Category: Blog

Cumulative Bull vs. Bear Markets Why do bear markets matter? Because most of the gains of an inflation-adjusted bull run can be erased when the next downturn hits. Image: Real Investment Advice

S&P 500 Bull Markets Eight years and 288% gains—that’s on average the bull market playbook over the past 50 years. As today’s bull market enters its third year, there’s reason to believe the party is far from over. Image: Carson Investment Research

Probability of U.S. Recession In the Next 1 Year Goldman Sachs sees a 30% chance of a U.S. recession within the next year—higher than the long-run norm, but still pointing to only moderate downside risks. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

Contribution of Sector Groups to S&P 500 Earnings Growth MCG and Tech have all but carried the market lately, fueling nearly 90% of the S&P 500’s earnings growth. Wall Street’s climb is still a tech‑powered story, with breadth across other sectors stubbornly missing. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation

Large Cap Equity Positioning Markets overall are far from stretched, but in large-cap equities, positioning has climbed to the 82nd percentile, where momentum in big-name stocks is clearly picking up. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation

S&P 500 Index and Barclays Equity Timing Indicator Barclays’ Equity Timing Indicator—a gauge of 19 market and economic signals—is tilting bullish, implying an 82% chance the S&P 500 rises over the next two months, with past setups since 2015 delivering roughly 4% on average. Image: Bloomberg

S&P 500 Returns when New Highs Are Made in August, September, and October History is on the bulls’ side: whenever the S&P 500 has hit new highs in August, September, and October, the fourth quarter has never finished in the red since 1950—a track record market participants can’t ignore. Image: Carson Investment Research

Equities – MSCI U.S. vs. MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. American equities are falling out of step with their global peers, lagging by roughly 9%—the biggest divide since 2009—amid currency shifts and a revival of interest in foreign markets. Image: Bloomberg

S&P 500 Returns When New Highs Are Made In October Bulls welcome October’s new highs, knowing the fourth quarter has been kind: markets have risen more than 90% of the time, with average gains of 4.9% going back to 1950. Image: Carson Investment Research

Gold ETF Holdings The surge in Western gold ETF holdings tells a story of fragile nerves and strong convictions—uncertain macro signals, anticipated rate cuts, and a search for safety pushing both private investors and central banks deeper into bullion. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

Valuation – S&P 500 CAPE Ratio For a while, valuations look irrelevant—until they dictate everything. Over the past 150 years, stretched multiples have reliably led to leaner returns, with the last three peaks leaving investors underwater in real terms over the next ten years. Image: Deutsche Bank