What the beginning of the year might tell investors about how we’ll finish 2023
Our Top Market Takeaways for May 25, 2023
Market update
Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river
We’ve already seen a lot in 2023. But through all of the challenges and angst, markets are, for the most part, holding their ground.
Today marks the 100th trading day of the year. With that in mind, today’s note considers what the beginning of the year has taught us, and what that might suggest for how it will finish.
So, we’re 100 days in and…
…the debt limit dilemma still isn’t resolved.
Things are getting down to the wire, with just seven days until Secretary Yellen’s estimated June 1 X-date. Given all that’s at stake, we continue to think a deal that raises or suspends the debt ceiling is the most likely path from here. Otherwise, a scenario that sees the government crash through the X-date but continue to make its debt payments (at the expense of more discretionary spending such as education or transportation) would feel a lot like a government shutdown, while the worst-case scenario of actual default (meaning the government never pays back its creditors) would be even more calamitous—neither have ever happened in the century that the debt ceiling has existed.
Democrats and Republicans have both noted progress in negotiations this week, but there still seems to be a wide divide on several key issues heading into the long Memorial Day weekend. Rating agencies are also now kicking up some dust, with Fitch putting the U.S.’s AAA credit rating on its downgrade watchlist yesterday—a move reminiscent of 2011’s episode.
Yet, the media noise may be louder than the risk markets hear. Outside of Treasuries and credit default swaps (which offer insurance against the risk of potential of default), broad markets haven’t been too roiled.
…bank worries are coming and going, but the Federal Reserve still seems divided.
It’s been almost a month since the last bank failure (and 11 weeks since all the bank drama kicked off). Questions over further ripple effects and the future of the regional banking industry remain, but much of the discourse around bank runs and a crisis of confidence seems to have moved on. A sign of the times: While the S&P 500 is having its worst week since March, the KBW Bank Index is in the green (on top of its best week since October last week).
Rather, the balancing act for central bankers seems to be between preparing for the effects of tightening credit conditions and tackling still elevated inflation. The latest Fed meeting minutes, which offer a peek behind the curtain of the May policy meeting, suggested policymakers may be done hiking rates. Yet, rhetoric from Fed speakers over the last week has signaled that even if a pause comes in June, a few more hikes may be needed to once and for all claim victory against inflation. The one consistent message has been pushing back on rate cuts—and it seems to be working: Markets have priced out almost all of the cuts they were baking in for this year—just ~25 basis points today versus ~80 basis points only three weeks ago.
Markets are pricing in fewer cuts than just a few weeks ago
Either way, whether it takes a few more hikes or not, markets are still betting on the Fed getting things back in balance.
…Corporate America is doing just fine.
Q1 earnings season was far better than feared, even as it still showed a slowdown. Every sector but utilities bested profit expectations, and tech in particular blew it out of the water (look no further than NVIDIA’s stellar report this morning). Economists and Wall Street (us included) have been chattering about a potential recession for the last year, and that’s given Corporate America ample time to prepare, taking on cost cuts and refocusing to protect profits.
A recession still looks probable to us, but companies seem to be either less worried about it, or at least feel better prepared. While a few S&P 500 companies are still due to report in the coming days, those throwing out the “recession” buzzword have now declined for three straight quarters.
Companies aren't citing "recession" as much as before
…stocks are higher thanks to it.
It might be a tough week with all the debt ceiling drama, but the S&P 500 is holding onto a +8% year-to-date gain. While history is never a guarantee of future returns, that big of a gain at this point in the year tends to suggest there’s more green ahead. When the index has been +8% or more higher on Day 100 in the past (going back to 1950), the full year return has been positive in every instance, up on average +24%.
History suggests when the market is this high (>8%) on Day 100 of the year, there may be more green to be seen
…and it’s not just big tech, either.
To be sure, big tech has been a powerhouse. But the strength is broader than that. Consumer and travel names such as Royal Caribbean (+56%), Uber (+53%) and Booking (+30%) are some of the brightest spots. Semiconductors are up over +20%. Homebuilders are up some +16% so far this year. Seventeen countries are also outperforming the United States.
17 MSCI Country indices are outperforming the U.S. so far this year (+8% or more)
The tide is turning: The U.S. & EM vs. Europe & Japan barbell
In all, while the slate of known unknowns seems full, the key when it comes to investing is balance—and multi-asset portfolios are designed to provide just that.
Your J.P. Morgan team is here to help.
All market and economic data as of May 2023 and sourced from Bloomberg Finance L.P. and FactSet unless otherwise stated.
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