Monthly Investment Report April 2022
RUFFER INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 41996)
LEI 21380068AHZKY7MKNO47
Attached is a link to the Monthly Investment Report for April 2022.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/3303L_1-2022-5-12.pdf
During April, the net asset value of the Company fell by 0.5%. This compares with a rise of 0.3% in the FTSE All-Share index.
April turned out not to be the kindest month. After a dismal first quarter, when investors lost money in both bonds and global equities, April gave us more of the same, only worse. Bond yields resumed their upward march as inflation hit new highs, making this year the worst period for benchmark US 10 year treasuries since 1788 - just before George Washington became president! Equity markets also disappointed with the S&P 500 off 8.8% in the month and the Nasdaq dropped 13.3%. The UK equity market outperformed again, holding steady in April. This is due to the sectoral composition - with a heavy bias to energy, miners and value - rather than a vote of confidence in the UK economy. Sterling fell almost 5% against the dollar, although admittedly most other currencies were also weak versus the greenback.
Against this backdrop the Company performed relatively well in April. Looking further back at year-to-date performance, there is some cause for satisfaction - up over 4% when almost all asset classes are well into negative territory. This month's gold stars for achievement went once again to the protection assets; interest rate options and credit protections. An honourable mention should go to the Company's equity holdings as energy stocks and what we call 'value defensives' (telecoms, healthcare and pharmaceuticals) made gains. Importantly of course, in any kind of bear market, it is what you don't own that matters more than what you do own. Our avoidance not just of profitless tech, but also of outrageously profitable (but expensive) tech, has allowed our equities in aggregate to make a positive return so far in 2022.
Having predicted the return of inflation for many years, we now doubt the resolution of central banks to raise rates sufficiently far to choke it off. However, there is little doubt that interest rates are set to rise further. This means the key question right now is what will break first, the market or the economy? With unemployment at record lows, it seems most likely to us that stock markets, bonds and credit snap before the economy hits recession, but we cannot be certain of this. There is also the risk that the bursting of over inflated bubbles in one part of the market can drag everything else down. Accordingly, we remain cautiously positioned with 36% in equities and now almost half of that in more defensive stocks. Should a recession be triggered we have positions in credit protection that should benefit the portfolio as corporate defaults rise.
The world has turned out to be more uncertain and more unpleasant than we expected at the start of the year. However, even as we watch what seems like a slow-motion car crash in equities, we remain confident that we can continue to protect investors' capital and make a reasonable return.
Enquiries:
Sanne Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited
Jamie Dodd
DDI: +44(0)1481 755584
Email: ric@praxisifm.com
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