AAII Asset Allocation In February, U.S. retail investors dumped stocks, shifted into bonds, and cut cash holdings to their lowest since late 2021 as confidence in equities faded and markets braced for a bumpier spring. Image: Daily Chartbook
Cumulative Fund Flows Across Assets Many investors continue to favor the relative safety of bonds and money market funds over riskier equities, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and relatively high interest rates. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Risky vs. Safe Assets Fund Flows A tilt toward safe assets shows investors growing wary of market risk and intent on protecting capital. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Returns for Major Global Financial Assets Markets kicked off the year with solid gains in January, lifted by upbeat economic data that kept investors piling into risk assets. The S&P 500 briefly topped 7,000 for the first time, setting an optimistic tone for the months ahead. Image: Deutsche Bank
Gold Price vs. Other Assets You have to go all the way back to 1980 to find a time when gold looked this pricey against other assets. The question now is whether the metal cools while everything else catches up. Image: Bloomberg
Risk Appetite Indicator for Different Asset Classes Investors’ appetite for equities has surged, showing signs of overheating and leaving little margin for error. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Equity Net Long Positioning – Leveraged Funds and Asset Managers Net Future Positions Leveraged funds and asset managers aren’t back to their peak long bets in U.S. stock futures, and with growth resilient, easier policy, and profits steady, the rally might still have legs. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Cash to Total Assets S&P 500 and S&P 500 Ex-Financials The corporate cash cushion is thinning. S&P 500 firms have slashed their reserves from pandemic peaks, redirecting capital toward AI infrastructure, growth projects, and buybacks in a world where cash no longer comes cheap. Image: J.P. Morgan Equity Strategy and Global Quantitative Research
Positions in S&P 500 Equity Futures by Asset Managers Equity positioning is far from stretched. Asset managers haven’t returned to their peak long bets in U.S. stock futures, and with resilient growth, easier policy, and firm earnings, the rally may have more room to run into 2026. Image: Bloomberg
Asset Class Flow The surge of capital into U.S. stock funds in 2025 was largely fueled by optimism around growth prospects, strong earnings, and heavy investments by tech and AI giants. Image: J.P. Morgan Equity Derivatives Strategy
Median Global Real Return in USD by Asset Class While the 60/40 portfolio can’t match stocks in full bull mode, its long-run performance comes surprisingly close — a reminder that bonds still ground both risk and reward in a disciplined portfolio. Image: Deutsche Bank