U.S. Shale Oil The New Global

Transcription

1 APRIL 2015 RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT GLOBAL INSIGHT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE GLOBAL PORTFOLIO ADVISORY COMMITTEE U.S. Shale Oil The New Global Swing Producer The shale oil boom is rewriting the global supply equation. Janelle Nelson & Mark Allen Page 4 IN THIS ISSUE >> GLOBAL EQUITY ON BALANCE GETTING BETTER GLOBAL FIXED INCOME CONNECTING THE DOTS COMMODITIES GOLD STUCK IN A RUT CURRENCIES LOONIE ON SHAKY GROUND For Important and Required Non-U.S. Analyst Disclosures, see page 20.

2 Global Insight April 2015 Table of Contents 4 U.S. Shale Oil: The New Global Swing Producer U.S. shale oil is no longer just the new kid on the block. As the source of nearly all new oil produced globally, it s a force to be reckoned with and is reshaping the oil market. 8 U.S. Debt Burden For decades many have predicted a debt tsunami was about to wash over the U.S. spelling doom for the economy. Now add the potentially enormous deficits facing Social Security and Medicare. While daunting, we believe the U.S. has the means to face the challenges head-on. 9 Global Equity: On Balance Getting Better The key piece of the puzzle for most equity markets is the transition of the U.S. economy to a self-sustaining recovery underpinned by an increasingly confident American consumer. We see signs the U.S. expansion has further to run, and therefore, we remain constructive toward major markets. 13 Global Fixed Income: Connecting the Dots The Federal Reserve s latest dot plot shows that cautious rate hikes seem inevitable. Investors should be aware that maintaining too short of a duration profile could leave their portfolios vulnerable to interest rate volatility. Inside the Markets 3 RBC s Investment Stance 9 Global Equity 13 Global Fixed Income 15 Commodities 16 Currencies 17 Key Forecasts 18 Market Scorecard 2 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015 All values in U.S. dollars and priced as of March 31, 2015, market close, EST, unless otherwise noted.

3 Global Asset Class View RBC s Investment Stance Global Asset Views Asset Class Equities Fixed Income View = + Expect below average performance Source - RBC Wealth Management Expect above average performance See Views Explanation below for details Equities Average Performance = Divergent currency movements and earnings trends, along with commodity crosswinds, are pushing equity markets on different paths. Europe, China, and Japan are running at full speed while the U.S. and Canada are lagging behind. Valuations remain supportive in select European sectors and Asian markets. They could rise if Europe s economy continues to gain traction and China delivers additional stimulus. U.S. valuations have become somewhat stretched in the past six months, but they are not so high as to warrant reducing exposure. The U.S. is in the midst of a secular (long-term) bull market, which is usually accompanied by above-average valuations. The S&P 500 could regain momentum as earnings estimates stabilize. Our long-term outlook for global equities remains constructive. Investors should maintain their targeted, full allocation. Fixed Income Below-Average Performance The Federal Reserve remains on track to start slowly and gradually raising interest rates sometime this year while other major central banks will likely keep policies highly accommodative. Investors should prepare for heightened volatility at times, especially at the short end of the yield curve, as the U.S. rate normalization process begins. Current market conditions are such that extending duration can help protect portfolios against market volatility even if short-term bonds sell off. We continue to anticipate coupon-like returns this year, not a repeat of 2014 s strong performance. We recommend diversifying fixed income holdings across sectors, and selectively adding credit exposure. Views Explanation (+/=/ ) represents the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee s (GPAC) view over a 12-month investment time horizon. + Positive implies the potential for better-than-average performance for the asset class or for the region relative to other asset classes or regions. = In-line implies the potential for average performance for the asset class or for the region relative to other asset classes or regions. Negative implies the potential for below-average performance for the asset class or for the region relative to other asset classes or regions. 3 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

4 Focus Article U.S. Shale Oil: The New Global Swing Producer Janelle Nelson Minneapolis, United States RBC Capital Markets, LLC Over the past decade, U.S. shale oil has become an important swing factor in the global supply equation. Recently, falling crude prices have prompted a precipitous decline in drilling activity in these plays. Despite this, production has continued to rise. A declining rig count is only the start of a supply response. The eventual impact on production will likely be measured in quarters not months. Mark Allen Toronto, Canada mark.d.allen@rbc.com Growth from U.S. oil shale has been responsible for nearly all of the new oil produced globally since The widespread use of hydraulic fracking technology to extract oil has been so successful, that over the past decade, U.S. oil imports have been cut by half to 6 million barrels per day (bbl/day) in The dramatic increase in activity has been at least partially responsible for the collapse in oil prices. Further, the unique characteristics of unconventional U.S. oil shales complicate the expectation that a drop in rig count will translate into a drop in production. U.S. Land Rig Count The halving of oil prices has led producers to significantly reduce capital expenditures. RBC Capital Markets expects spending budgets to fall about 35% 40% in 2015 for independent exploration and production (E&P) companies, with some having dropped by over 60% already. U.S. Exploration & Production: Established and Emerging Oil Plays Source - RBC Capital Markets, company reports, FactSet RBC Capital Markets 4 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

