S&P 500 CAPE Ratio vs. U.S. Households Holding of Equities % Total Financial Assets When everyone is piled into equities and valuations are stretched, there isn’t much cushion left. History doesn’t say a crash has to follow, but it does show that markets priced for perfection rarely handle surprises well. Image: Topdown Charts
Bloomberg U.S. Financial Conditions Index The Bloomberg U.S. Financial Conditions Index is at one of its most accommodative levels in years, a friendly setup for borrowing, fund-raising and broader risk appetite. Image: Deutsche Bank
S&P 500 Trailing 4-Quarter Net Profit Margin (Ex. Financials) With S&P 500 profit margins holding near 13% and rates still low, equity valuations have more room to breathe. Goldman Sachs now expects 7% annual returns over the coming decade, lifting its long‑term call from 3% back in 2024. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Financials Group Positioning Positioning in financials has improved, but it still sits at the 10th percentile, leaving ample room to add risk. With fundamentals holding up, that caution looks misplaced. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
U.S. Financial Conditions Index U.S. financial conditions have eased since March, pointing to a more growth‑friendly backdrop. Looser conditions typically give near‑term GDP a lift. Image: Deutsche Bank Research
GS Financial Conditions Index With markets advancing, confidence is firming, supported by looser U.S. financial conditions that are feeding through to stronger consumer spending and business investment. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 Quarterly Net Profit Margin (ex. Financials & Utilities) Corporate America is delivering solid profits, and with margins set to climb in the coming quarters, the bullish case keeps gaining traction. It’s getting harder to argue against that trend. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Returns for Major Global Financial Assets April was a standout month for the S&P 500, which surged 10.5%, even as U.S. Treasuries came under pressure amid rising inflation concerns and fading hopes for Fed rate cuts. Image: Deutsche Bank
Change in Global Financial Conditions Following 8 Largest Geopolitical Risk Shocks in the Middle East Even though past Middle East conflicts haven’t consistently tightened financial conditions, the global FCI is up 31bp. Sustained at this level, the squeeze could trim global GDP growth by roughly 0.3pp over the next year. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment…
Non-Financial Corporate Profits vs. 5-Year Average U.S. corporate profits have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, far outpacing the real economy. Past cycles warn that such imbalances eventually correct when market sentiment shifts. Image: Real Investment Advice
U.S. Financial Sector’s Profit vs. Labour Demand With so much of finance built on information processing, the sector may soon stand as the clearest example of how AI can lift earnings without lifting headcount. Image: Deutsche Bank