Is President Trump Engineering A Hard Reset?—Darius Dale on Negocios TV

Darius Dale recently sat down with Víctor Hugo Rodríguez to break down the impact of fiscal tightening, global debt refinancing risks, and the Federal Reserve’s next move. If you missed the interview, here are three key takeaways that may have huge implications for your portfolio:

1) The U.S. Economy Is Slowing Faster Than Expected

Darius warns that the U.S. economy is decelerating more quickly than consensus expects, as both fiscal tightening and policy uncertainty weigh on growth. The economy had been artificially boosted by government spending, but that effect is now wearing off. Meanwhile, the federal deficit has surged by 38% this fiscal year and by nearly 30% on a calendar-year basis, increasing the risk of a faster-than-expected slowdown from this artificial sugar high.

Key Takeaway:
Without policy intervention, the risk of a full blown crash in the stock market is rising. The Fed’s response will be crucial in determining whether the market can stabilize. We do not currently anticipate the Fed will be proactive enough.

2) The Global Debt Refinancing Crunch Could Trigger Forced Deleveraging

Roughly 20-25% of global non-financial sector debt must be refinanced in 2025, creating a massive liquidity gap. The key question: Who will absorb this debt? With investor balance sheets stretched and the Fed unlikely to launch QE soon, liquidity shortages could force asset sales and amplify volatility.

Key Takeaway:
Investors should watch credit markets closely—signs of stress here could signal broader market fragility and a sharp repricing of risk assets.

3) Defensive Positioning Is Critical in a Liquidity Vacuum

Darius argues that investor expectations remain too optimistic, despite sizable downside risks to growth. In this environment, capital preservation should take priority. Defensive positioning includes raising cash, rotating up in credit quality, and shifting toward defensive equities like consumer staples and utilities.

Key Takeaway:
The safest sectors in this environment are defensive dividend stocks like utilities and consumer staples, while high-beta cyclical assets tied to trade remain vulnerable.

Final Thought: The Fed’s Dilemma Will Define 2025

The Fed faces a tough choice: stick to its 2% inflation target or intervene with liquidity support to stabilize markets. If inflation reaccelerates while growth slows, the Fed may need to revise its inflation target higher to justify adequate monetary easing. The macro landscape is shifting fast—investors must stay ahead of these critical developments.

If you are not confident your portfolio is positioned correctly for the evolving macro landscape, partner with 42 Macro for data-driven insights and proven risk management overlays—KISS and Dr. Mo—to help you stay on the right side of market risk.

THE MACRO CLASS

No catch—just real insights to help you stay ahead in the #Team42 community.

Best of luck out there,

— Team 42

Tracking The Invisible Gorilla—Darius Dale & Hugh Hendry on Pro to Pro

Darius Dale, 42 Macro Founder and CEO, sat down with legendary macro investor Hugh Hendry to dissect the Eurodollar system, the Yen carry trade, and the potential for a global liquidity squeeze. If you missed the interview, here are three key takeaways that may have huge implications for your portfolio:

1) The Eurodollar System Fuels the Overvaluation of Everything

Hugh argues that global liquidity isn’t controlled by central banks but rather by the Eurodollar system—an unregulated, highly leveraged financial network that drives global credit expansion. For decades, foreign banks have used U.S. Treasuries, JGBs, and European bonds as collateral to create vast amounts of off-balance-sheet credit, inflating asset prices worldwide. However, as cracks emerge in global markets, liquidity may be tightening faster than investors realize.

Key Takeaway:
The Eurodollar system, not the Fed, dictates market liquidity—watch for signs of stress that could trigger a sharp repricing of risk assets.

2) The Yen Carry Trade Is Unwinding, and It’s Not Over

The Japanese banking system has been a major source of global liquidity, using JGBs to access dollars via Eurodollar swaps. But BOJ tightening amid a U.S. growth scare risks triggering a broader unwind of global risk-taking.