5 U.S. Shale Oil U.S. Land Rig Count for Drilling Oil As in prior oil routs, rig activity is collapsing. 2/4/2011 4/21/2011 7/8/2011 9/23/ /9/2011 2/24/2012 5/11/2012 7/27/ /12/ /28/2012 3/15/2013 5/31/2013 8/16/ /1/2013 1/17/2014 4/4/2014 6/20/2014 9/5/ /21/2014 2/6/2015 Source - Baker Hughes; data through 3/13/15 Producer objectives have broadly shifted from a growth-orientated focus to a mantra of living within cash-flow means. In general, larger international oil companies have lowered spending budgets by a more modest 10% 30%. The lion s share of this expenditure decline is tied to lower drilling and completion activity, but a drilling cost deflation of about 20% 30% by vendors is also a contributor. Producer objectives have broadly shifted from a growth-orientated focus to a mantra of living within cash-flow means. For highly leveraged producers, maintaining or increasing output has become important just to make interest payments in the face of lower prices and hence cash flows. The active rig count for U.S. onshore oil drilling has dropped by 43% from its recent peak, with activity in major shale oil plays down 45% in the Bakken (Williston Basin), 37% in the Eagle Ford, and 42% in the Permian Basin. The response in rig activity is in line with the reactions observed during prior oil routs. The Baker Hughes oil rig count declined 56% from peak to trough from September 2008 to June 2009, 35% from September 2001 to April 2002, and 57% from April 1998 to April In the current downdraft, RBC Capital Markets expects the active rig count to drop about 50% from peak to trough. U.S. Shale Oil Economics Each shale region exhibits variability in well productivity and efficiency. We expect drilling activity to center on the core areas of each play that typically provide the best economics. We expect the Permian, which has the best economics, to generate the most growth, followed by the Eagle Ford, and finally the Bakken, where we see production growth levelling out. Total U.S. oil production should increase by 900,000 bbl/d in 2015, mostly from oil shales. Unlike conventional wells, which when shut-in require significant stimulation for restart, the nature of shale production allows wells to be more easily shut-in and restarted. Weather, flooding, or other environmental concerns have trained firms to start and stop production repeatedly over the life of a well. Shale wells typically have adequate pressure due to the recent nature of their development, allowing a more rapid restart. 5 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

6 U.S. Shale Oil U.S. Shale Oil Break-Even Economics $/bbl (WTI) Marginal Economics 12-Month Strip Note: Miss. represents Mississippian and TMS represents Tuscaloosa Marine Shale; Price required for 15% IRR Source - RBC Capital Markets estimates Despite the sharp decline in the rig count, RBC Capital Markets forecasts production to grow in Partial development can also add flexibility, with some producers choosing to carry on drilling but holding back on completion (fracking). As of year-end 2014, RBC Capital Markets estimates there were approximately 4,200 horizontal wells in the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Niobrara, and Permian that were drilled but not yet completed. U.S. Shale Oil Production Trends Total U.S. oil production (including condensate, excluding other natural gas liquids) hit record levels in 2014, averaging 8.7 million bbl/d, up 1.1 million bbl/d. Despite the sharp decline in the rig count, RBC Capital Markets forecasts production to grow in 2015 by 0.9 million bbl/d and a further 0.3 million bbl/d in The continued growth stems from a combination of factors: Development of the core, or most profitable, regions of the various shale plays Greater productivity per dollar deployed, as drilling costs fall Hedge protection of near-term cash flows (about 40% 45% for E&Ps, on average) The incentive for debt-laden companies to produce more just to remain solvent A shadow inventory of some 4,200 wells awaiting tie-in Unique Characteristics of the Major Shale Plays Bakken Three Forks Shale Located in the Williston Basin primarily in North Dakota, Montana, and Saskatchewan, the Bakken Shale is a hybrid unconventional play with reserves estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey at 3.65 billion barrels. The region is defined by a wide disparity of break-evens. This variability has caused operators to core-up production as low commodity prices persist. The basin is characterized by a few large players, but also a broader group of smaller companies with concentrated acreage. Prior to the oil price collapse, Bakken production was predicted by our research source to exceed 2 million bbl/d by midto-late With no productivity improvement, production should flatten in GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

7 U.S. Shale Oil Permian Basin Located in West Texas and parts of southeastern New Mexico, the Permian, which contains an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil, has been actively drilled since It returned to prominence in 2012 as horizontally drilled wells started to fully exploit the region s potential. Despite the decline in the rig count, production, which has risen 60% over the past 12 months, will likely continue growing in This growth will be driven by a backlog of 1,100 wells in the focus area, as well as continued productivity gains. With U.S. oil production likely to grow in the near term, we believe the timing of any bottoming in crude prices will remain difficult to predict. Eagle Ford The region, which extends from South Central Texas into northern Mexico, has produced nearly 1.1 billion barrels of oil and 4.6 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas since it was discovered in Recent data appears to suggest a flattening of the production trend, which should then decline beginning in Q Similar to the Bakken, the core region continues to demonstrate among the highest internal rates of return in the shale industry, which could be further enhanced with services cost deflation. Our research sources estimate that about one-third of Eagle Ford production is uneconomic at $50/bbl WTI, even assuming 20% cost deflation, and about one-quarter may be uneconomic at $60/bbl WTI. Implications for Global Oil Price Trends The key characteristics of U.S. shale oil are its flexibility with respect to drilling activity, shut-in potential, and sharp production declines. This flexibility has made U.S. shale oil a significant swing producer in the global oil market. RBC Capital Markets believes it may be well into H before oil prices find any degree of equilibrium, forecasting WTI at $41.50/bbl for Q2, $55.31 for Q3, and $70.16 for Q4. With U.S. oil production likely to grow in the near term, we believe the timing of any bottoming in crude prices will remain difficult to predict. 7 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

