Mercer's David Scobie takes a look at the upcoming US Presidential Election from an investor's perspective

By David Scobie*

Fresh from seeing off our own national election, it’s almost impossible for New Zealanders to ignore a more blustering voting vortex sweeping in from across the Pacific.  For investors, an initial reaction might be to batten down the hatches.  However, it’s first worth exploring the potential economic and market impacts, whether it be Donald Trump or Joe Biden who emerges from the eye of the storm. 

The latter stages of a factious election cycle

Following the 2016 elections, the US entered a period of above-trend economic growth which was reflected in mostly-buoyant financial markets. Since then the backdrop has been a heated political environment and a widening of the partisan divide.  Now Americans prepare to vote again, already fatigued from Covid-19-induced shutdowns and civil unrest across the country.

Amid a significant dose of rhetoric by both parties, it has been challenging for investors to cut through the noise and work out the realistic economic and policy outcomes. The Democrat camp, led by Joe Biden, promises a return to “civility”, trade relations resembling the pre-Trump era, and government as a stabilising force in America - albeit with higher taxes. Donald Trump says that if given a second term, he will finish what he started, which is an ”America First” platform of deregulation and low taxes - all focused on domestic economic growth.

Some key points to note are as follows, drawing on insights from Mercer colleagues in the US:

• At present, the Republican Party has the majority in the Senate while the Democrats run the House of Representatives.
   
• US presidents are constrained on domestic policy, due to constitutional checks and balances. This is particularly the case when at least one house of Congress is in the hands of the opposing party. There is more likelihood of change if the White House and both the House of Representatives and Senate are controlled by the same party.
   
• The consensus appears to be that a Trump victory would be better for equity markets. Tax policy would be favourable from the market’s perspective, but advantages arising from that may be counter-balanced by more limited fiscal stimulus and uncertainty over his trade policies.
   
• A Biden victory has the potential to weigh on equity markets in light of higher income and investment taxes, a rollback of the 2017 corporate tax cut, more regulatory burden ­­and stronger action on corporate market power. However, the prospect of more fiscal stimulus could overcome some of the economic fallout of Covid-19.
   
• Perhaps the biggest risk for markets over the short term is a scenario where there is no clear winner, which could result in a period of prolonged market volatility.
   
• The first priority of a Biden administration would be to pass a substantial fiscal stimulus/Covid-19 relief plan. With a Democratic sweep, this could total US$3 trillion. Such stimulus would be materially smaller if Republicans hold onto the Senate.
   
• Biden has proposed partially reversing the 2017 corporate tax cut. He would also raise taxes for higher-income households, including lifting dividend and capital gains tax rates. Even if Democrats control the Senate, Biden might need to tone down his proposal to some extent to get the support of more moderate Democratic senators.
   
• Both candidates have indicated an intention to increase trade restrictions to protect American workers, which would be a negative for business and markets in general. Biden, however, would likely take a more multilateral and predictable approach.

Hold on to your hat

As demonstrated by the 2016 US election, as well as the UK Brexit referendum and the 2019 Australian election, voting outcomes can surprise the majority of pundits.  With that experience to draw on, financial market volatility may well increase as the election approaches and asset prices attempt to digest possible policy changes. 

Hedging equity exposure is a potential strategy for relatively sophisticated investors with low risk tolerance as the year comes to an end.  However, buying “put options” (financial instruments which give the ability to sell an asset at a specified price) around the election is likely to be expensive.  As shown in the chart below, the price of a one-year put option on the S&P 500 Index remains elevated.  Of course, Covid-19 plays a big role in this, but options around the election tend to price in high levels of volatility. That, in itself, is a signal of the level of market uncertainty.

With mail-in voting being scrutinised and possibly litigated, as well as any number of other challenges to an outcome, it’s possible that the election results may not be ratified until after the New Year, thereby keeping markets on edge. 

Pondering the polls

Recent polls and betting markets give an edge to Joe Biden (see chart below). The probability of a Democratic sweep in November has increased since early March. The House will likely remain under Democratic control, and polls suggest a rising probability of Democrats also gaining control of the Senate. 

If there is a Democratic sweep, markets would like the prospect of fiscal stimulus and predictability, while opposing the potential for higher taxes. However, many investors agree that a “mixed government,” where the House, Senate and Executive Branch are not controlled by a single party, would be a favourable outcome because of the inherent checks and balances against too much of a pendulum swing in either direction.

Bracing for impact

The US election is just one of many factors that will affect the direction of markets over the next few months and beyond.  We would be wary of suggesting that investors should make portfolio changes based primarily on forecast election outcomes, given the difficulty in assessing how markets might respond.  That said, we can summarise what the key impacts may be, depending on which party comes out on top.

Biden victory:

• Probable large fiscal stimulus plans if the Democrats capture control the Senate, which would increase corporate profits.
• Higher long-term inflation risk from aggressive fiscal stimulus.
• Negative for the US dollar.
• Higher US tax rates, which could favour non-US versus US stocks.

Trump victory:

• Lighter regulatory burden and greater prospect of additional tax cuts.
• Potential for modest fiscal stimulus.
• Protectionist policies leading to a magnified trade war would be negative for global economic growth and corporate profits.
• Stronger US dollar against emerging market currencies.

To sum up, the US election is a hotly-contested process, filled with political intricacies which are alien in many respects to us here in New Zealand.  However, we are far from immune to its ramifications, and this is particularly the case for investors holding assets either close to home or abroad.  Without doubt, the US election ramps up uncertainty regarding the near-term market outlook.  It may or may not prove to be tumultuous, but a healthy level of diversification in portfolios will assist in weathering the storm. 

*David Scobie is head of consulting (NZ) at Mercer Investments. 
This article does not contain investment advice relating to your particular circumstances. No investment decision should be made based on this information without first obtaining appropriate professional advice and considering your circumstances.