2024: A Year of Uncertainties for Global Markets

The anticipation of rate cuts by the FEDs has been met with skepticism this year, particularly in light of escalating inflationary pressures. Recent reports from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) comes in at 3.4% YoY, in line with expectations, while the unemployment rate hovers between 3.7% and 3.9%. These factors have contributed to a delay in expected rate cuts, with market confidence in bonds bolstering and yields rising in response.

After the last FED announcement, on March 20th, short-term bond yields fell slightly, but since then, the reference rates of the US Treasury Curve have been higher than the previous month.

The likelihood of rate cuts in the US before September 2024 seems low. If this situation continues, there will be a gap of 14 months or longer between the last rate hike (July 2023) and the first rate cut. According to Bloomberg data, markets anticipate only two cut rates this year, each of Quarter-Point, based on recent growth and employment data.

Outside the US, some Central Banks have begun to cut rates. The first two developed countries to cut rates were The Riskbank, Sweden’s central bank, and The Swiss National Bank, due to a continued economic weakness. The Bank of England is also expected to jump ahead of the FED and make a similar decision. Governor Andrew Bailey expressed confidence that inflation indicators showed signs of being under control and a rate cut could be expected before August.

This week, China is set to commence the sale of government bonds amounting to nearly 1 trillion yuan, as part of its efforts to bolster the economy. The initial offering will consist of 30-year bonds, and the announcement has been positively received by global financial markets.

In contrast to bonds, the prices of precious metals such as gold and silver have seen an upward trajectory. Market participants are increasingly turning to these safe-haven assets amidst the prevailing uncertainties. Analysts are closely studying the price dynamics between gold and silver, with some forecasting that silver’s performance may outshine gold. CNBC states that silver prices are more dependent on the economy because, along with jewelry, it is used in many industrial applications. Silver’s significant role in industrial applications, coupled with its positive correlation with gold, suggests a potential rise in silver prices following gold’s lead.

The highly anticipated Bitcoin halving event in April yielded only marginal price increases, dampening initial expectations. However, with diminishing prospects of rate cuts, investors may increasingly turn to cryptocurrencies as an alternative asset class in the future.

The major holdings in S&P are in the Information technology sector, with 29.7% weight in companies like Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and others.

The Information Technology (IT) sector, comprising major holdings in the S&P 500, has witnessed a downturn in stock prices over the past month. While pinpointing the exact reasons for this decline is challenging, it is speculated that these stocks may have been overvalued during the pandemic, and corrections are still underway. Heavy investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by tech giants have heightened dependency on semiconductor supply chains, exacerbating challenges posed by supply chain disruptions, rising interest rates, and inflation, which have increased expenditures for these firms.

The tech sector’s bond prices have also been affected by rising yields, as seen in Apple’s bond yield increase below.

On Monday, May 2nd, after better-than-expected quarterly results, Apple’s bond yield decreased but is still at higher levels than at the beginning of last month. Apple also announced a $110 billion share buyback, and shares soared over 6% by Friday, May 10th. The company’s value reached 2.86 trillion dollars.

The upcoming quarterly financial reports from tech companies will provide clearer insights into the sector’s performance. Despite surpassing earnings estimates, Meta’s stock price fell by 17% following its financial results announcement on April 24.

The falling stock price could be attributed to weak revenue guidance. However, Mark Zuckerberg focused on increased infrastructure investments to support the Artificial Intelligence (AI) roadmap.

With elections scheduled in approximately 64 countries, representing half of the world’s population, geopolitical landscapes are poised for transformation.

Key nations such as the USA, India, European Union members, Indonesia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and South Africa, among others, will be undergoing electoral processes, potentially reshaping the global economic landscape.

In navigating these political uncertainties, investors are increasingly exploring alternative assets such as commodities and digital assets. While traditional assets like stocks remain under scrutiny due to heightened volatility post-pandemic, bonds continue to serve as a resilient option amidst market fluctuations.

As we navigate the complexities of 2024, adaptability and strategic foresight will be paramount in navigating the ever-evolving financial terrain. Providing accurate valuations and pricing data will be paramount. You can rely on Confluence to provide you with independent valuation on your market data needs.

The information contained in this communication is for informational purposes only. Investment Metrics, a Confluence company, is not providing legal, financial, accounting, compliance or other similar services or advice through this communication. Recipients of this communication are responsible for understanding the regulatory and legal requirements applicable to their business.

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