8 Focus Article U.S. Debt Burden Matt Barasch Toronto, Canada U.S. debt has spiraled seemingly out of control over the past three decades. Furthermore, when we read about the potential deficits facing Social Security and Medicare, figures reach as high as $150T. The challenges are daunting, but we believe the U.S. has the means and will to take action. While the timing is not yet urgent, the sooner these issues are faced, the easier the economy can absorb them. Following is an executive summary of a special report, U.S. Debt Burden. Please find the full report here. We recently published a Global Insight Special Report that looks at the current state of affairs in the U.S. from a balance sheet perspective and the perspective of unfunded future liabilities. Some of the key takeaways are: Taken together, the combined debt of consumers, corporations, and all levels of government is a breathtakingly large number. However, asset levels are even higher, with net national assets (assets minus liabilities) in excess of $80T. Off-balance sheet assets such as government lands and mineral rights could easily double the net national asset figure. Assets Are Far in Excess of Liabilities U.S. Balance Sheet Liabilities Assets (Balance Sheet) Assets (Estimates Off-Balance Sheet) Consumer Non-Financial Corps. State & Local Governments Federal Government $0 $25 $50 $75 $100 (in Trillions of USD) Source - Fed Flow of Funds Report - December 2014, Institute for Energy Research, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Social Security and Medicare present significant challenges; however, even small changes to things such as eligibility requirements or in the case of Medicare, health care cost inflation, can have a significant impact on the magnitude of future liabilities. Deficits have come down sharply in the past few years; however, aging baby boomers and potentially rising interest rates will likely push deficits higher absent further belt tightening. A stronger economy may be the best medicine as economic growth and job creation act to lower deficits as a percentage of GDP, lower overall debt relative to the size of the economy, and position consumers and businesses to better handle their obligations. The issues the U.S. faces are large; however, its enormous base of wealth gives it the time and resources to deal with the challenges before it. Further, the sensitivity of future entitlement costs to even small changes to eligibility requirements, tax rates, the rate of inflation of health care costs, not to mention the strength of the economy can have a significant impact on the overall debt load and the manageability of future liabilities. 8 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

9 Global Equity On Balance Getting Better In what has become a highly unsynchronized world, there are several factors at play that are setting the landscape for most equity markets. World s Best Customer in Great Shape The first and most important factor is the transition of the U.S. economy to a self-sustaining expansion which, in our opinion, has been in place since early last year. West Coast port strikes, severe weather, and the collapse of oil prices are all taking a toll. But the main underpinning to the economic outlook, the American consumer, is employed, confident, and in the best financial shape in many years. CEO confidence is elevated. The banking system is sound and increasingly interested in making loans to credit-worthy borrowers. The U.S., by far the world s largest economy, imports nearly $3T of goods and services each year. That total is growing despite the 50% (by volume) drop in oil imports over the past decade (see article on page 4). Growing American demand is of considerable benefit to Canada and Mexico, to China and the rest of Asia, and, to a lesser extent, Europe. Equity Views Region Source - RBC Wealth Management; see Views Explanation on page 3 for details. On balance, falling energy prices are net stimulative for many economies the U.S., China, Japan, Europe, and India among them acting as a de facto tax cut for consumers while lowering costs for most businesses and subsidy burdens for governments. China Slowdown Has Further to Run Current Global = United States = Canada = Continental Europe = United Kingdom Asia (ex Japan) + Japan + Meanwhile, the ongoing unwinding of imbalances in China s economy is taking longer than anyone, including the Chinese, anticipated. Although the government has embarked on a programme of monetary easing, any growth response from the economy is likely a year or more away. This will keep pressure on industrial commodity prices and a lid on global inflation rates. Jim Allworth Vancouver, Canada jim.allworth@rbc.com 9 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015 Energy Recovery Not Yet in Sight Despite much lower prices, world oil production continues to rise, suggesting a weak price regime may be with us for some time. Many producing countries finance their fiscal budgets with oil revenues while production growth in Russia, Brazil, and the U.S. shale plays has been financed to a great degree by debt, which needs to be serviced. While production will eventually decline in the wake of sharp reductions in drilling activity, it will likely take some time for surpluses to clear and the market to reach balance. Europe s Outlook Is Improving Regional activity indexes (PMIs) have been ticking higher for a number of months (although not for every country), inducing forecasters to raise their 2015 and 2016 GDP estimates. Tellingly, Ireland and Spain have been among the best-performing national economies. Confirmation that things are improving and at the same time a powerful reason to be more optimistic is the fact that eurozone banks loans to the private sector have grown four months running after contracting for two full years.

