A Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, itContinueContinue reading “A Tale of Two Cities”

Update on Equity Sector Outlook

The U.S. economy continues to show economic resilience, with GDP expanding 0.8% q/q (3.2% annualized) in the final quarter of 2023. It appears that resilience continues into the new year with the Atlanta Fed GDPNow currently pointing to a 2.8% q/q (annualized) expansion for the first quarter. In addition, ISM Manufacturing and Services PMI mayContinueContinue reading “Update on Equity Sector Outlook”

Can the Stock Market Handle Fed Tightening and Slowing Growth?

Download PDF: 202204_testing_timeDownload Three fundamental events have shaped the first quarter of 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine, Federal Reserve’s hawkish monetary policy guidance and delivery of its first policy rate hike since the pandemic began, and greater reflationary efforts by Chinese authorities to stimulate growth. All these happened on the backdrop of a strong U.S.ContinueContinue reading “Can the Stock Market Handle Fed Tightening and Slowing Growth?”

Strength of the U.S. Economy and Implications of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

Download PDF: 202203-thoughts-on-macro-and-equity-strategyDownload Three market moves have dominated the macro landscape in the past quarter amid the Fed tightening policy and geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe: rise in Treasury yields, strengthening dollar, and rally in oil prices. These all amount to a growth tax for consumers, which will inevitably lead to a growth slowdown inContinueContinue reading “Strength of the U.S. Economy and Implications of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion”

Macro Landscape and The Fed

Expectation of a more aggressive Fed rate hike amid longer-than-expected inflationary pressure triggered a violent repricing of U.S. stock market in January this year. Core PCE inflation in December continue to rise 4.85% over the previous year, driven primarily by higher energy and food prices, and pandemic-related items. Meanwhile, unemployment rate continues to decline toContinueContinue reading “Macro Landscape and The Fed”

U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection

Last week the Chinese central bank finally cut one-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) by 10bps from 3.8% to 3.7%, and also cut five-year LPR by 5bps to 4.60%, the first cut since April 2020 when global economy was in the midst of pandemic uncertainty. In the past two months we have also seen the creditContinueContinue reading “U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection”

Lessons from Japan: Automation and Reshoring of Supply Chain

Download PDF: automation-and-reshoring-of-supply-chainDownload There are two main drivers of global deflationary trend in the past 30 years: rising global trade allowed by the shift towards greater openness in China and former Soviet countries and the explosion of productive-age population facilitated by the baby boomer generation (Chart 1). In 1989, the wage gap between the developedContinueContinue reading “Lessons from Japan: Automation and Reshoring of Supply Chain”

U.S. Equity Strategy: Sector Selection Amid Slowing Global Growth

Download PDF: us-equity-sector-strategyDownload The 2021 post-pandemic recovery has been impressive, with record amount of fiscal stimulus propping up household spending and the corporate sector turning into a capex hyperdrive. Meanwhile, the Fed maintained an ultra-loose monetary policy and tilted toward the dovish side in the first half of the year, which fuel the froth andContinueContinue reading “U.S. Equity Strategy: Sector Selection Amid Slowing Global Growth”

Global Macro Outlook 2022 – A Year of Policy Reversal and Cross-Cyclical Adjustments

This research paper is prepared by and is the property of H-o-l-o-c-e-n-e.com and Putamen Capital and is circulated for informational and educational purposes only. This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other groupContinueContinue reading “Global Macro Outlook 2022 – A Year of Policy Reversal and Cross-Cyclical Adjustments”

Peak Growth: Cycle in Review, Commodities, and Precious Metals

Download PDF: monthly_202106Download Blow-out number of various economic indicators coming in the past weeks – PMI, retail sales, inflation – suggest that the global cycle is peaking out and the strongest period of growth is in the rear-view mirror.  In the short-term, the risk assets rally that began in March 2020 is likely to takeContinueContinue reading “Peak Growth: Cycle in Review, Commodities, and Precious Metals”