Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs indicates that the U.S. economy is at a critical juncture, with concerns about recession and expectations for interest rate cuts creating a challenging environment for investors [1][3] Economic Signals - The U.S. job market shows signs of weakness, with increasing risks of economic slowdown [3] - The July non-farm payroll data was significantly revised downward, which may signal a turning point in the economy [4][5] - The labor market is characterized by low hiring but no large-scale layoffs, aligning with other signs of economic weakness [4] Interest Rate Expectations - The market has shifted its expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, with a high likelihood of a cut in September [6] - The anticipated number of rate cuts for the year has increased to more than two [6] - Short-term U.S. Treasury yields are expected to decline further, with the yield curve for 2-year and 5-year bonds potentially steepening [6] Investment Strategies - Investors face the challenge of finding assets that can benefit from expected rate cuts while also providing protection against the risk of a deep recession [3] - Options products betting on accelerated rate cuts are becoming attractive as a "recession protection" tool due to declining market volatility [7]