Morgan Stanley(US:MS) Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-12-10 11:23Core 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].