Emerging Markets 2013: The Unsung Gems of Latin America
While most of the talk about investing in emerging markets over the past several years has focused on Asia, particularly China and India, Latin America has been quietly enjoying a nice little boom of its own.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects economic growth in Latin America at 3.2% for 2012 and 3.9% in 2013, compared with growth in the United States of just 2.2% in 2012 and 2.1% in 2013.
But several of the emerging markets of Latin America should perform much better than the regional average.
For example, the IMF estimates the gross domestic product (GDP) of both Chile and Colombia will grow 4.5% in 2013, while Peru’s GDP will rise 5.8%, Panama’s 7.5% and Paraguay’s an eye-popping 11%.
Investors in search of growth clearly need to consider the emerging markets in Latin America.
“Latin America as a whole has averaged 4% real growth in the last decade, far more than you would have gotten in Europe, North America or even much of Asia outside of China and India,” said Money Morning Global Investing Strategist Martin Hutchinson.
Still, investors need to research the region before going shopping. Not every Latin American country is a winner.
“The region remains a minefield for investors,” Hutchinson said, noting that many of its governments are left-leaning and prone to policies that hurt business.
The Wall Street Journal recently described the emerging markets of Latin America as “a tale of two economies” with the philosophy of the political leadership determining which is which.
“The global slowdown of the past two years has created a divide in the region between countries that pushed a more aggressive free-market agenda and kept a tighter grip on the public purse and those that used the swell in coffers from rising commodity prices to embrace a bigger role for government in the economy,” the Journal said.
The key to investing in the emerging markets of Latin America in 2013, then, is looking at the countries’ government policies to sort out which are the darlings and which are the dogs.
Lucky for you, we already did the research…
First, here are the countries you want to avoid:
- Argentina: Don’t be fooled by last year’s nearly 9% pop in GDP. The populist government of President Cristina Kircher has stepped up growth-slowing policies, such as restrictive trade controls and a trend toward nationalizing industries like oil and mining. Hutchinson believes such policies will starve Argentina of foreign investment, sending its economy into a tailspin.
- Venezuela: President Hugo Chávez has already nationalized most of the private sector in Venezuela. His policies, like those in Argentina, are “hostile to foreign investment,” said Hutchinson, and are undermining that nation’s economy. Venezuela does have oil money, but that won’t stop it from running out of money eventually. “Avoid investing in either one of these black holes,” Hutchinson said of Argentina and Venezuela.
- Brazil: Latin America’s biggest country is no longer the shining star among emerging markets that it was just a couple of years ago. The run-up in commodities that fueled its growth has leveled off. The IMF sees growth in Brazil slowing to just 1.5% this year. What’s more, it too has made policy choices damaging to its economy. “Brazil is passé because of its huge, out-of-control government,” Hutchinson explained.
Emerging Markets 2013: Latin America’s Hot Spots
These emerging markets in Latin America tend to have governments pursuing free-market economic policies:
- Chile: “Chile remains the best-run country in Latin America, with high scores on integrity indexes and a strong mineral sector,” Hutchinson said. Two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on Chile are iShares MSCI Chile Investible Market Index Fund (NYSE: ECH) and the Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CH). Those daring enough to seek equities should look at Chile’s strong banking sector, particularly Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE ADR: BSAC), Banco de Chile (NYSE ADR: BCH), and A.F.P Provida SA (NYSE ADR: PVD).
- Colombia: “Colombia recently signed a free-trade agreement with the United States and is enjoying an oil and infrastructure boom,” said Hutchinson, calling the country’s government “strongly pro-market.” Colombia-focused ETFs include the Market Vectors Columbia ETF (NYSE: COLX) and the Global X FTSE Colombia 20 ETF (NYSE: GXG). Hutchinson’s favorite individual stock here is Ecopetrol SA (NYSE: EC).
- Peru: While Hutchinson is not as enthusiastic about Peru and Mexico as he is about Colombia and Chile, he also sees opportunity in those emerging markets. “Peru’s government is relatively small, and the market sector dominant, although current policy is to increase government participation,” he said. An ETF for Peru is the iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index Fund (NYSE: EPU). A good individual stock choice would be Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA (NYSE ADR: BVN), a gold-mining company that should also benefit from the rise in gold prices.
- Mexico: “Mexico I’m reasonably positive on, but cautious as we don’t really know what President Enrique Peña Nieto will do,” Hutchinson said. “There’s actually huge upside for investors if Peña Nieto pursues reform and carries it through Mexico’s Congress.” Hutchinson advises against buying a Mexican ETF, instead recommending four stock possibilities: Homex Development Corp. (NYSE ADR: HXM), Grupo Casa Saba, S.A. (NYSE ADR: SAB), Grupo Simec S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE ADR: SIM) and Empresas ICA SA (NYSE ADR: ICA).
Somewhat more cautious investors who want to add Latin America emerging markets to their portfolios may want to use broader-based ETFs.
Two ETFs that cover the Latin America emerging markets in general are the iShares S&P Latin America 40 Index (NYSE: ILF) and the SPDR S&P Emerging Latin America ETF (NYSE: GML).
For more investing ideas from Martin Hutchinson, including how to play other emerging markets, click here.
Related Articles and News:
- Money Morning:
2013 Emerging Markets Forecast: Forget About the BRICs Buy These Rising Stars Instead - Money Morning:
These Two Emerging Markets Just Got A Lot More Enticing - Money Morning:
A Liberty Investor’s Guide to Latin America - Money Morning:
These South of the Border Bargains Offer Investors Real Growth - Money Morning:
Which One of These Losers Will Run Out of Money First? - AICIO.com:
Latin America Shines as the Emerging Market Hotspot, Paper Says - MarketWatch:
Booming Latin America being ignored, experts say - IMF:
Growth in Latin America Moderating but Resilient
Tags: emerging industries, Emerging Markets, emerging markets 2013, emerging markets countries, emerging markets funds, emerging markets index emerging markets etf emerging industries emerging markets investing, emerging markets Latin America, investing in emerging markets, Latin America emerging markets
2012-12-10 15:41:26
Source: http://moneymorning.com/2012/12/10/emerging-markets-2013-the-unsung-gems-of-latin-america/
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