Key Takeaway:
A deepening US growth scare would be a major macro shock, potentially triggering forced deleveraging across global markets.

3) Trump’s Policies Could Engineer a Deep Recession—By Design

Hugh suggests Trump may be embracing a Paul Volcker-style economic shock by deliberately pushing for austerity, tariffs, and aggressive spending cuts. The goal? Trigger short-term pain to force a hard economic reset. Meanwhile, the Fed’s recent rate cuts weren’t about supporting the economy—they were about steepening the yield curve to prevent a flood of mortgage refinancing that could have reignited inflation.

Key Takeaway:
Markets should prepare for policy-driven volatility, as accelerated fiscal tightening collides with delayed monetary easing.

Final Thought: The Death of Money?

We may be witnessing a paradigm shift in global finance. The pillars that have supported market liquidity for decades—the Eurodollar system, Japan’s banking sector, and China’s dollar recycling—are all under pressure. If these liquidity engines unwind, we could see a prolonged bear market and a potential hard reset of the global financial system. The macro landscape is shifting fast—investors must stay ahead of these critical developments.

THE MACRO CLASS

No catch—just real insights to help you stay ahead in the #Team42 community.

Best of luck out there,

— Team 42

Is Trump Crashing The Market On Purpose?

Is Trump Crashing The Market On Purpose?

Darius Dale, 42 Macro Founder & CEO, joined Anthony Pompliano on The Pomp Podcast to break down the potential market impact of Trump’s economic policies, the Fed’s inflation dilemma, and why the government might be engineering short-term pain for long-term gain. If you missed the podcast, here are three key takeaways that may have huge implications for your portfolio:

1) Is Trump “Kitchen-Sinking” the Economy to Rebuild It?

Darius likens Trump’s approach to President Reagan’s 1980s strategy—short-term pain to reset the system. By implementing tariffs, restricting immigration, and perpetuating maximum uncertainty among investors, consumers, and businesses, the administration appears to be forcing a hard reset toward a supply-side economy. While the long-term goal may be economic expansion, markets are reacting to the immediate downside risks, as uncertainty weighs on growth and sentiment relative to elevated expectations.
Key Takeaway:
While short-term pain may lead to long-term gains, the adverse sequence of policy implementation should not be ignored.

2) Policy Uncertainty Is Freezing Consumer & Business Confidence

Consumer spending has slowed despite rising disposable income, as people increase savings due to economic uncertainty. Businesses are also holding back on investment, with Q4 real business investment contracting over 3%. This hesitation is already showing up in slowing growth data, and if uncertainty lingers, it could push the U.S. into a deeper slowdown than previously expected.

Key Takeaway:
Without clarity on fiscal policy—especially tax cuts and deregulation—the economy and asset markets may struggle to sustain upside momentum.

3) Will the Fed Quietly Raise Its Inflation Target Again?

Darius’ secular inflation model suggests the U.S. equilibrium Core PCE inflation rate has shifted to 2.7-3.3%, making the Fed’s 2.0% target increasingly unrealistic.If growth continues to slow and inflation trends higher in 2025, the Fed will be forced to either tighten policy, risking recession, or revise its target higher to provide more flexibility for market support.
Key Takeaway:
A shift in the Fed’s stance on inflation could be one of the biggest market catalysts of the year, dictating liquidity trends and risk appetite. We expect the FED to cave and provide liquidity, but it may not do so proactively—risking a potential crash.

Final Thought: Navigating an Era of Economic Reset

Markets are in a tug-of-war between short-term economic uncertainty and long-term economic prosperity. A successful shift to a supply-side economy could sustain the economic expansion, but near-term turbulence may be unavoidable. Liquidity trends and Fed policy will determine whether this reset builds strength or triggers deeper downturns. Investors must stay agile and ahead of macro shifts.

THE MACRO CLASS

No catch—just real insights to help you stay ahead in the #Team42 community.

Best of luck out there,

— Team 42