10 Global Equity European politics, however, is becoming more fractious and risky. In Britain, the May general election looks to be an electoral jump ball with the probabilities favouring no clear winner and maybe no clear coalition. An in/ out referendum on European Union membership, as promised by U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, may well be the result, which we believe would be bad news for what has been the region s strongest economy. Meanwhile, negotiations between Greece and its eurozone partners appear headed for another make-orbreak moment this month. Equity Investors Are Focused Elsewhere The U.S. equity market has been able to set a series of new all-time highs in response to a solid economic/earnings outlook. Valuations are no longer cheap but remain reasonable, in our view. European and British markets have also posted new all-time highs, while China and Japan have set new multiyear marks. Even the Canadian market is within a few percentage points of an all-time high, despite a 25% slump in the important oil and gas index, as well as a 10% sympathetic pullback for the heavyweight bank sector. In our judgment, a positive outlook for major equity markets hinges on a continuation of confidence the U.S. economic expansion has further to run. We think it does. As port strikes and winter weather are left behind, we expect the American consumer will more confidently embrace employment gains, wage growth, and cheap gasoline. Government is no longer a fiscal drag and corporate capital spending is already growing faster than the overall economy. Tight money when credit becomes too expensive and hard to get will eventually be the condition that changes this constructive outlook. We see no sign of it arriving any time soon. Regional Highlights United States The U.S. market has traded sideways since October as crude oil collapsed, the dollar surged, and economic momentum eased. Over the same interval, 2015 earnings estimates declined sharply due mostly to oil s impact on the energy sector and dollar headwinds. Even though the market has barely budged since then, the S&P 500 s forward priceto-earnings (P/E) ratio increased to 17.1x from 14.6x based on 2015 consensus estimates. That s not Kelly Bogdanov San Francisco, United States kelly.bogdanov@rbc.com Mark Allen Toronto, Canada mark.d.allen@rbc.com Frédérique Carrier London, United Kingdom frederique.carrier@rbc.com Jay Roberts Hong Kong, China jay.roberts@rbc.com Consensus S&P 500 Earnings Growth Forecast by Date (y/y) Oct 1, 2014 Jan 1, 2015 Mar % 12.4% 8.1% 5.3% 1.7% -2.9% Q Full-Year 2015 Source - RBC Wealth Management, Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S Q1 estimate in negative territory; full-year barely positive. 10 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

11 Global Equity overly expensive, but at that level, probabilities favor only mid-singledigit annual returns. The market s P/E could rise a bit further because multinationals are still vulnerable to downward earnings revisions related to the strong dollar during the Q1 reporting season. However, we expect S&P 500 estimates to begin to stabilize thereafter. Domestic economic growth should pick up this quarter, Europe s improved economy should support multinationals profits, and the dollar s rally could moderate, especially since the Fed seems inclined to hike rates slowly. If this occurs, more robust high single-digit or better returns could be in the offing for the year. Canada We maintain our market weight exposure to Canadian equities; however, we will consider a shift to underweight in the coming months should certain factors not fall into place. These include a steeper yield curve, definitive signs that oil and other commodities have bottomed, and indications that global growth (ex- U.S.) has begun to improve. Financials and commodities account for about 70% of the Canadian index. For Canadian banks, the TSX subindex has declined by about 10% since its peak last fall and short interest on the stocks has risen since December. Despite this selling pressure, valuations remain well above the lows of recent years and in line with long-term averages. The banks are likely to be macro-driven in the short term hinging on: (1) the shape of the yield curve; (2) mortgage growth trends with house prices moderating in many cities; and (3) the impact of lower oil prices on economic activity and credit trends in Western Canada. Life insurance companies need higher rates to drive profitable growth. As for the commodity complex, the sharp decline in oil prices has transitioned to a period of stabilization with WTI prices oscillating in the mid-$40s to mid- $50s per barrel since the start of the year. Lower oil prices have prompted a precipitous decline in drilling activity in the U.S., which has been the engine for global supply growth. However, U.S. oil production is still expanding and the rebalancing process will likely take time. Metals prices, such as gold, copper, and iron ore, have generally been soft with limited visibility on catalysts to take them higher. S&P/TSX Bank Subindex Slowdown in western Canada weighs on Canadian bank shares Jan '14 Apr '14 Jul '14 Oct '14 Jan '15 Source - RBC Wealth Management, Bloomberg, data from 1/1/14 3/31/15 11 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

