by Juan Carlos Carvallo

In a recent conference, Joe Quinlan, the Chief Market Strategist, shared his insights on the current state of the market. He noted that the Dow Jones has seen a 2.6% increase, the S&P 500 has risen by 12%, and the NASDAQ has grown by nearly 26%. However, he pointed out that this market expansion has been quite narrow, with just eight stocks making up 30% of the S&P’s market capitalization.

Quinlan also discussed the US economy, which continues to grow. He expects a GDP growth of 2.2% for the second quarter. He also mentioned the possibility of the Federal Reserve pausing interest rates in June, with a 75% chance of this happening. However, he noted that a potential rate increase in July is still uncertain. He also touched on the issue of inflation, stating that the Federal Reserve’s battle against it is not yet over.

Turning his attention to Europe, Quinlan highlighted that the Eurozone is officially in recession, with inflation becoming a growing problem that’s impacting consumer spending. As for China, he noted that the situation is mixed. Despite a 7.5% decrease in exports in May and a slower than expected reopening, he anticipates some form of stimulus from China.

Quinlan also discussed what needs to happen for the market to broaden. This includes a decrease in the likelihood of a US recession, an end to the earnings recession, better earnings estimates for the second quarter, and less stress from the banking sector. Lastly, he mentioned that the US is experiencing a surge in foreign direct investment, which he believes will help the US recover from the recession faster than anticipated and strengthen its global competitiveness in the second half of the decade.

In a report by Morgan Stanley titled “Revisiting Our Skepticism on Earnings Resilience”, several key topics were addressed. The report questioned whether traditional economic factors have been eliminated and argued that most asset classes are discounting a recession or soft landing. The report suggested that US investors should consider adding bond duration while buying cyclical, Japanese, and emerging market stocks. Commodities, including gold, can help protect against falling real rates and a weaker dollar.

In a similar report by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, the company’s perspective on earnings resilience in the current economic context was discussed. The report suggested that confidence in a soft economic landing may be premature and potentially dangerous. It also highlighted the importance of negative operating leverage in an inflationary environment and suggested that disinflation may lead to a loss of pricing power and margin compression. The report recommended that investors consider rebalancing strategic indices, neutralizing divergences through tax loss harvesting, and consider adding bond duration while buying cyclical, Japanese, and emerging market stocks. Commodities, including gold, can help protect against falling real rates and a weaker dollar.

In a report by JPMorgan titled “Global Data Watch: Pause and deliver”, a detailed view of economic outlooks and monetary policies in several global markets was provided. The report expects the Fed to pause its monetary adjustment cycle and guide towards more rate hikes. The European Central Bank is expected to increase interest rates and guide towards more hikes. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep rates stable while adjusting its yield curve control bands. China is expected to reverse only a part of April’s drop, with a 0.4% m/m increase in the US core CPI in May. Despite upside surprises in growth and core inflation so far this year, concerns about a recession remain high, especially in the US. However, an abrupt breakdown of activity seems unlikely. Other developed market central banks are also being pulled towards potentially higher terminal rates.

The Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of Australia have already surprised market expectations with rate hikes after pauses earlier this year. The report also projected a mid-year rebound in the goods production sector as manufacturers adjust production with the expansion of final demand. However, it warned that a more pronounced slowdown could delay the recovery in factory production and could undermine the strength of the labor market.

Conclusions:

1. The market has seen significant growth, but this expansion is concentrated in a small number of stocks, indicating a need for more diversity in strong performers.

2. The US economy continues to grow, but the fight against inflation is ongoing. The Federal Reserve may pause interest rate hikes in the near term, but the possibility of a rate increase later is still uncertain.

3. The Eurozone is facing economic challenges, with an official recession and growing inflation. China’s economic situation is mixed, with a decrease in exports but potential stimulus expected.

4. The US is experiencing a surge in foreign direct investment, which could help speed up recovery from the recession and strengthen its global competitiveness.

5. There is skepticism about earnings resilience in the current economic context, with concerns about a potential soft economic landing and the impact of inflation on pricing power and margins.

6. Global economic outlooks and monetary policies vary, with different central banks expected to take different actions regarding interest rates.

Recommendations:

• Investors should consider diversifying their portfolios to include more than just the top-performing stocks.

• Given the ongoing battle against inflation, investors should keep a close eye on the Federal Reserve’s actions regarding interest rates.

• Investors interested in international markets should monitor the economic situations in the Eurozone and China for potential opportunities.

• Investors should consider the potential benefits of foreign direct investment in the US.

• Given the skepticism about earnings resilience, investors should be cautious and not overly confident about a soft economic landing. They should also consider the potential impacts of inflation on their investments.

• Investors should consider adding bond duration while buying cyclical, Japanese, and emerging market stocks. Commodities, including gold, can help protect against falling real rates and a weaker dollar.

• Investors should monitor the actions of different central banks around the world, as these could impact global markets and investment opportunities.