Last checked at 
10 Jul 2023 07:00
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 June 2023.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4607F_1-2023-7-9.pdf
June recorded a further positive month for global equities, and a frustrating one for the Company, marking what has been a disappointing six month period in the context of our focus on capital preservation.
Markets have increasingly tried to consign 2022 to history. A bad dream, but no more. The prospect of a recession has led to a belief that rates might come down as quickly as they have risen. Supported by plentiful liquidity, stability has dominated. We have been more worried about the potential for instability. Suffering pain in our protective investments is not new, but we would usually hope that this would be offset by good performance from our growth assets. The path for stability described above, in our opinion, would necessitate continued strength in the real economy. We felt this would largely be predicated on continued recovery from China, supported by both stimulus and a powerful re-opening. This led us to focus our growth assets on both commodities, and equities more geared to the real economy. So far, this has not been the case, commodities have created a further headwind. Equally, whilst our equities have contributed positively, this has not been sufficient to offset the cost of protection.
Currently markets are increasingly certain policy makers will successfully be able to bring inflation back to target and will do so without creating any financial instability. The much-fabled soft landing will play out. Meanwhile, with interest rates moving higher than expected, and likely to stay high for longer, the impacts of tighter monetary policy are starting to be felt. This is already having consequences. This will inevitably, and intentionally, slow the economy. Despite this obvious risk, markets remain certain the risks will be contained. Investors are now willing to buy into equities (and indeed corporate credit) despite the fact they now offer a lower return (and higher risk) than cash! We are increasingly taking the other side of this perceived certainty.
The protections in the portfolio are threefold: structural protection against a new regime which is likely to be characterised by rising and more volatile levels of inflation; shorter-term (and powerful) protection against the potential financial instability caused by tighter liquidity and higher interest rates; and protection against the likely recession that will follow. For the moment, investors seem to be growing in confidence that policy makers will be able to successfully navigate the narrow tightrope of stability. Tightening policy sufficiently to maintain monetary (or inflation) stability, without creating financial instability. We are less convinced. Taking a cautious view can be painful, but history tells us that not long after these periods the risks emerge, leading to significant drawdowns in markets.
Enquiries:
Sanne Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited
Jamie Dodd
DDI: +44(0)1481 755584 Email: RIC@apexfs.group