December 10, 2025 04:05 PM GMT Macro Webcast | Asia Pacific M Foundation Asia Economics: Why China will widen its lead in global manufacturing exports Morgan Stanley Asia Limited Chetan Ahya Chief Asia Economist Chetan.Ahya@morganstanley.com +852 2239-7812 For important disclosures, refer to the Disclosure Section, located at the end of this report. Downloaded by Neil.Wang@troweprice.com Not for redistribution without written consent of Morgan Stanley M Foundation Chetan Ahya Chief Asia Economist 2 M Founda ...

Summary of Key Points from the December FOMC Meeting Industry Overview - The document primarily discusses the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions and economic outlook, impacting the financial services and investment banking sectors. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Rate Cut Announcement**: The Federal Reserve reduced the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.5-3.75%[6][10][11]. 2. **Dissenting Opinions**: There were three dissents during the meeting; two members favored holding rates steady, while one member advocated for a larger 50 basis point cut[6][20]. 3. **Data Dependency**: Future rate adjustments will be more data-dependent, with Chair Powell indicating that the current rate is at the upper end of the Fed's neutral rate estimates, suggesting a cautious approach moving forward[9][24][25]. 4. **Labor Market Concerns**: The Fed expressed concerns about a cooling labor market, with unemployment rising slightly and payroll job growth averaging only 40,000 per month since April[26][30]. 5. **Inflation Outlook**: Inflation pressures are expected to remain, with the Fed projecting above-target inflation into 2027, indicating a trade-off between supporting the labor market and controlling inflation[33][34]. 6. **Economic Projections**: The Fed upgraded its GDP growth projections for 2026 and 2027 to 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, reflecting a modest improvement in economic activity[35][36]. 7. **Reserve Management Purchases**: The Fed will initiate purchases of Treasury bills at a pace of $40 billion per month to maintain ample reserves, which is distinct from quantitative easing[12][15][77]. 8. **Market Reactions**: The announcement led to a positive response in agency mortgages and a rally in Treasury yields, indicating market confidence in the Fed's approach[58][97]. Additional Important Content 1. **Future Rate Cuts**: The Fed is expected to consider further rate cuts in January and April, contingent on labor market data and inflation trends[9][30][31]. 2. **Risks to Economic Outlook**: The Fed sees a more balanced risk outlook compared to previous meetings, with fewer members indicating downside risks to GDP growth and fewer concerns about rising unemployment[37][39]. 3. **Currency Outlook**: The USD is expected to decline against AUD and CAD, supported by stronger local labor markets and central bank policies in those regions[84][85]. 4. **Housing Market Challenges**: Powell noted significant challenges in the housing market, including low supply and the impact of previously low mortgage rates on mobility[101]. This summary encapsulates the key insights from the FOMC meeting, highlighting the Fed's cautious stance on monetary policy amid evolving economic conditions.

Michael Wilson, Morgan Stanley's chief investment officer, says labor market data revisions could eventually drive the Fed to lower rates further. https://t.co/dBXSFcw9Za ...

Group 1 - Oil prices have experienced their worst year since the pandemic, with Wall Street predicting that the decline is not over yet [1] - The average forecast from major banks indicates that Brent crude oil futures, currently trading around $62 per barrel, will further decline to approximately $59 by 2026, reflecting a 17% drop this year [1] - The five banks predict a surplus of about 2.2 million barrels per day in the global oil market next year due to production exceeding demand growth [1] Group 2 - Goldman Sachs holds the most pessimistic forecast among the five banks, with an annual average price of $56 per barrel, while Citigroup is the most optimistic at $62 per barrel [4] - Goldman Sachs believes that delayed oil projects during the pandemic will come online, increasing supply in the market [4] - JPMorgan expects the oil surplus to be less than the reported figures, as the OPEC+ alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, may reverse its strategy and significantly cut production by mid-next year [4][5]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of Morgan Stanley Investment Management is that the current 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, close to 4%, may be too low relative to the economic outlook for the U.S. [1] - The company anticipates that economic growth in 2026 will face increasingly favorable tailwinds, suggesting a stronger growth environment combined with persistent inflation [1] - As a result, it is likely that the Federal Reserve will reduce interest rates less than what the current market pricing indicates over the next 12 to 18 months [1] Group 2 - In this context, Morgan Stanley Investment Management has adopted an underweight position on U.S. Treasuries [1]

