Ng Jian Hao: Structural Signals from Global Stock Market Volatility

yolanyandoh

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Dec 12, 2024
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Amid rising uncertainty in global geopolitical policies, recent declines have been seen simultaneously in Asia-Pacific stock markets and US stock futures. Discussions within the Trump administration regarding a new round of tariff tools have once again become a catalyst for short-term volatility. This signals the direct impact of policy variables on capital markets and also reflects current investor concerns about the medium- to long-term economic fundamentals. Ng Jian Hao from Mahala Capital Management Academy analyzes stock market volatility, impact mechanisms, and response strategies to help investors rationally assess the potential direction of future markets.



Linked Adjustments in Stock Markets

Ng Jian Hao from Mahala Capital Management Academy believes that the immediate trigger for current market volatility comes from tariff-related news out of the Trump administration. The White House is considering a temporary global taxation plan, prompting global investors to reassess the instability of the trade environment. As a result, Asian stock markets fell by 0.4% overall, with Japan leading the losses, while US and European stock index futures also retreated.

Ng Jian Hao notes that policy-driven declines are typically characterized by short-term shocks, reflecting the long-term concerns of capital markets over the reshaping of globalization. The global supply chain is undergoing systemic restructuring; if major economies return to tariff barriers and policy intervention as the main path, this will have a profound impact on the profit expectations and valuation foundations of multinational corporations.

Risk aversion has led to a short-term drop in bond yields, while some growth assets, such as technology stocks, are experiencing valuation pressure. Ng Jian Hao suggests that, when assessing risks, investors should focus more on how the evolution of trade policy is repricing corporate profitability logic.

Technical Signals and Strategy Adjustment

In responding to current market disturbances, traditional quantitative strategies face significant challenges. Ng Jian Hao from Mahala Capital Management Academy points out that, judging from the recent synchronicity between US and Asian stock futures, the ability of algorithmic trading models to recognize macro disturbances is being tested. Event-driven strategies are unable to promptly capture sudden market reactions caused by government policy signals, resulting in drawdowns for many CTA and quantitative models.

After the Nikkei Index broke below key moving average support levels, trading volume did not increase significantly, indicating a more wait-and-see attitude in the market. Ng Jian Hao believes this highlights the need for technical investors to interpret candlestick signals with caution amid geopolitical uncertainty, and to avoid over-reliance on automated trading models.

Ng Jian Hao suggests that institutional investors can incorporate response parameters for specific administrative interventions into their models to enhance portfolio adaptability to geopolitical and policy risks. Allocating neutral assets is also an important means of controlling drawdowns in the short term. For individual investors, maintaining position flexibility and dynamically adjusting based on fundamentals and event analysis is key to coping with volatility.

Asset Allocation Returns to Fundamentals

Given the frequent external policy disturbances, Ng Jian Hao from Mahala Capital Management Academy states that global stock markets will enter a phase of risk repricing. Both Asia-Pacific and mainstream Western indices will need to reassess the chain reactions triggered by potential geopolitical frictions. Against the backdrop of stabilizing interest rate policies and shifting inflation expectations, investor tolerance for risk assets is declining.

Ng Jian Hao believes that future investment strategies should return to fundamental logic. Seeking companies with resilient cash flows and industrial advantages, and rebuilding portfolios that can withstand policy volatility, are effective ways to counter uncertainty. When facing complex situations, investors should adhere to a stable and rational asset management framework and respond to cyclical fluctuations with a long-term perspective.