5 }. K- o1 c" ~& V# ~3 Z1 LThe second phase of the post-Lehman recovery in risky assets + W/ n7 C' Q2 ymay be drawing to a close in April 2011. The fi rst phase 9 y' E7 |; t: e; eran from March 2009 to April 2010 and was halted by the * s8 F! B a0 Y$ l5 W/ QEuropean sovereign crisis and a U.S. slowdown. The second 5 Z' ^5 {# Y1 @& Z* Hphase began with the U.S. Federal Reserve launching an $ j6 c/ a0 c# D; X0 @& ^unconventional easing policy dubbed QE2 in September5 l5 N u9 q6 w$ U6 A4 a7 o! \
2010. This action saw investors exit the dollar and scramble c* Q# |0 o3 W V3 M& E8 G
for real assets ranging from property to commodities, credit # l& `1 D! s+ S3 r1 dand equities. As we near the end of this policy, prospects4 x2 X8 Y' n) w. p9 l" y
for dollar stabilization grow; this would be helped through . k3 ~/ a/ V6 X. i1 }U.S. fi scal retrenchment and relief on the part of bond& U* h* K* v6 l9 Y+ {6 @: _
markets. Given the success of the policy and the heightened' ^2 k8 f3 j/ U8 X! q& f) a8 x% q
uncertainties elsewhere, it may be time to move to a more/ d7 S0 n# U/ W$ E
neutral risk positioning.