The 1% Move Report

Wealth Management — January 19, 2024

• The S&P 500 Index rose 1.2% Friday to end the day at 4,839.81, having gained 1.5% thus far in 2024. 
• Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sectors were higher on the day, as Information Technology (+2.3%) and Financials (+1.6%) were the strongest-performing S&P 500 sectors, while Utilities (-0.1%) and Energy (-0.3%) performed weakest.
• By the 4:00 p.m. equity market close, the US 10-year Treasury yield decreased 2bp to 4.13%; WTI crude oil prices decreased 0.4% to $73.81 per barrel; and gold increased 0.3% to $2,029.30 per ounce.

• The S&P 500 pushed higher on Friday, extending Thursday’s rally to conclude the week on a positive note and reaching a new all-time high, previously set on Jan. 3, 2022. The Technology sector paced the S&P 500's gains on Thursday and Friday, responding to positive guidance from TSMC. For the week—and since late October—semiconductors led among industry groups, reflecting investor bullishness on artificial intelligence (AI) and associated capex.
• Earlier in the week, investors fretted over the implications of strong economic data that might delay the timing of much-anticipated interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. By the end of the holiday-shortened week, investor confidence had rebounded, owing to modestly positive earnings surprises and better-than-feared corporate guidance.
• Positive data on consumer sentiment released Friday morning helped investors overcome worries for the moment that the Federal Reserve would be in no rush to lower interest rates amid lingering inflation risks. The data showed consumer confidence rebounded in January, alongside a decline in their expectations for future inflation.

• With the S&P 500 still firmly above MS & Co.’s US Equity Strategist Mike Wilson’s S&P 500 base-case price target of 4,500, we expect that the equity market may range-trade over the coming 12-month tactical horizon. Today’s move does not meaningfully impact the GIC’s outlook or alter their recommended tactical positioning. 
• 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. For long-term investors, we caution against making substantial strategy changes based on short-term volatility. 

US: We remain uncertain that forward earnings estimates are accurately discounting the most recent developments of a strong US dollar, rising oil prices, maturing US fiscal stimulus and an increasingly tapped-out US consumer. Additionally, we expect that Fed actions in 2024 may result in a “higher-for-longer” rate scenario. Our preference is for defensive and secular-growth equities with quality balance sheets. 

International Equities (Developed Markets): The mix of high and sticky inflation, existential risks associated with Russia/Ukraine and the European Central Bank's position that it has limited tools to help, suggest that the odds of recession are over 50%. Developed market exposure should skew toward commodities and materials exporters, especially those in the Asia/Pacific region, including Japan.

Emerging Markets: Recent softness in China, including macro uncertainty and deflationary pressures, along with growing opacity around policy direction, have caused concern for the country’s growth path. With global growth concerns potentially mounting, we have neutralized a previous overweight to emerging markets.

US Investment Grade: While markets had aggressively priced the Fed's hawkish rhetoric, recent bank concerns have brought in pricing of rate cuts through early 2024. We are taking a more balanced risk-reward approach and have added to large underweight positions. With continued Quantitative Tightening ahead, execution risk remains elevated, as do the risks from sticky services inflation. However, bonds still offer decent relative value and the potential for portfolio hedging. Moreover, we expect equity-fixed income correlations to decrease in the event of an earnings recession.

International Investment Grade: Central banks’ hawkish pivots have prompted a material move in global nominal rates. While timing and catalysts are still hazy, negative-yielding debt has largely vanished in recent months. Prospects are brightening for fixed income investors, with opportunities to invest in local currencies that are expected to strengthen against the US dollar. Nevertheless, our benchmark and tactical asset allocation model continue to allocate 0% to this asset class.

Inflation-Protected Securities: TIPS yields have moved up, as realized inflation remains near a 40-year high and geopolitical uncertainties add pricing pressures. Even with real yields now positive, valuation is not compelling in comparison to US investment grade fixed income. Moreover, our benchmark and tactical asset allocation model continue to allocate 0% to this asset class.

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 appears to be limited upside potential and much downside risk to investing in riskier products, given the current market environment. Moreover, our benchmark and tactical asset allocation model continue to allocate 0% to this asset class.

REITS: With real interest rates now positive and services inflation remaining quite sticky, we would need to be cautious and selective in adding to this asset class. For now, we remain underweight.

Commodities: Global central banks have successfully brought commodity prices back to late-2021 levels. Supply chains for goods have been close to restored, which has helped to relieve some pressures on inflation coming from industrial metals and auto parts. That said, structural disruption in energy and global agricultural commodities remains severe and may take multiple quarters to cure. Semiconductor trade has been down since the CHIPS Act was enacted.

Hedged Strategies (Hedge Funds and Managed Futures): The current environment appears constructive for hedge fund managers who are good stock-pickers and can use leverage and risk management to 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.