The latest data shows inflation is clearly on the backfoot. The June report showed inflation fell for the twelfth month in a row, dropping to 3% year-over-year, in what amounts to the most prolonged period of pullbacks since the early 1980s. The core measure, which takes out food and energy prices, dropped to 4.8% – the slowest rate seen since November 2021. According to Raymond James CIO Larry Adam, an even more noteworthy aspect is that the core measure is now below the current fed funds rate,
2023 turned out to be a terrific year for stocks, as the stock market did shockingly well in an environment of rising interest rates and worries about an economic downturn. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ indexes have both posted solid gains, of 17% and 33%, respectively. While stocks are surging towards their highest levels, it doesn’t mean investors have lost their chance to hop on the bandwagon. According to banking giant Deutsche Bank, there’s still plenty of room for them to get in on the action
Have the markets reached the exuberant stage? Bullish sentiment has been the order of the day for a while, and the S&P 500 currently sits at 4,455, reflecting year-to-date gains of 16%. By now, the index has already surpassed the year-end target of 4,400 set by Raymond James’ chief investment officer, Larry Adam. This achievement serves as a bit of vindication for Adam. He went against the prevailing sentiment at the start of the year, which, if you recall, was decidedly bearish due to the downb
Investor sentiment has been upbeat for months now, as markets are rebounding strongly from recent troughs. The gains are real, amounting to ~15% on the S&P 500 and 30% on the Nasdaq. A recent note from Wells Fargo, however, reminds investors to keep a disciplined stance – the bull, while real, may be more fragile than it looks. As the investment bank puts it, “Following the recent equity market rally, investors may have reason to be optimistic. On June 8, S&P 500 Index gains exceeded 20% from th
The stock market narrative is often defined by themes. Last year, energy stocks ruled the roost, driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent global energy crisis. In 2023, so far, tech stocks have been driving the gains while riding the AI trend. But according to billionaire Seth Klarman, the next big opportunity could lie in a bit of a surprising area. Considering the low occupancy rates in the post-Covid world and the persistent work-from-home trend, you might think the commercia