Quarterly Outlook
Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun
Peter Garnry
Chief Investment Strategist
Chief Investment Strategist
Summary: This past year was one long roller-coaster ride for equities with the highs and the lows punctuated by a mishmash of mixed messages, misinterpreted signals and even – wait for it – what could be a gargantuan policy misstep.
As planets orbiting stars, financial markets have gone full circle from a year ago. The headlines of late 2017 and early 2018 headlines were replete with bullish noises about how great the economy had become and how animal spirits had been let loose. From early November 2017 to late January 2018 the S&P 500 gained around 11% as logic was left outside in the cold. We didn't buy the hype and our Q1 2018 Equity Outlook was coined “The most important year since 2008” and our main point was:
“For Q1 we acknowledge the strong price momentum and upbeat expectations together with what will likely become a strong earnings season reflecting past events. This is causing us to believe equities can push higher very short-term but that in the second half of Q1 macro data will begin to disappoint against expectations causing an equity correction above 7%, something we have not seen since Brexit.” (Q1 2018 Quarterly Outlook)
The word “synchronous” was the buzzword of 2018 as Quartz so eloquently put in on 31 January 2018. While S&P 500 was already down 1.7% from the peak the editors of Quartz had likely not anticipated the next event.
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)