S&P 500 Returns Final Six Months When Up >10% at Midpoint of Year

S&P 500 Returns Final Six Months When Up >10% at Midpoint of Year Bulls are smiling again, as December has been the cheerleader of the U.S. stock market since WWII—always positive in election years when the S&P 500 is up 10% or more at the midpoint! Image: Carson Investment Research

Economic Forecasts

U.S. Economic Forecasts Deutsche Bank’s baseline forecast depicts a U.S. economy maintaining robust growth, with inflation gradually approaching the Fed’s 2% target and unemployment declining by the end of 2026. Image: Deutsche Bank

ISABELNET Cartoon of the Day

ISABELNET Cartoon of the Day In a bull market, asking a bear how to make more money is like asking a cat to take a bath—neither is likely to cooperate, especially with the U.S. stock market hitting record highs! Have a Great Day, Everyone! 😎

S&P 500 Ratio to Stoxx 600

S&P 500 Ratio to Stoxx 600 The S&P 500’s performance relative to the Stoxx 600 has hit the upper limit of its long-term channel. While U.S. equities may continue to lead due to strong growth potential, economic shifts could alter this trend. Image: Deutsche Bank

Interest Rates – Expectations for the Fed’s Policy Rate Path

Interest Rates – Expectations for the Fed’s Policy Rate Path Morgan Stanley expects more Fed rate cuts in the first half of 2025 than markets currently price in, as the impact of tariffs will likely hit the U.S. economy, despite inflationary risks. Image: Morgan Stanley Research

Share of Passive vs. Active Equity Funds

Share of U.S. Equity Mutual Fund and ETF AUM Passive U.S. equity funds surpassed active ones in 2020. Investors prefer them due to their lower fees, potential tax benefits, and the belief that active fund managers cannot consistently outperform the market. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

S&P 500 Index and BB to 10-Year Treasury Spread

S&P 500 Index and BB to 10-Year Treasury Spread Closely monitoring the junk to Treasury bond spread can provide valuable insights into the overall health and direction of the U.S. stock market, making it an important leading indicator to watch. Image: Real Investment Advice

S&P 500 Price Forecast

S&P 500 Price Forecast JPMorgan has shifted to a bullish outlook on U.S. stocks, setting a 2025 year-end S&P 500 target of 6,500, driven by U.S. economic strength, AI sector growth, a robust labor market, and monetary easing by central banks. Image: Bloomberg

Inflation Forecasts

Inflation Forecasts If Trump implements a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on imports from China, it could push U.S. core PCE inflation above 3% in 2025. Image: Deutsche Bank