Fund managers are the most underweight U.S. stocks since 2008

Don’t look now, but money managers haven’t been this underweight U.S. equities since January 2008.

According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s most recent fund manager survey, allocations to U.S. stocks have reached 20% underweight. The last time that percentage was greater was in January of 2008, when the S&P 500 was near its previous peak before crashing during the financial crisis.

Although the S&P 500 has fallen 0.3% since the July 4 holiday, market-neutral momentum has posted its best four-day run since before Brexit, analysts report.
American flags fly outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Friday, June 9, 2017. U.S. stocks reached intraday records and the dollar rose, but the British pound tumbled as the U.K.'s ruling Conservative Party lost its parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty just days before Brexit negotiations were due to start. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

“A net 80% of investors think the U.S. is the most overvalued region,” strategists, led by Michael Hartnett, wrote, down only slightly from the 84% that said the same thing in June’s survey. The survey was conducted July 7 through July 13 and based on 207 participants overseeing $586 billion in assets.

Investors said the Nasdaq was the most crowded trade for the third straight month. Banks overtook tech stocks as the most overweighted sector in the survey. That suggests investors might be trying to lock in profits and find greater value elsewhere. The Nasdaq is up almost 20% this year, while the KBW Bank Index has risen 4%. It’s the first time this year that money managers have favored banks over technology stocks.

When naming the biggest risks to the markets right now, the three biggest tail risks cited in the survey were a crash in global bond markets, the Federal Reserve or European Central Bank making a policy mistake, and Chinese credit tightening. Despite continued gridlock in Congress, risks that moved lower on the spectrum included delays to tax reform and a trade war, the survey found.

Bloomberg News
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