12 Global Equity Continental Europe & U.K. European markets extended their gains in local currency terms, buoyed by the start of the ECB s QE programme and superior earnings momentum in the region thanks to a weaker currency. Favouring exporters and dollar earners worked well with many of these stocks driving performance. However, in the short term, given the speed of the euro devaluation, we would expect these stocks to consolidate. We would also suggest long-term investors add selectively to lower-valued companies exposed to the burgeoning recovery in Europe. In the U.K., the FTSE 100 reached an all-time high thanks to the strong economic recovery and comparatively attractive yield this market offers. With the looming general election bringing an unprecedented level of uncertainty, we would reduce positions in politically sensitive sectors, such as utilities and banks. Asia The MSCI Asia ex-japan Index rallied further in March and is up close to 8% in The bull market in Chinese stocks, which constitute approximately one-quarter of the index, has contributed, as have lower energy prices. The Shanghai Composite rose 11% in March, reaching pre-global financial crisis levels for the first time. Chinese equities have benefited from a number of supportive policy measures since summer In March, the government announced a new debt-swap plan, designed to restructure the way local governments raise funds. The initiative should reduce financing risks and costs. It is the first step in addressing a situation that has concerned investors for a number of years. Japan s TOPIX Index continued its run in March, reaching a new cyclehigh. The index remains well below its highest level of 2007 despite a similar level of index earnings. A surprising element of this year s rally has been the stability of the yen, which is a good sign, in our view. However, with the index rising for nine consecutive weeks from mid-january onwards, we would be cautious tactically. Longer-term, we maintain our overweight position. Year-to-Date Returns for Major Equity Indices 20% 15% 10% 5% Return in Local Currency Return in U.S. Dollars European returns in local currencies have been eroded by dollar strength. 0% -5% -10% STOXX 600 Shanghai Composite TOPIX FTSE All-Share S&P 500 S&P/TSX Source - RBC Wealth Management, Thomson ONE 12 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

13 Global Fixed Income Connecting the Dots Central Bank Rate (%) U.S. Canada Eurozone U.K. China Japan /31/15 1-Year Out 5.35* 4.85 *1-yr base lending rate for working capital, PBoC Source - RBC Investment Strategy Committee, RBC Capital Markets, Global Portfolio Advisory Committee (GPAC), Consensus Economics Rajan Bansi Toronto, Canada rajan.bansi@rbc.com Craig Bishop Minneapolis, United States craig.bishop@rbc.com Alana Awad Toronto, Canada alana.awad@rbc.com Hakan Enoksson London, United Kingdom hakan.enoksson@rbc.com 13 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015 Investors could be leaving their portfolios unnecessarily vulnerable to interest rate volatility by maintaining too short a duration profile. Cautious rate hikes in the U.S., which seem inevitable given the Federal Reserve s most recent dot plot, concurrent with looser policy in other countries has set a backdrop in which short-term bonds are vulnerable to a sell-off, while longer-dated bonds remain well anchored. We find the 8- to 10-year maturity range to be the most attractive in the U.S. A number of fundamental drivers, from uninspiring global growth to demographics and geopolitical concerns, could work to keep yields well supported at current levels. We remain selective in the BBB-rated part of the investment grade market and the high-yield market. Canada represents an interesting juxtaposition to the U.S., given the latter is its largest trading partner. The market is pricing in another interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada as the negative effects of lower oil prices work through the economy. We see pockets of value in the preferred share market and encourage investors to be opportunistic. A recent widening in European credit spreads presents an interesting buying opportunity from our perspective. Quantitative easing by the European Central Bank (ECB) provides a powerful impetus for spread tightening in corporates and for peripheral government issuers versus core European issuers. Sovereign Yield Curves 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 0.0% 1Yr 5Yr 9Yr 13Yr 17Yr 21Yr 25Yr 29Yr Source - RBC Wealth Management, Bloomberg Regional Highlights United States U.K. U.S. Canada Forward guidance provided by the Federal Reserve at its March policy meeting laid the groundwork for a hike in the benchmark federal funds rate at some point in The earliest a rate hike will occur is likely June, although a growing consensus believes the central bank will wait until September. The Fed s own forecast of the future fed funds rate (via the dot plot ) suggests a slow, gradual tightening cycle is on the horizon. Renewed volatility in oil prices and the outcome of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting have affected credit spreads. Energy-related issues have moved toward their one-year wide levels, while lower Treasury yields have nearly all sector spreads trading outside of their one-year averages. This creates the opportunity for future spread tightening, but we prefer to remain patient and maintain our selective focus on BBB and high-yield credits. We feel investors should position portfolios in 8 10 year maturities. It is our expectation the next Fed tightening cycle is likely to produce

14 Global Fixed Income 10-Year Rate (%) U.S. Canada Eurozone* U.K. China Japan NA /31/15 1-Year Out *Eurozone utilizes German bunds. Source - RBC Investment Strategy Committee, RBC Capital Markets, GPAC a flatter yield curve as short yields move toward well-anchored longterm yields. In past cycles, 8 10 year maturities have been less vulnerable than short maturities to Fed-induced price volatility, providing investors a better way to play defense and benefit from higher yields. Canada An additional rate cut continues to be priced into yield levels as investors brace for weaker economic data. We continue to monitor emerging market and high yield energy bonds. Both markets have rising leverage, a strengthening U.S. dollar, and falling oil prices working against them. The effect of a strong U.S. dollar has compounded problems caused by steadily rising corporate leverage. We believe the rate-reset portion of the preferred share market presents a unique spectrum of opportunities. New issues are coming with higher spreads vs. their peers and, thus, are less likely to see the volatility experienced in the lower reset spread issues. Conversely, certain discounted rate-resets are presenting acceptable yield levels and upside potential if rates move higher. Investors should be wary when looking at low reset spread issues that are coming up for extension as the current rate environment could see them trade even lower. Continental Europe & U.K. While the Greek debt crisis remains a significant threat, the market has shown little concerns around contagion to other peripheral countries or other disorderly side effects. We continue to see the ECB actions and recent QE program as the main drivers over the coming months, which should benefit longer duration and peripheral issuers the most. The U.K. budget was somewhat bond-friendly. It indicated bond issuance would be lower due to some one-time items, such as the sale of the government s remaining stake in Lloyds Banking Group. The Bank of England s more dovish communication, coupled with sharply lower inflation numbers, is likely to keep a lid on any sell-off in the Gilts market over the coming months. We retain our view that the intermediate maturity space is the most attractive part of the curve. Corporate spreads have widened over Q1 due to heavy new issuance, which has in part been fuelled by a significant increase of North American corporates tapping the European market. We see this widening as a new opportunity to enter the market as fundamentals around corporate bonds have become more constructive. Finally, the ECB s QE should have a positive impetus on corporate spreads. European Focus: Sovereign Yields and Corporate Spreads 15% 10% 5% Source - RBC Wealth Management, Bloomberg EU Corporate Spreads (right axis) Greece 10Y (left axis) Italy 10Y (left axis) 0% Jan '13 Jul '13 Jan '14 Jul '14 Jan ' bps 80 bps 60 bps 40 bps 20 bps 0 bps Continued divergence between yields of Greece and those of periphery Italy signals low contagion risk; pullback in corporate spreads to 50 bps from 40 bps creates a buying opportunity. 14 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

