Why 'avocado and garlic' could be key AI market catalysts to watch

Market Trends & Key Themes - AI remains the most important theme in the market, with upcoming "Garlic" (OpenAI) and "Avocado" (Meta) LLM models expected around Q1, representing a major event for the industry [1][2] - Monetary policy globally will be less dovish in the coming year compared to the current year, although a monetary tailwind for the market and economy is still expected [5][6] - The Santa Claus rally is expected to kick off, with the final trading days of the year typically being seasonally strong [6] Economic Factors & Potential Risks - Large tax refunds are anticipated, potentially providing a tailwind for consumer activity [3] - Incremental Fed stimulus is expected in Q1, including a potential rate cut and ongoing asset purchases of T-bills [4] - Employment is identified as a major wild card, with companies potentially maintaining margins by limiting headcount additions, and AI possibly contributing marginally [11] - Affordability challenges are expected to ease, with housing likely to exert disinflationary pressure [10] - The narrative is expected to shift towards employment concerns, with a potential rise in the unemployment rate and increased job stress in more vulnerable sectors of the economy [12] Sector-Specific Observations - Micron's performance significantly boosted the tech sector, reversing earlier negative trends from Broadcom and Oracle earnings reports [7] - The positive momentum in the tech sector, driven by Micron, is likely to continue in the near term, especially with a relatively light calendar of major events and a seasonally favorable period [8]