U.S. ISM Manufacturing and Services Survey Data Economists call it a “soft recession” when factories slow but services keep humming. That resilience on the services side is what kept the U.S. out of a recession. But if services begin to crack, things could shift quickly. Image: Real Investment Advice
S&P 500 Four-Year Presidential Cycle During midterm election years, U.S. stocks tend to turn more volatile and take a breather, tracing the familiar four-year presidential cycle. This choppiness is common as policy uncertainty peaks before elections. Image: Carson Investment Research
Probability of S&P 500 Drawdown / Rally In the days following “Liberation Day,” the odds of a sharp rally were high. Now, the balance has flipped: drawdown risk feels heavier, and equity asymmetry reflects a classic late-cycle mood. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Truck Tonnage vs. S&P 500 Index The Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.4% in January. Trucks represent 72.7% of U.S. freight and serve as a barometer of the U.S. economy. This chart shows that, historically, the U.S. stock market has tended to increase in line with the physical size and expansion of the U.S. economy (R²…
Estimated Exposure to AI Automation Investors are punishing U.S. sectors most exposed to AI‑driven automation, betting that vulnerable business models will struggle to keep pace, despite steady fundamentals. Automation’s shockwaves are reshaping entire sectors. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Hyperscaler Quarterly Capex Growth Later in 2026, hyperscalers are expected to ease capex growth, a shift that could drag on valuations but also leave them vulnerable in the supply-strained fight for AI dominance. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
U.S. New Private Housing Units Authorized by Building Permits and Recessions In December, U.S. building permits rose to 1.448 million. Historically, building permits tend to peak and then decline prior to economic recessions. Image: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Congressional Budget Office Forecast of 10-Year U.S. Treasury Yield The Congressional Budget Office sees the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield edging higher over the next few years as swelling federal debt puts upward pressure on borrowing costs. Deficits have a price. Image: Deutsche Bank
Real S&P 500 Index vs. Conflicts Markets hate uncertainty. History shows that the S&P 500 tends to stumble when major conflict breaks out, but it usually rebounds quickly unless demand or earnings take a real hit. Image: Real Investment Advice
S&P 500 Four Month Range The S&P 500 has spent four months drifting in a tight range, the kind of calm that rarely lasts. Which way it breaks is anyone’s guess, but as traders like to say, don’t short a dull market. Image: Carson Investment Research
Sectors Positioning (High Frequency) Positioning in mega-cap growth and tech has kept sliding and now sits slightly underweight, similar to cyclical sectors. A rebound in momentum could turn that into an opportunity. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation