The 1% Move Report

Wealth Management — April 26, 2024

• The S&P 500 rose 1.0% Friday to end the day at 5,099.96, having gained 6.9% thus far in 2024.
• Six of the 11 S&P 500 sectors were higher on the day, as Communication Services (+4.7%) and Information Technology (+1.9%) were the strongest-performing S&P 500 sectors, while Energy (-1.0%) and Utilities (-1.1%) underperformed.
• By the 4:00 p.m. equity market close, the US 10-year Treasury yield decreased 4bp to 4.66%; WTI crude oil increased to $83.67 per barrel; and gold increased +0.3% to $2,339.56 per ounce.

• The S&P 500 Index rose on Friday capping a volatile week of trading and securing a weekly gain of 2.7%. After this week’s rally, the S&P 500 is up 6.9% for the year, but still 3.1% below its all-time high on March 28. With mega-cap Tech stocks leading to the upside, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite rallied even further by 2.0%.
• Earnings reports from two megacap Tech companies reignited optimism around the AI narrative, seen as pivotal for the market to achieve its forecasted double-digit earnings growth in 2024. Investors looked past Thursday’s economic data which indicated slowing growth and sticky inflation in the first quarter, raising concerns of “stagflation”. Today, investors reacted positively to March’s core PCE data, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, which was in-line with expectations.
• With 45% of the S&P 500 having reported 1Q2024 results, nearly 80% of companies have beaten earnings, helping propel the S&P 500 Index to its best weekly return since last November. While earnings optimism offset economic uncertainty, monetary policy may return to the forefront next week when Fed officials gather for the third FOMC meeting of 2024.

• The GIC recommends taking profits in rich and overbought equities while adding some yield and value without much need to reach for duration. Higher inflation should be hedged with commodities and real assets, including infrastructure, select REITs and MLPs. Today’s move does not meaningfully impact the GIC’s outlook. 
• Please find more information on the GIC's tactical positioning on the next two pages and reach out to your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor to discuss portfolio strategies.

US: We recently closed our US large-cap equity underweight, which was premised on concerns about achievability of 2023 earnings estimates. While higher inflation should delay Fed rate cuts, more pricing power contributes to confidence that has risen, given GDP strength and visible international growth rebounds. Our preference is for cyclical and secular-growth equities with quality balance sheets.

International Equities (Developed Markets): Given weak currencies and dovish central banks—in Japan and soon in Europe, with the ECB likely cutting in June—economic rebound should be at hand in the second half. Developed market exposure should skew toward commodities and materials exporters, especially those in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan.

Emerging Markets: Peaking US rates and, in turn, the US dollar, likely set up a second half rebound for EM ex China, given improving global growth dynamics. We favor Brazil, India and Mexico.

US Investment Grade: Stronger-than-anticipated economic growth is preserving the strength of corporate cash flows. While rates have backed up to reflect "higher-for-longer" expectations, yield spreads have remained well behaved. With geopolitical uncertainty high and equity valuations broadly rich, we like coupons of bonds with index-matching or shorter durations.

International Investment Grade: Yields are decent, central banks may soon cut rates and there is room for spread tightening as economic growth improves.

Inflation-Protected Securities: Real yields have sold off and are now bordering on cheap relative to the past two years. The securities could be a potential buy in a stagflationary environment

High Yield: We have eliminated our exposure to the equity-like asset class to reduce equity beta of portfolios. High yield bonds rallied aggressively after the unprecedented provision of liquidity from the Fed and fiscal stimulus from Washington. However, there is currently limited upside and much downside to investments in riskier products, given the market environment.

REITS: We expect higher stock-bond correlations, which place a premium on the diversification benefits of investing in real assets. Nevertheless, with real interest rates positive and services inflation remaining quite sticky, we would need to be selective in adding to this asset class.

Commodities: Global reflation, tense geopolitics, especially in the Middle East, and ongoing fiscal spending suggest decent upside potential for precious metals and industrial-related commodities, including energy.

MLP/Energy Infrastructure: We are increasing exposure to real assets, with a preference for energy infrastructure and MLPs. Competitive yields and expectations for continued capital discipline amid stable oil and gas prices over the next six months underpin our decision, as does hedging against geopolitical risks.

Hedged Strategies (Hedge Funds and Managed Futures): The current environment appears constructive for hedge fund managers, who are frequently good stock pickers and can use leverage and risk management to potentially amplify returns. We prefer very active and fundamental strategies, especially high-quality, low beta, low volatility and absolute return hedge funds.

Market data provided by Bloomberg.

Dallas Federal Manufacturing Index is released every month. It reflects overall business conditions and activity in the Texas' manufacturing sector.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA): A price-weighted average of 30 blue-chip stocks that are generally the leaders in their industry.

NASDAQ Composite Index: A broad-based capitalization-weighted index of stocks in all three NASDAQ tiers: Global Select, Global Market and Capital Market.

S&P 500 Index: The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 widely held, large-capitalization US stocks.

US Trade-Weighted Dollar Index: A weighted average of the foreign exchange value of the 17US dollar against a subset of the broad index currencies that circulate widely outside the US.