Are you optimistic or pessimistic on equities?

Low visibility due to unusual circumstances

Everything in financial markets and the global economy have been unusual since the pandemic broke out in 2020 ushering extraordinary policy moves, supply chain chocks never seen before, and the first full scale conventional war on the European continent since WWII. With sticky inflation reappearing like a bad horror movie from the 1970s central banks slammed the brakes on financial conditions launching in 2022 the most aggressive policy rate cycle since 1971.

The Fed’s move was a time bomb waiting to explode but the Biden administration’s aggressive fiscal moves in 2022 offset the pain from the Fed policy hikes and the extended period of low interest rates had also locked in households and corporates at very low interest rates. In effect long lags were operating in the economy and did not slip into a recession in 2023 as expected. As long lags from monetary and fiscal policies are still working their way through the economy the visibility and understanding of the underlying dynamics are very difficult to get right for investors and traders. We are in a situation where investors can pick and choose whatever indicator they want to support their outlook for 2024.

Below we have set up the case for the optimist and the pessimist highlighting the factors that support each views.

The optimist: The good times will continue sending equities higher

After having dodged the recession bullet in 2023 and inflation slowly coming down, the optimist feels the outlook is more stable and less worried about the AI hype and boom in technology stocks. What are some of the key factors that support a positive view on global equities in 2024?

• US economic growth accelerated in December and is setting a bit below the long-term trend. Although Europe is in a mild recession the situation is stable and lower energy prices should begin improving conditions going forward.
  
  
• The US consumer is not dead with the US weekly Redbook Index (same store sales) having rebounded from negative growth in July 2023 to slightly below 5% growth in December suggesting the combination of lower inflation and median wage growth just above 5% is expanding household budgets.
  
  
• US financial conditions have eased to levels below the 2018-2019 average suggesting financial conditions are easy supporting economic growth.
  
  
• Earnings growth expectations in S&P 500 the next 12 months at 8% are not high in a historical context and unless the economy slips into a recession it should be possible to deliver this growth in 2024.
  
  
• Generative AI is a significant productivity enhancement technology that has the ability to lift real economic growth in the coming decade. Next to generative AI companies such as Google is doing significant progress on quantum computing with a breakthrough seemingly closer than ever which would unleash enormous potential in scientific discovery.
  
  
• The US equity market looks a bit overstretched and even dangerous with the high index concentration in technology stocks, but the MSCI World is valued a bit cheaper than the historical average since 1995, so the return prospects are solid for 2024 if companies can deliver on earnings.

How to position the portfolio?

• Overweight cyclical sectors such as IT, financials, consumer discretionary, industrials, materials, real estate, and communication services
  
  
• Sell volatility capturing the roll yield because of hedging flows
  
  
• Overweight EM equities as lower financial conditions will keep the economy going and ease refinancing pressures in emerging market countries
  
  
• Long duration trades such as long 10-30yr bonds, high yield bonds, utilities and telecommunication
  
  
• Long equity themes such as AI/semiconductors, cyber security, commodities, renewable energy, and green transformation