Displaying items by tag: bear market

Monday, 01 July 2019 09:46

Why Stocks Will Fall if the Fed Cuts Rates

(Washington)

The market has the idea that the Fed holds a massive “put”. The concept entails that the Fed can effectively set a floor on asset prices because it can take dovish action to support markets at any point. However, that notion is problematic at the moment because a rate cut in the near term may actually induce a correction. In fact, markets look set for a lose-lose scenario. On the one hand, if the Fed does not cut rates, markets will be very disappointed and slump. On the other hand, investors have already priced in a near 100% chance of a rate hike, so it happening won’t give markets much of a boost and is more likely just to make investors worry that the economy is headed south.


FINSUM: We hate to say it, but we kind of buy into this view. Maybe not so much that markets will fall even if the Fed cuts rates, but the cuts certainly won’t be overly supportive at this point and may lead to a gradual decline.

Published in Eq: Total Market
Tuesday, 25 June 2019 09:10

Stocks Sending a Big Warning Sign

(New York)

Yes, the market is at or near all-time highs. Yes, the Fed is dovish, which is mildly bullish for markets (or very bullish if the economy stays in decent shape). However, equities are sending some strong warning signals too. In particular, two sectors which often act as bellwethers are showing that the market may be headed for a decline. Both small caps and transportation stocks have been struggling, a development usually associated with a market headed south. The sectors have declined at a rapid pace, and relative to the S&P 500 as a whole, are at their weakest point since 2009.


FINSUM: This is a signal similar in nature to the yield curve inversion. Is it material or just an aberration? Anyone’s guess.

Published in Eq: Small Caps
Monday, 24 June 2019 08:35

BAML Says How the US Will Avoid a Recession

(New York)

One of the biggest banks in the country has just offered a very bullish view. BAML says the US will avoid a recession. The comments come from the bank’s CEO, Brian Moynihan, who believes that growth will slow, but then flatten out and not go into a recession. “Everything we see in our customer base is consistent with a slowdown to 2% and a flattening out from there”, he says.


FINSUM: We found these comments to be genuinely interesting because BAML has a view on the economy that few do. Not only are they the largest consumer bank, but also the biggest mortgage lender. That means they can watch the pace of deposit growth and borrowing in a very direct way, and thus can take the economy’s pulse.

Published in Eq: Total Market
Wednesday, 19 June 2019 09:13

Big Trouble Coming for Stocks if Fed Disappoints

(New York)

There is a lot riding on the results of the Fed’s meeting this week. Every big bank is weighing in and the consensus is that the markets have gotten too dovish in their projections and that the Fed won’t cut now, or as quickly as investors expect, all of which will lead to a decline in stocks. Both UBS and Goldman think that the pace of rate cuts forecasted by markets would only make sense in a recession, which seems unlikely. Morgan Stanley says stocks are very vulnerable to a decline if the Fed doesn’t cut as it will shift expectations and lead to tighter conditions. JP Morgan thinks equities will decline even if the Fed does cut.


FINSUM: We think the Fed will stay on hold for now but signal cuts in the Fall. We expect this will have a neutral to mildly negative effect on share prices.

Published in Eq: Total Market
Monday, 17 June 2019 09:55

Major Recession Threshold Just Crossed

(New York)

Whether investors like it or not, a recession is coming. One of the key indicators is for a yield curve inversion to last 90 days or more. If it does so, a recession is highly likely in the next 12-18 months. Well, the first point of inversion began in March and we just crossed the 90-day threshold, which means that the strongest indicator of recession has just been triggered. Here are some tips to prepare: clear out garbage holdings from your portfolio (e.g. the stock tip from your brother in law six months ago), set aside cash and come up with a plan to buy stocks when certain thresholds are hit (e.g. a 25% decline in key indexes), pay down debt (it might not be this easy to do so again for awhile).


FINSUM: For all the talk we have heard over the last year about “this time is different”, the reality is that the strongest recession indicator known has just been triggered.

Published in Bonds: Treasuries
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