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A survey of fund managers by Bank of America Merrill Lynch showed that investors are quite positive on higher interest rate environment in the coming future.
- Investors are more optimistic about banks than they have been since 2003. It is expected a rate increase by central banks (FED, BOE) likely to benefit banks and banking stocks, who currently faces lower interest rate income due to lower rates.
- Fund managers are a net 30% overweight on banking stocks, which shows the extent of expectations of a rate hike from FED in 2015.
Bond yields move up, in a rate hike environment, which helps the bank to reap higher returns by investing the deposits.
Overweighting the banking stocks have risen by 11% as investors prepare for first rate hike from US FED in fourth quarter.
Banking stocks in UK are also expected to rise as focus will shift to BOE rate hike after FED's move.
