Key Information for the U.S. Trading Day.
The weekend’s headline event in financial markets was the unexpected union of MarketWatch 50 member and influential figure Taylor Swift with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in Argentina. While this celebrity development may have grabbed attention, the more substantial focus of the day is on the year-ahead outlooks presented by major investment banks.
Goldman Sachs’ global equities team anticipates a “fat and flat” market, indicating significant swings in equity markets without substantial progress. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley displays a more optimistic outlook by raising its S&P 500 target to 4,500 by the end of 2024, highlighting a shift from 4,200, at least until June 2024.
The prediction of the end of rate hikes and the beginning of rate cuts leads Morgan Stanley to favor high-grade bonds, anticipate a strong dollar, and foresee challenges for emerging markets. Despite this positivity, the team remains cautious, noting tight financial conditions, high downside risks to global growth, an ongoing earnings recession, and concerns about bond supply.
Morgan Stanley expects rate cuts from both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank in June 2024, with an optimistic outlook for China finding stability. Income investing is touted as a favorable strategy for 2024, emphasizing the attractiveness of U.S. core bonds with yields exceeding 6%.
In terms of stocks, both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs express enthusiasm for Japanese stocks, citing secular factors supporting the market and insulation from Asia’s growth and geopolitical risks. They recommend a barbell approach, combining defensive growth with late-cycle cyclicals. Traditional defensives include Costco, US Foods, Walmart, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Philip Morris International, while additional lower volatility growth stocks comprise Nike, McDonald’s, Hilton, Marriott, and Yum Brands. Late-cycle cyclicals recommended include Northrop Grumman, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, and Delta Airlines.
