (-13%).
Electrical supplies distributor Rexel (-23%) suffered a heavy fall despite issuing a strategic update which included raised 2022 financial guidance. The company said that a better-than-expected start to the year in all geographies means that it expects 7% to 9% like-for-like sales growth in 2022, up from 4% to 6% previously. Operating profit margins are also expected to be higher at 6.7% rather than 6.0% previously expected. Its new four-year targets through to 2025 are for sales growth of 4% to 7% per annum and a margin of 6.5% to 7.0%.
Economic growth concerns together with an Opec agreement to increase output saw the oil price pull back from its highs. The energy sector lost ground and the Fund’s holdings - BW Offshore (-25%) and Tethys Oil (-24%) – were among the heavier fallers.
Given the very broad-based nature of the market’s weakness, only a few holdings ended June with a positive return. Defensive characteristics helped Swiss telecoms operator Mobilezone Holding (+10%) and drinks group Royal Unibrew (+3.3%) move higher, while market research firm Ipsos (+0.2%) was just in positive territory.
Positive contributors to performance included:
Mobilezone Holding (+10%), Royal Unibrew (+3.3%) and Ipsos (+0.2%).
Negative contributors to performance included:
BW Offshore (-25%), Tethys Oil (-24%) and Rexel (-23%).
Discrete years' performance** (%), to previous quarter-end:
Past performance does not predict future returns.
|
Jun-22 |
Jun-21 |
Jun-20 |
Jun-19 |
Jun-18 |
|
|
Liontrust GF European Smaller Companies A3 Acc EUR |
-9.9% |
59.6% |
-10.7% |
-2.4% |
2.3% |
|
MSCI Europe Small Cap |
-17.7% |
43.1% |
-4.1% |
-4.4% |
9.8% |
*Source: Financial Express, as at 30.06.22, total return (net of fees and income reinvested).
**Source: Financial Express, as at 30.06.22, total return (net of fees and income reinvested). Discrete data is not available for ten full 12-month periods due to the launch date of the portfolio (01.02.17). Investment decisions should not be based on short-term performance.
A Performance Fee for each Performance Period shall be equal to 10% of the amount, if any, by which the Net Asset Value before Performance Fee accrual of the Fund exceeds the Indexed Net Asset Value of the Fund on the last Business Day of the Performance Period. The Performance Period of the Fund is every 12 months ending on the last business day of each calendar year. Details of the Fund's performance fee in the last financial year can be found in the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) which can be obtained free of charge from the Liontrust website.
Key Features of the Liontrust GF European Smaller Companies Fund
KEY RISKS
Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income generated from it can fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed. You may get back less than you originally invested.
The issue of units/shares in Liontrust Funds may be subject to an initial charge, which will have an impact on the realisable value of the investment, particularly in the short term. Investments should always be considered as long term.
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