Aviva Investors Q1.2018 House View: STRONG 2018 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK POSITIVE FOR RISK ASSETS

STRONG 2018 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK POSITIVE FOR RISK ASSETS

(London):Stronger global growth and a modest rise in inflation should continue to support risk assets, although further removal of accommodative monetary policies will make the environment for fixed income more challenging, according to the 2018 investment outlook from Aviva Investors.

Global GDP could approach four per cent in 2018, the fastest pace of growth since 2011. A modest rise in inflation in advanced economies is likely to offset a slight decline in emerging market countries.

The growth and inflation picture is consistent with a gradual removal of extraordinary monetary policy. The Federal Reserve is on a clearly-defined path towards higher interest rates: Following yesterday's announcement of the rise in interest rates, three additional increases are expected in 2018. Asset purchases in the Eurozone should end in September 2018, and there is potential for the Bank of Japan to review its policy of yield curve control if core inflation rises above one per cent.

Equities are likely to preform better than fixed income in these conditions, with emerging market, euro zone and Japanese equities offering better relative value than US and UK stocks. EM local currency debt currently offers more attractive opportunities than developed market corporate debt. While developed market government bonds are likely to be challenged in 2018, long-dated US sovereign debt remains the most attractive from a capital preservation perspective should growth and inflation disappoint.

Michael Grady, senior economist and strategist at Aviva Investors, said:

"Expectations of stronger global growth and modestly higher inflation in advanced economies in 2018 provide the backdrop for a positive risk environment, just as they did in 2017. Moreover, with the improvement in the global economy and the peak of monetary policy accommodation likely to be behind us, we expect asset prices to be driven more by underlying fundamentals than at any point in the last decade."

RA17/1614/31122017

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Kirsten Duelli

Instinctif Partners

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Notes to Editors

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The information and opinions contained in this document are for use by the financial press and media only. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information or opinions contained in this document nor should they be seen as advice.

The press release is provided on the basis that Aviva Investors Global Services Limited is not causing the communication of a financial promotion under exemption of the Financial Promotion Order, as Aviva Investors Global Services Limited has no control over the way in which an article based on this press release is prepared and published by the financial press and media.

Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited ("Aviva Investors") as at x September 2017. Unless stated otherwise any views, opinions expressed are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any nature. Past performance is not an indicator for future returns.The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested.

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Aviva Investors

Aviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva plc. The business delivers investment management solutions, services and client-driven performance to clients worldwide. Aviva Investors operates in 15 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the United Kingdom with assets under management of £351 billion as at 30 June 2017.

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Q1.2018 House View Media Release (PDF)

Photo Michael Grady (PNG)

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