The Fed May Be Done Hiking Rates, But Will Economic Slowing Weigh on the Market?
Despite weak economic news and concern over a slowing economy, there is still optimism among investors that a recession is unlikely.
Topics
Posted 9/5/2023, 11:19:55 AM
thestreet.com
Relevant topic timeline:
The U.S. economy has defied previous expectations of slow growth due to factors such as poor productivity and population aging, with growth exceeding projections and averaging 3% under President Joe Biden, but policymakers are still cautious and concerned about the uncertain economic trends, including labor force growth, inflation, and productivity.
Over half of U.S. small business owners believe the economy is already in a recession, though their own financial conditions remain strong and they have less concerns about the health of their banks, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Despite optimistic economic data and the belief that a recession has been avoided, some economists and analysts believe that a recession is still on the horizon due to factors such as the impact of interest rate hikes and lagged effects of inflation and tighter lending standards.
Despite the optimism from some economists and Wall Street experts, economist Oren Klachkin believes that elevated interest rates, restrictive Federal Reserve policy, and tight lending standards will lead to a mild recession in late 2023 due to decreased consumer spending and slow hiring, although he acknowledges that the definition of a recession may not be met due to some industries thriving while others struggle.
Investors quickly lost their optimism in August due to disappointing earnings reports, particularly from Apple, resulting in a downhill trend for the market.
Recession fears return as a key business survey shows a significant contraction in the UK economy, signaling the detrimental effects of interest rate rises on businesses and heightening the risk of a renewed economic downturn.
Contrary to widespread concern of a stock market crash, the probability of a crash as severe as 1987 in the coming months is actually very small, with a mere 0.33% chance, according to a study conducted by Harvard and Boston University researchers, revealing the increasing pessimism bias among investors following recent losses stemming from two bear markets in a short period, while also suggesting that Shiller's crash-confidence index serves as a useful contrarian indicator.
Market optimism around the US economy may decline as recent shifts in the Treasury yield curve indicate a potential trigger for a correction or rapid unwind in positions, with investors closely watching Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech.
China's unexpected economic slowdown, driven by excessive investment in the property sector and local government spending, is leading experts to question whether a collapse is imminent, although they believe a sudden collapse is unlikely due to China's controlled financial system; however, the slowdown will have implications for global growth and emerging markets, particularly if the U.S. enters a recession next year.
Stocks are overvalued and a recession is expected in the first half of next year, according to economist Steve Hanke. He predicts that inflation will cool, Treasury yields will fall, and house prices will remain stable.
Investors are speculating about the likelihood of a recession after recent data showed a decline in job openings, and Key Advisors Wealth Management CEO Eddie Ghabour believes that the market is not prepared for a recession and it could bring about significant volatility. Ghabour highlights factors such as the JOLTS data, earnings season results, and housing market data to support his recession forecast. He also mentions concerns about rising inflation and its impact on the bond market. Ghabour predicts that a recession could lead to a double-digit drop in equity markets and suggests buying the long end of the Treasury curve as a top trade if a recession occurs.
Fidelity International's Salman Ahmed maintains his prediction of a recession next year, citing the full impact of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening and a wave of corporate debt refinancing as leading factors.
Societe Generale's Albert Edwards warns that a recession is still looming as small firms face increasing bankruptcies due to high interest rates, which could eventually affect larger firms as well.
The U.S. economy is defying expectations with continued growth, falling inflation, and a strong stock market; however, there is uncertainty about the near-term outlook and it depends on the economy's future course and the actions of the Federal Reserve.
Stock investors have been reacting positively to "bad economic news" as it may imply a slowdown in the economy and a potential halt to interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, however, for this trend to change, economic data would have to be much worse than it is currently.
Goldman Sachs has lowered its probability of a U.S recession in the next 12 months to 15% due to positive inflation and labor market data, while also predicting a reacceleration in real disposable income and expecting the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged.
Market jitters persist despite economists downplaying the chances of a recession, as global stocks and US futures remain in the red and inflation fears continue to linger.
Wall Street is optimistic about the September trading month, but there are concerns about falling consumer confidence data and a potential recession next year, according to Commonwealth Financial Network Chief Investment Officer Brad McMillan.
The global economic slowdown and U.S. recession risks are causing concern among officials, with experts discussing recession forecasts and advising investors on portfolio and sector strategies.
Despite recent optimism around the U.S. economy, Deutsche Bank analysts believe that a recession is more likely than a "soft landing" as the Federal Reserve tightens monetary conditions to curb inflation.
