The 'no landing' scenario that could support U.S. equities - UBS
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THE 'NO LANDING' SCENARIO THAT COULD SUPPORT U.S. EQUITIES - UBS
Since the Fed started hiking rates in 2022, debate has swirled over whether the U.S. economy faces a soft or hard landing, but Mark Haefele, global wealth management CIO at UBS, posits there could be a third alternative; a "no landing."
This would see inflation close to the Fed's target while growth stays at or surpasses previous trend estimates.
Too good to be true? Recent data suggests the "no landing" could be on the horizon for the U.S.
And on the back of some positive macroeconomic signs, UBS has upgraded U.S. equities to 'attractive' from 'neutral', targeting 6,600 for the S&P 500 by end-2025, which would see 13%-14% total returns from current levels.
The bank anticipate similar returns from the MSCI All Country World index, also upgraded to 'attractive.'
So what are the positive signs underpinning their optimism?
Haefele cites recent labor market data. Earlier this month, a blowout US employment report reinforced the U.S. economy's resilience.
Last week, data showed strong discretionary spending buoyed U.S. retail sales in September. U.S. GDP figures have also been revised higher in recent months.
Further bolstering Haefele's "no landing" vision is the fact that inflation continues trending downwards towards the Fed's target, and a looming U.S. election doesn't seem to be too much of a concern.
"The US presidential election is unlikely to derail positive fundamentals," writes the UBS CIO, though he does think volatility will rise in the run up.
"We would caution against knee-jerk or simplistic assumptions of equity market outcomes based on individual policies, as the potential implications will need to be viewed in the context of what can actually be implemented, and potential policy sequencing," he writes in a daily note.
(Lucy Raitano)
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