Core Viewpoint - The market is currently focused on the high probability of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December, which has risen to nearly 90% from about 30% three weeks ago, indicating a shift in investor sentiment towards a potential "Santa Rally" in the stock market [1][2]. Group 1: Interest Rate Expectations - The market anticipates a third consecutive rate cut of 25 basis points, lowering the federal funds rate to a range of 3.5%–3.75% [2]. - Concerns about the labor market are driving the rationale for rate cuts, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.4% and the unemployment rate for college graduates aged 20-24 reaching 8.5%, up 3.5 percentage points from 2022 [2][3]. - The Federal Reserve's balance sheet has decreased to $6.5 trillion, with bank reserves at $2.9 trillion, leading to speculation about the potential resumption of quantitative easing to enhance market liquidity [3][4]. Group 2: Market Sentiment and Seasonal Trends - Despite a surprising sell-off in November, traders are preparing for a "Santa Rally," as December typically shows strong seasonal performance for U.S. stocks [5]. - The Nasdaq 100 index has historically outperformed other indices in December, with an average increase of 1.7%, and if it records positive returns, the average gain could rise to 6% [6]. - The Russell 2000 index has shown even stronger performance, with a December average return of 2.3% and a monthly average positive return of 4.3%, indicating its stability and potential for higher returns compared to major benchmarks [6]. Group 3: Long-term Market Outlook - Major Wall Street firms maintain a positive outlook for the market heading into 2026, with Morgan Stanley projecting the S&P 500 to reach 7800 points, supported by strong earnings growth and operational leverage [7]. - Bank of America adopts a more cautious stance, forecasting the S&P 500 to end 2026 at 7100 points, citing concerns over liquidity and the shift in capital expenditure priorities [8]. - There is a consensus among institutions regarding the ongoing earnings divergence, with AI leaders showing resilience while smaller companies may have greater recovery potential [8].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the high probability of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December, with market sentiment shifting towards a potential "Santa Rally" in the stock market as traders prepare for year-end performance [3][4]. Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The market anticipates a third consecutive rate cut of 25 basis points, lowering the federal funds rate to a range of 3.5% to 3.75% [4]. - Goldman Sachs highlights that the labor market is weakening, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.4% and the unemployment rate for college graduates aged 20-24 reaching 8.5%, indicating potential negative impacts on consumer spending [5][6]. - There is speculation about the Fed potentially restarting balance sheet expansion to increase market liquidity, with current assets at $6.5 trillion and bank reserves at $2.9 trillion [6][7]. Group 2: Market Sentiment and Seasonal Trends - Despite a surprising sell-off in November, traders are preparing for a "Santa Rally," as December typically shows strong seasonal performance for U.S. stocks [8][9]. - The Nasdaq 100 index has historically shown the highest returns in December, with an average increase of 1.7%, while the S&P 500 index has a 75.6% probability of positive returns [10]. Group 3: Wall Street Outlook for 2026 - Major Wall Street firms maintain a positive outlook for the market, with Morgan Stanley projecting the S&P 500 to reach 7800 points in the next 12 months, driven by strong earnings growth and operational leverage [12]. - Bank of America adopts a more cautious stance, forecasting a target of 7100 points for the S&P 500 by the end of 2026, citing concerns over liquidity and capital expenditure trends [13]. - Barclays notes a continuing trend of earnings divergence, with AI leaders showing resilience while smaller companies may have greater recovery potential [14].

Morgan Stanley's Michael Wilson thinks the Fed has been slow to cut rates into the start of a new bull market, which could mean more rate cuts in 2026 than expected, supporting stocks. Wilson's view underpins Morgan Stanley's bullish take on U.S. stocks, contrasting others' calls for anemic growth in the coming years. Investors can find confirmation that a new bull market began in April in S&P 500 constituents' earnings, which are now growing close to 10%, the best in four years, according to Wilson. "That ...

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that economic growth in China and India is expected to remain stable, but China faces significant challenges, particularly deflation [2][3] - The actual GDP growth rate in China is projected to remain stable when adjusted for price changes, but nominal GDP growth is expected to continue to be sluggish [2][3] - China is anticipated to transition from deflation to low inflation by 2026, with a complete exit from deflation expected by 2027 [3] Group 2 - The outlook for the Japanese economy is described as very optimistic [3] - Despite global economic uncertainties, Asian stock markets, including those in China, Japan, and India, have shown resilience recently [2]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...