15 Commodities Commodity Forecasts 2015E 2016E Oil (WTI $/bbl) Natural Gas ($/mmbtu) Gold ($/oz) 1,250 1,300 Copper ($/lb) Corn ($/bu) Wheat ($/bu) Source - RBC Capital Markets forecasts (oil, natural gas, gold, and copper), Bloomberg consensus forecasts (corn and wheat). Gold A sharp increase in the U.S. dollar has put pressure on gold prices. Demand drivers remain mixed, while supply in 2014 was near the record levels of Gold has traded in the range of about $1,150 $1,400/oz for roughly two years. Lacking catalysts, this sideways pattern may well continue near term. Commercial hedgers have begun to increase their long positions. From a technical perspective, $1,132 $1,138/oz is the next support level, then $1,060/oz. Copper RBC Capital Markets forecasts a surplus in 2015 followed by a deficit in Weak construction activity in China and declining cost prospects (lower diesel prices and weaker producing country currencies versus the U.S. dollar) may continue to exert pressure on copper prices. Oil The active rig count for U.S. onshore oil drilling has dropped by 43% from its recent peak. This immediate investment response is a positive and necessary step in rebalancing the global oil market, in our view. However, it will take time before lower drilling activity translates into less production. Production growth continues from the major U.S. shale plays as legacy drilling is brought on stream and new drilling in the best-quality rock continues. Seemingly unrelenting supply growth has contributed to U.S. crude oil inventories reaching new multi-decade highs. On a days-ofsupply basis, U.S. crude stocks have ballooned to levels last witnessed in the 1980s. This inventory surge is prompting concerns over available crude storage capacity. Of particular focus in the current market is the inventory accumulation at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for contracts linked to the WTI benchmark. A crude glut at Cushing can have an outsized impact on nearterm prices. Prices in the short term will likely be driven by catalysts such as talks with Iran, any reaction from OPEC, storage capacity concerns, and other supplyside wild cards like Libya and Iraq. U.S. Crude Oil Storage Days of Supply Days of Supply Storage capacity is getting tighter as oil stocks build. Mark Allen Toronto, Canada mark.d.allen@rbc.com Source - EIA, RBC Wealth Management; data from 9/24/82 3/20/15 15 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

16 Currencies Currency Forecasts Currency Pair Current Rate Forecast Mar 2016 Change* USD Index % CAD/USD % USD/CAD % EUR/USD % GBP/USD % USD/CHF % USD/JPY % AUD/USD % NZD/USD % EUR/JPY % EUR/GBP % EUR/CHF % Emerging Currencies USD/CNY % USD/INR % USD/SGD % USD/TRY % USD/PLN % USD/MXN % USD/BRL % * Defined as the implied appreciation or depreciation of the first currency in the pair quote. Examples of how to interpret data found on page 18. Source - RBC Capital Markets, Bloomberg U.S. Dollar U.S. economic data missed consensus forecasts in March. This raised expectations for a slightly more dovish Fed and pushed the greenback lower as a consequence. But given the data was temporarily impacted by unseasonably cold weather and a West Coast port strike, we expect recent dollar weakness to reverse as the likely Fed rate hike approaches. However, gains should be more moderate given the extended rally seen since mid Euro In contrast to the U.S., data from the euro area has exceeded market expectations so far in 2015, and flows into European equities have buoyed sentiment for the single currency. However, this may not be enough to halt the slide in the euro, at least through the summer, or until the Greek fiscal crisis fades. This is because low interest rates in Europe are less dependent on economic progress and more dependent on low inflation, which looks set to persist. And institutional funds flowing into Europe are increasingly currencyhedged and therefore unlikely to provide support for the euro. Canadian Dollar In our view, the sell-off in the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar has further to run. The dramatic fall in oil prices since mid-2014 has the potential to increase capital expenditure cuts (see chart), which would provide a major headwind to economic growth. This in turn is likely to extend the monetary policy divergence between Canada and the U.S., and put further pressure on the loonie. Japanese Yen The yen has traded in a narrow band of against the dollar since November 2014, frustrating the currency bears who had expected continued yen weakness as the Bank of Japan expanded its balance sheet. However, we still expect longer-term investment flows out of Japan will serve to make the yen one of the weakest developed-nation currencies by the end of the year. This may be compounded by dollar bulls looking to express their views via a more vulnerable currency than the euro, and we think the recently stable yen may provide a good funding currency. Canadian Business Investment Waits for the Hit From Oil Alan Robinson Seattle, United States alan.robinson@rbc.com BoC Commodity Price Index (left axis) Investment as a % of Canadian GDP (right axis) % 22% 20% 18% Declines in resourcerelated capital expenditures in Canada are likely to continue in 2015, in our view. This may negatively impact both the Canadian economy and its currency. Source - RBC Wealth Management, RBC Capital Markets, Bank of Canada, Economywatch.com; data through 12/31/14 16 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