Wall Street strategists are cautiously optimistic that investors can find returns through the rest of the year and beyond, despite the recent rough month for stock markets, with valuations looking less stretched and opportunities in strong balance sheet tech.
The possibility of a recession should not be dismissed by equity investors despite recent stock market rallies, warns economist Michael Darda, who notes that historical data shows that recession typically follows an inversion in the yield curve within an average of 14 months.
Former Goldman Sachs partner Abby Joseph Cohen believes that while a recession is not the most likely scenario, the probability of an economic downturn has been increasing in recent months due to weakening tailwinds and potential political issues.
The odds of a recession in the US have collapsed, making markets vulnerable to any signs of the economy overheating and contributing to inflationary pressures.
The risk of overestimating the economy is now a real possibility as economic data continues to defy recessionary predictions, but the lagging production side of the economic equation and the deviation between GDP and Gross Domestic Income (GDI) suggest increased risk to the optimistic outlook and a potential recessionary warning.
The US economy is facing a looming recession, with weakness in certain sectors, but investors should not expect a significant number of interest-rate cuts next year, according to Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. She points out that leading indicators have severely deteriorated, indicating trouble ahead, and predicts a full-blown recession as the most likely outcome. Despite this, the stock market has been defying rate increases and performing well.
The odds of the U.S. entering a recession by mid-2024 have decreased, but certain regions, such as the West and South, are still more vulnerable due to rapid economic growth, high home prices, and inflation, according to Moody's Analytics. However, a severe downturn is unlikely, and the Midwest and Northeast are less susceptible to a pullback. Overall, the chance of a recession has declined nationwide, but there is still a risk for some metro areas, such as Austin, Boise, Ogden, and Tampa.
Fundstrat's Tom Lee believes that the US economy is poised for expansion rather than recession, citing positive indicators such as a strong job market, dropping inflation expectations, falling rent prices, Janet Yellen's optimism, and reduced stock market volatility.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon believes the U.S. economy is unlikely to experience a significant recession, but warns that inflation will be more persistent than anticipated.
The risk of a global recession in the next 12 to 18 months is high, with financial markets underestimating the chances of a recession in the United States, according to PIMCO executives.
Jeremy Grantham warns of a looming recession by early 2025, expresses concerns about US stock market, economy, and financial system, discourages investment in real estate and commodities, but supports climate-change stocks like Tesla.
Investors are becoming increasingly cautious about the US stock market and the economy as 2023 draws to a close, leading to a more defensive investment approach by Wall Street banks and experts warning of potential pain ahead.
Entrepreneur Jaspreet Singh warns that signs of a potential recession in America include labor shortages, inflation-driven spending, and high interest rates, with economists predicting that the country may start feeling the effects of a recession by the second quarter of 2024. Singh advises Americans to educate themselves about saving money and investing to prepare for the possible downturn.
Market analyst Ed Yardeni has increased the chances of a recession by the end of next year from 15% to 25%, citing rising oil prices and widening deficits as contributing factors, although he notes that a repeat of the 1970s is unlikely due to the expected productivity boom.
UBS Investment Bank suggests that the stock slump in China is almost over and investors should be more optimistic about the market outlook, as economic fundamentals have improved and technical signals indicate a potential market rebound.
The Federal Reserve has paused raising interest rates and projects that the US will not experience a recession until at least 2027, citing improvement in the economy and a "very smooth landing," though there are still potential risks such as surging oil prices, an auto worker strike, and the threat of a government shutdown.
The bond market's recession indicator, known as the inverted yield curve, is likely correct in signaling a coming recession and suggests that the Federal Reserve made a major mistake in its inflation policy, according to economist Campbell Harvey. The yield curve, which has correctly predicted every recession since 1968, typically lags behind the start of a recession, with the average wait time being 13 months. Harvey believes that a recession is imminent due to the Fed's tight monetary policy and warns against further interest rate hikes.
Despite threats such as a government shutdown, the UAW strike, rising gas prices, and the resumption of student loan repayments, economists are mostly unconcerned about a potential economic slowdown, believing the economy to be internally robust but vulnerable to mistakes.
The forecasted U.S. recession in 2024 is expected to be shorter and less severe than previous recessions, with the economy's interest-rate sensitivity much lower due to reduced leverage and elevated savings from the postpandemic environment, leading investors to consider positioning for investment opportunities that will drive markets into 2024.