Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>US LEI release for December signals a weakening US economy</li>
<li>The annual growth rate of US LEI is deeply negative</li>
<li>December Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply indicating slower growth worldwide</li>
</ul>


US LEI release for December signals a weakening US economy
The annual growth rate of US LEI is deeply negative
December Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply indicating slower growth worldwide


Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist, True Insights

Jeroen Blokland

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist

Build Well-Diversified Multi-Asset Portfolios

True Insights

Our research helps investors build well-diversified multi-asset portfolios and profit from market developments. In addition, our unique and proven Macro – Sentiment – Valuation (MSV) investment framework ensures a consistent flow of new investment opportunities. Together with our market views, these opportunities will be reflected in our live ETF-based Global Multi-Asset Portfolios.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Despite the rise and rise of the Magnificent 7, clues that this has made the S&amp;P 500 Index, and hence US stocks riskier, are limited.</li>
<li>However, looking at betas against other stock market indices and other asset classes reveals that risk associated with US stocks is trending slightly higher.</li>
<li>The key takeaway from this analysis, however, is that Treasuries - showing higher volatility and less diversification benefits - ARE quickly losing their appeal within a multi-asset portfolio.</li>
</ul>


Despite the rise and rise of the Magnificent 7, clues that this has made the S&amp;P 500 Index, and hence US stocks riskier, are limited.
However, looking at betas against other stock market indices and other asset classes reveals that risk associated with US stocks is trending slightly higher.
The key takeaway from this analysis, however, is that Treasuries - showing higher volatility and less diversification benefits - ARE quickly losing their appeal within a multi-asset portfolio.


Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was down by 6.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (54.6% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 8.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 10.0%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: FE, CPWHF, GPHOF, WUC, EGT, BRDS, EOSE, BNET, GCEI, VECO</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was down by 6.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (54.6% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 8.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 10.0%.Top 10 Performers: FE, CPWHF, GPHOF, WUC, EGT, BRDS, EOSE, BNET, GCEI, VECO

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The Empire State Manufacturing Survey has crashed! Only two months during COVID-19 were worse. So, how bad is it?</li>
<li>China is a mess. And it just got worse. The Hang Seng Index collapsed. Are Chinese stocks a buy yet?</li>
<li>UK inflation added to the ‘we must remain hawkish’ narrative of central banks. Yet, many rate cuts are coming.</li>
</ul>


The Empire State Manufacturing Survey has crashed! Only two months during COVID-19 were worse. So, how bad is it?
China is a mess. And it just got worse. The Hang Seng Index collapsed. Are Chinese stocks a buy yet?
UK inflation added to the ‘we must remain hawkish’ narrative of central banks. Yet, many rate cuts are coming.


The Weekly Market Monitor – US Hawkishness, Bitcoin Memes, and China's Value Trap

Energy Transition | AI | Shifting World Order, Mint Finance

Suhas Reddy

Energy Transition | AI | Shifting World Order

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

<ul>
<li>Retail sales in December rose by 0.6% MoM, beating analyst expectations. Core retail sales also grew stronger than expected. </li>
<li>Automobile, clothing and accessories, and online store sales led growth on a MoM basis, while food services sales growth remained flat.</li>
<li>Given the buoyant growth in sales, traders pared back their expectations of a Fed interest rate cut in March 2024.</li>
</ul>


Retail sales in December rose by 0.6% MoM, beating analyst expectations. Core retail sales also grew stronger than expected. 
Automobile, clothing and accessories, and online store sales led growth on a MoM basis, while food services sales growth remained flat.
Given the buoyant growth in sales, traders pared back their expectations of a Fed interest rate cut in March 2024.


Mint Macro Roundup: Upbeat US Retail Sales in Dec Trims Markets Rate Cut Expectations in March

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...

Rikki Malik

Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

The quick answer is that the Magnificent 7 are not a significant threat to the risk-return characteristics of your portfolio. However, the case for...

Jeroen Blokland

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).

Water Tower Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – US Hawkishness, Bitcoin Memes, and China's Value Trap

The Weekly Market Monitor! Start your week in financial markets, with some of last week’s biggest surprises, stories and charts.

Jeroen Blokland

Mint Macro Roundup: Upbeat US Retail Sales in Dec Trims Markets Rate Cut Expectations in March

US retail sales in December beat expectations, driven by strong growth in automobile, clothing, and online store sales. Market anticipation of Fed...

Mint Finance

Data Points to Continuing Signs of a Slowing US Economy

​US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...

Rikki Malik

Are the Magnificent 7 a Danger to Your Portfolio?

The quick answer is that the Magnificent 7 are not a significant threat to the risk-return characteristics of your portfolio. However, the case for...

Jeroen Blokland

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended January 19, 2024

The WTR Sustainable Index was down by 4.0% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 0.3%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 2.9%).

Water Tower Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – US Hawkishness, Bitcoin Memes, and China's Value Trap

The Weekly Market Monitor! Start your week in financial markets, with some of last week’s biggest surprises, stories and charts.

Jeroen Blokland

Mint Macro Roundup: Upbeat US Retail Sales in Dec Trims Markets Rate Cut Expectations in March

US retail sales in December beat expectations, driven by strong growth in automobile, clothing, and online store sales. Market anticipation of Fed...

Mint Finance

US LEI for December shows a weakening economy with a deeply negative annual growth rate, while Taiwan Export Orders contract sharply, signaling...