17 Key Forecasts United States Solid Growth Q4 growth revised down to 2.2%, due to a smaller inventory build. Consumer spending up 4.3%. Q1 growth dealing with weather, port strike. Small business plans to hire more & raise pay. Leading indicators, confidence elevated. ISM mfg. output up in March, still above the 50 expansion/ contraction boundary. Unemployment claims near 14-yr low. 2.3% more jobs in last 12 months. Real GDP Growth 1.9% 2.4% 1.5% 1.6% Inflation Rate 3.3% 3.3% 0.5% 2.3% E 2016E Canada Energy Weakness After strong Q3, growth weakened in Q4 as oil troubles hit employment and confidence. RBC Canadian PMI has fallen 4 mos. running to Mar. Now below 50. New orders off highs. Mfg. unfilled orders still elevated and rising. Housing construction steady. Energy capital spending plans down sharply. 2.0% 2.4% 2.0% 2.3% 1.9% 2.3% 1.0% 1.3% E 2016E Eurozone Improving Q4 the 6th successive quarter of positive growth, improved on Q3. Spain leading. Germany, Netherlands, Ireland solid. France, Italy lagging. Bank private sector lending up 4 mos. running after 2-year decline. Region s PMI jumped in March, suggesting improvement for 2015 led by services. Germany and Spain positive, France, Italy still soft. Russia, Greece weighing on outlook. 0.9% 2.0% 1.3% 1.3% 0.4% 0.3% 1.5% -0.4% E 2016E United Kingdom Solid Q4 GDP up (8th in a row) but softer than expected. Services strong, construction and business capex weak. Unemployment lowest since Aug PMI up again in Mar., suggesting good start to New orders and export orders both higher. Growth pace sustainable for 2015, but potentially vulnerable to parliamentary elections in May. 2.6% 2.6% 2.8% 2.5% 1.7% 0.8% 1.5% 2.0% E 2016E China Stabilising Q4 GDP at 7.3%, slightly better than expected. Manufacturing PMI back above 50, but weak LEIs confidence suggests slowdown not over. New orders have weakened. Exports and imports weaker again. Loan growth still running faster than GDP growth. House prices and construction weaker on balance, car sales strong. Government has cut rates twice since November, more to come. 7.8% 7.4% 6.8% 6.3% 3.3% 2.6% 2.0% 2.0% E 2016E Japan Volatile GDP growth rate rebounded in Q4. Leading indicators, new orders, corporate earnings, and business confidence all better. Consumer confident but not yet spending, wages growing. Falling oil prices putting inflation targets in jeopardy. 2.8% 1.5% 1.3% 1.5% 0.3% 0.0% 1.5% 1.0% E 2016E Source - RBC Investment Strategy Committee, RBC Capital Markets, and GPAC 17 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

