Darius joined Maggie Lake on Real Vision’s Daily Briefing this week to discuss the implications of the recent FOMC meeting, fiscal policy, AI, and more.

If you missed the interview, here are the three most important takeaways from the conversation that have significant implications for your portfolio: 

1. The Federal Reserve Still Anticipates Three Rate Cuts in 2024

In this week’s meeting, the FOMC released its March Summary of Economic Projections. 

In their projections, the FOMC:

  • Increased the 2024 Real GDP forecast by 70 basis points to 2.1%, 2025 by 20 basis points to 2.0%, and 2026 by 10 basis points to 2.0% 
  • Lowered 2024 and 2026 Unemployment Rate projections to 4%
  • Increased 2025 Headline PCE Inflation by 10 basis points to 2.2%
  • Increased 2024 Core PCE Inflation by 20 basis points to 2.6% 
  • Retained three projected Fed Funds Rate cuts in 2024
  • Increase 2025 and 2026 Fed Funds rate projections by one hike each to 3.9% and 3.1%, respectively

Since the summer of 2022, we have maintained our ‘Resilient US Economy’ theme and its potential to contribute to inflation settling at a level unpalatable to the Fed. Based on their revised projections, the Fed now agrees with our no-landing call. 

2. The Fiscal Impulse Remains Decidedly Positive

The YoY growth rate of the Fiscal YTD US Treasury Federal Budget Net Receipts remains positive at 7%.

However, that lags the year-over-year growth rate of the Fiscal YTD US Treasury Federal Budget Net Outlays, which is currently 9%. This dynamic is further underscored by the 15% year-over-year increase in the Fiscal YTD US Treasury Federal Budget Balance, translating to an expansion in the budget deficit.

This incremental fiscal impulse we continue to see from the Biden Administration signifies an intentional effort to secure victory in the upcoming election.

3. The AI Theme May Be Overpriced for The Current Pace of Development And Deployment

While our overall outlook for the AI sector remains bullish, we anticipate gains to be increasingly experienced by other sectors, as we expect the market performance to continue broadening out as it has done over the past four to six weeks.

Furthermore, at 42 Macro, we closely monitor various metrics, including the combined S&P500 Tech & Communication Services Mean Price to Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) Earnings and Sales Ratios, along with the Combined Market Cap to S&P500 Market Cap ratio. Although the combined S&P500 Tech & Communication Services Mean Price to TTM Earnings ratio falls below the levels seen during the tech bubble in 2000, the Mean Price to TTM Sales and Market Cap as a % of the S&P 500 ratios exceed or match those observed during that period.

While these ratios may exceed these levels, we expect equity market performance to continue broadening out as investors acknowledge the high probability of the no-landing scenario.

That’s a wrap! 

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