The 1% Move Report

Wealth Management — September 19, 2024

• The S&P 500 increased 1.7% Thursday to end the day at 5,713.64, having gained 19.8% thus far in 2024.
• Eight of the 11 S&P sectors were higher on the day, as Information Technology (+3.1%) and Consumer Discretionary (+2.2%) were the strongest-performing S&P 500 sectors, while Utilities (-0.6%) and Consumer Staples (-0.6%) underperformed.
• By the 4:00 p.m. equity market close, the US 10-year Treasury yield increased to 3.71%; WTI Crude increased to $72.00 per barrel; and gold increased to 2,586.73.

• US equities reached a new all-time high, their 39th record close for 2024, after the Fed delivered an outsized 50-bp cut Wednesday. While investors initially hesitated with Wednesday's news, risk-on conditions prevailed shortly after yesterday's close through market open today, as investors viewed the Fed's approach as likely to solidify the probabilities for the soft-landing outcome. The Nasdaq 100 gained 2.9%, while the Russell 2000 increased for a seventh straight session.
• Initial jobless claims signaled labor market strength, declined to 219,000 last week (versus 230,000 consensus), and continuing jobless claims at 1,829,000 (versus 1,850,000 consensus), the lowest since May and June, respectively.
• ⁠The VIX Index, often referred to as the market’s fear gauge, receded below 17 on Thursday. It has remained well-contained, as the Fed's easing path has become clearer. Moreover, investors have expressed deepening confidence in healthy S&P 500 earnings growth into 2025, supported by robust revenue growth and expanding corporate margins.

• The GIC recommends preparing for sideways-churning markets, neutralizing portfolio tilts versus benchmarks, and erring on the side of asset class diversification. With megacap and large-cap stocks likely continuing to trump small caps, add international exposure, stay neutral-to-underweight duration in rates and corporate credit, and use real assets and hedge funds to help mitigate emerging risks. 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 rising confidence, 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 Europe, 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, currently, there appears to be 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.

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.