18 Market Scorecard Equity returns do not include dividends, except for the German DAX. Equity performance and bond yields in local currencies. U.S. Dollar Index measures USD vs. six major currencies. Currency rates reflect market convention (CAD/USD is the exception). Currency returns quoted in terms of the first currency in each pairing. Examples of how to interpret currency data: CAD/USD 0.79 means 1 Canadian dollar will buy 0.79 U.S. dollar. CAD/USD -12.9% return means the Canadian dollar has fallen 12.9% vs. the U.S. dollar during the past 12 months. USD/JPY means 1 U.S. dollar will buy yen. USD/JPY 16.4% return means the U.S. dollar has risen 16.4% vs. the yen during the past 12 months. Source - RBC Wealth Management, RBC Capital Markets, Bloomberg; data through 3/31/ GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015 Index (local currency) Level 1 Month YTD 12 Months S&P 500 2, % 0.4% 10.4% Dow Industrials (DJIA) 17, % -0.3% 8.0% NASDAQ 4, % 3.5% 16.7% Russell , % 4.0% 6.8% S&P/TSX Comp 14, % 1.8% 4.0% FTSE All Share 3, % 3.7% 3.0% STOXX Europe % 16.0% 18.8% German DAX 11, % 22.0% 25.2% Hang Seng 24, % 5.5% 12.4% Shanghai Comp 3, % 15.9% 84.3% Nikkei , % 10.1% 29.5% India Sensex 27, % 1.7% 24.9% Singapore Straits Times 3, % 2.4% 8.1% Brazil Ibovespa 51, % 2.3% 1.5% Mexican Bolsa IPC 43, % 1.3% 8.1% Bond Yields 3/31/15 12/31/14 3/31/14 12-mo. Chg US 2-Yr Tsy 0.555% 0.618% 0.418% 0.14% US 10-Yr Tsy 1.923% 1.993% 2.718% -0.79% Canada 2-Yr 0.506% 0.472% 1.068% -0.56% Canada 10-Yr 1.357% 1.301% 2.458% -1.10% UK 2-Yr 0.423% 0.434% 0.710% -0.29% UK 10-Yr 1.576% 1.796% 2.736% -1.16% Germany 2-Yr % % 0.159% -0.41% Germany 10-Yr 0.180% 0.328% 1.566% -1.39% Commodities (USD) Price 1 Month YTD 12 Months Gold (spot $/oz) 1, % -0.1% -7.8% Silver (spot $/oz) % 6.1% -15.7% Copper ($/metric ton) 6, % -4.8% -8.8% Uranium ($/lb) % -1.3% 13.8% Oil (WTI spot/bbl) % -10.6% -53.1% Oil (Brent spot/bbl) % -3.9% -48.9% Natural Gas ($/mmbtu) % -8.6% -39.6% Agriculture Index % -9.0% -28.3% Currencies Rate 1 Month YTD 12 Months US Dollar Index % 9.0% 22.8% CAD/USD % -8.4% -12.9% USD/CAD % 9.2% 14.8% EUR/USD % -11.3% -22.1% GBP/USD % -4.9% -11.1% AUD/USD % -6.9% -17.9% USD/CHF % -2.2% 10.0% USD/JPY % 0.3% 16.4% EUR/JPY % -11.0% -9.3% EUR/GBP % -6.7% -12.4% EUR/CHF % -13.2% -14.3% USD/SGD % 3.5% 9.1% USD/CNY % -0.1% -0.3% USD/BRL % 20.3% 40.7% Europe, China, and Japan outpacing others so far this year. German yields near record low levels. Crude oil off the bottom but remains depressed. May election pressures pound. Corruption concerns hit Brazil.

19 Research Resources This document is produced by the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee within RBC Wealth Management s Portfolio Advisory Group. The RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group provides support related to asset allocation and portfolio construction for the firm s Investment Advisors / Financial Advisors who are engaged in assembling portfolios incorporating individual marketable securities. The Committee leverages the broad market outlook as developed by the RBC Investment Strategy Committee, providing additional tactical and thematic support utilizing research from the RBC Investment Strategy Committee, RBC Capital Markets, and third-party resources. Global Portfolio Advisory Committee members: Janet Engels Co-chair; Head of U.S. Equities, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Capital Markets, LLC Jim Allworth Co-chair; Investment Strategist, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Maarten Jansen Head, Investments & Trading, RBC Wealth Management Global Wealth Services Group, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Mark Allen Portfolio Advisor, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Rajan Bansi Head of Fixed Income Strategies, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Matt Barasch Head of Canadian Equities, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Craig Bishop Lead Strategist, U.S. Fixed Income Strategies Group, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Capital Markets, LLC Kelly Bogdanov Portfolio Analyst, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Capital Markets, LLC Frédérique Carrier Director, European Equities, Royal Bank of Canada Investment Management (U.K.) Ltd. George King IV Head of Portfolio Strategy, Royal Bank of Canada Investment Management (U.K.) Ltd. René Morgenthaler Head of Investment, RBC (Suisse) SA, RBC International Wealth Management Alan Robinson Portfolio Advisor, RBC Wealth Management Portfolio Advisory Group, RBC Capital Markets, LLC Jay Roberts Head of Equity Advisory, Wealth Management Hong Kong, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. The RBC Investment Strategy Committee (RISC), consists of senior investment professionals drawn from individual, client-focused business units within RBC, including the Portfolio Advisory Group. The RBC Investment Strategy Committee builds a broad global investment outlook and develops specific guidelines that can be used to manage portfolios. RISC is chaired by Daniel Chornous, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of RBC Global Asset Management Inc. 19 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015

20 Required Disclosures Analyst Certification All of the views expressed in this report accurately reflect the personal views of the responsible analyst(s) about any and all of the subject securities or issuers. No part of the compensation of the responsible analyst(s) named herein is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the responsible analyst(s) in this report. Important Disclosures In the U.S., RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. In Canada, RBC Wealth Management includes, without limitation, RBC Dominion Securities Inc., which is a foreign affiliate of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. This report has been prepared by RBC Capital Markets, LLC which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada and, as such, is a related issuer of Royal Bank of Canada. 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In certain investment advisory accounts, RBC Wealth Management will act as overlay manager for our clients and will initiate transactions in the securities referenced herein for those accounts upon receipt of this report. These transactions may occur before or after your receipt of this report and may have a short-term impact on the market price of the securities in which transactions occur. RBC Wealth Management research is posted to our proprietary Web sites to ensure eligible clients receive coverage initiations and changes in rating, targets, and opinions in a timely manner. Additional 20 GLOBAL INSIGHT April 2015