Originally published Feb 22, 2019
In a welcome development for global equity investors, the pace of 2019 earnings downgrades has eased markedly during the first three weeks of February. Furthermore, while 2019 consensus corporate profits growth has fallen from initial expectations of around 9-11% in developed markets to 6-8%, and from 12% in emerging markets to 10%, a profits recession now appears less likely. It is still in our view a little early to have conviction this is the start of a sustainable trend. However, if it proves to be the case that earnings forecasts