Equity Factor Report - Q1 2024: Momentum Strategies Shine

Strong investor sentiment and continued economic strength led momentum strategies to outperform in Q1 2024. The MSCI All Country World Index rose by 8.3% in the first quarter. Russell Investments' Factor Portfolios like Global Large Cap Growth, Momentum, and Quality outperformed the MSCi ACWI.

These Three Metrics Tell A Story About The U.S. Economy

Major US indices down for the month, NASDAQ-100 hit with a 7.10% drawdown. Inflation, GDP, and unemployment are the big three metrics used to approximate the trajectory of the U.S. Economy. This month, the Consumer Price Index rose by 3.48% year-over-year. The Federal Funds Rate is expected to stay at current levels.

The Odds For Rate Hikes May Have Increased Dramatically

Inflation is accelerating, with core PCE and PCE Supercore rising at higher rates. Consumer inflation expectations are increasing. The current policy stance may need to shift from rate cuts to rate hikes if inflation continues to rise. The odds for rate cuts in 2024 are melting away.

Fed Meeting Preview: Unexpected Macro Data Likely To Alter Fedspeak

US economy grew at 1.6% in Q1 2024, the slowest rate of growth in seven quarters. The latest GDP print came in lower than expected while inflation has inched up. Changes in Fedspeak are anticipated as the Fed meets this week. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation is still the labor market.

The Mag. 7: Concentrate Or Diversify?

The Mag. 7: Concentrate Or Diversify? David Kotok: What does an investor do? The Mag 7 has had a terrific single year and a good cumulative three years. The cumulative return of the Mag 7 stock package compared against the S&P 500.

Consumers Splurge On Services, Fixed Investment Surges, Imports Drag On GDP And There's A Blip In Government Spending

Wolf Richter: In Q1 2024, consumers spent very vigorously on services, but not so vigorously on goods. Imports and government spending dragged on GDP, but we think the slowdown in government spending was just a blip. Inflation re-accelerated sharply in Q1, and GDP grew less than in Q4. Gross private investment jumped at fastest rate in two years.

GDP Update: Moderate Growth And Disinflation Continue

Real GDP is growing at about a 2.2% annual pace. On a year-over-year basis, the deflator rose only 2.4%. The economy today is about 20% smaller than it could have been. Calafia Beach Pundit sees no reason to worry about a near-term recession.

M2 Still Points To Lower Inflation

Between The Lines

U.S. GDP Growth Slows Markedly, And Inflation Remains The Focus

U.S. GDP growth slowed to 1.6% annualised in the first quarter of this year. But inflation is hotter than expected, with the core PCE deflator up 3.7%. Inflation makes a near-term Federal Reserve interest rate cut look less likely. First quarter GDP growth is well below the 2.5% consensus.

Money Supply Sees Major Jump In Recent Weeks

Money Supply Sees Major Jump In Recent Weeks. Money Supply should dip some heading into the summer before rebounding later in the year. The large increase in seasonally adjusted Money Supply occurred in March. The drop in reverse repos is driving Money Supply and the stock market higher.

Bears Come Out Of Hibernation

This week's AAII Sentiment Survey saw only 32.1% of respondents report as bullish, the lowest percentage since 11/2/23. Bearish sentiment has picked up to 34%. This is the highest bearish sentiment reading since last November. The bull-bear spread has been pushed into negative territory for the first time since 11-3.

Riding The Momentum - Looking Beyond The Tech Giants

Home Market Outlook Today's Market Riding The Momentum - Looking Beyond The Tech Giants. BlackRock Systematic's Systematic Equity Outlook explores macro and micro risks. The persistence of persistent market themes like AI has contributed to high equity index concentration and strong performance of the momentum factor. Inflation and rising geopolitical risks dominate the equity market narrative.

U.S. GDP Report Shows Stagflation Is Tightening Its Grip

U.S. GDP Report Shows Stagflation Is Tightening Its Grip. The soft landing narrative is dead as GDP growth falls below expectations and inflation rises. Traders are removing rate cuts from the outlook, leading to higher nominal Treasury rates and a stronger dollar. Rising rates and tightening financial conditions pose a significant risk to the equity market.

Global ETF Market Facts: 3 Things To Know From Q1 2024

U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) still represent a small fraction of overall U.S. Financial markets. As of Q1 2024, individual investor ETFs assets reached nearly $1.4 trillion and represent 13% of equity and 2.8% of fixed income assets. Assets in U.s.-listed ETFs have grown over the last five years.

Economic Growth, Labor Productivity And Investment

Labor productivity-output per hour worked-drives long-run economic growth. Bill Conerly says the U.S. Can't expect the economy to grow by working longer hours. He says productivity growth has slowed since the Great Recession. Conerley says businesses need to focus on improving productivity to boost growth.

Trials And Tribulations

Bank of America projects that the United States will have a debt of $34 trillion by year-end. Mark Grant says the U.S. Spent $429 billion on interest payments alone in the last year. America sold $22 trillion in debt last year while the Fed raised interest rates to combat inflation. He says the Fed needs to consider the collateral damage to our economy.

Just A Correction, Or Is The Bull Market Over?

U.S. Q1 2024 GDP Growth Looks Set For Slowdown In Thursday's Release

US economy appears on track to post softer growth in the first-quarter GDP report scheduled for release on Thursday. The key debate is whether the economy will stabilize at a softer pace of growth vs. Decelerate further in the months ahead. A critical factor supporting the upbeat economic view: consumer spending is still solid.

Rising Treasury Yields, Falling Oil Prices, And Hawkish Talk From The Fed

Home Market Outlook Economy Analysis Rising Treasury Yields, Falling Oil Prices, And Hawkish Talk From The Fed. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose to levels not seen since last November. Prices for West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell last week from recent highs despite tensions in the Middle East.