ab 22 December 2025 Powered by YES UBS Evidence Lab Global Research US Softlines Retail Industry Outlook: Expect a Good 2026 Start We remain bullish on Softlines stocks and are moderately more bullish m/m: New December survey data shows US consumers are feeling good overall and better m/ m. This is causing us to turn more bullish on Softline stocks than we were last month (link). We envision a satisfactory Holiday season finish and good 2026 start. We see few Softline companies missing consensus 4Q EPS expe ...

Market Overview - The Dow is up by 0.5% today, but remains in the red for the week [1] - The NASDAQ has increased by over 1% today, turning positive for the week, while the S&P 500 is up just under 1% [2] - The bond market shows a slight increase in yields, with the 10-year Treasury yield up by 3 basis points today [3] Sector Performance - Technology has been a strong performer this week, with large-cap tech (XLK) up by 2% [4] - Consumer discretionary, led by Tesla and Amazon, is up by 1.3%, while energy has seen a decline of about 3% [5] - Notable stock movements include Nvidia up by 3.74% and Goldman Sachs up by 2% [6] Economic Outlook - Markets are reacting to cooler inflation data and a strong growth backdrop anticipated for 2026 [7] - Investors are focusing on potential rate cuts, earnings, and sector rotation as they prepare for the new year [7] - The Federal Reserve has cut rates by 175 basis points from the highs, indicating a move closer to a neutral rate [13] Fiscal Stimulus and Growth - Significant fiscal stimulus is expected to impact the economy in 2026, including corporate and personal tax changes [16] - The potential for increased capital expenditures (capex) is anticipated due to new corporate stimulus measures [16] AI and Technology Sector - The AI theme remains volatile, with a shift from broad market exposure to more selective stock picking expected in 2026 [18] - The MAG 7 tech stocks have shown mixed performance, with some like Alphabet and Nvidia performing well, while others like Microsoft and Meta have lagged [19] Small Cap Stocks - Small caps have recently rebounded, but there are concerns about sustainability given past performance trends [23] - The current small-cap index composition differs significantly from historical norms, leading to skepticism about future growth [25] Retail Sector Insights - Rivian's stock has been upgraded by Wedbush, citing 2026 as a pivotal year for the company [27] - KB Home reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed estimates, indicating ongoing challenges in the housing market [29] - Nike's second-quarter results reflect a turbulent year for retailers, with uneven performance across the sector [31] Honeywell's Performance - Honeywell's stock has underperformed compared to the broader industrial market, largely due to limited exposure to AI and data center growth [90] - The company is expected to benefit from the spin-off of its aerospace business, which could enhance its market position [92] EV Market Outlook - The EV market is facing headwinds, including the expiration of tax credits, but long-term demand is expected to remain strong [74] - ChargePoint's CEO emphasizes the importance of innovation and product development to drive growth in the EV charging sector [78] - The commercial and fleet markets for EVs are anticipated to grow as businesses seek lower total cost of ownership [86]

Scott Croniner joins us from uh city. He's US equity strategist. Scott, not to ask how much you can deadlift, but feel free to offer, you know, [laughter] >> let's just say, Kelly, I can lift my weight, but that's about it.>> Which is looking like a little less than that. All right. So, you do think a more dovish Fed is is a plank of this bull market story.>> Yeah, it's it's kind of interesting. We just published a note that hit a few minutes ago that I I titled uh the data is dead, long live the data. And ...

Joining us now for more on the markets and jobs, Joe Mato, president CIO at Newberger Berman. Joe, great to have you with us. Good >> to be here.Thank you. >> Um, it's interesting to get the jobs report now after the Fed decision. How important is this for you.>> I think the data is really important. I think the state of the labor market is one of the critical issues in terms of determining what the Fed path is going to be. And, you know, our sense is you're going to continue to see a grinding, weaker labor ...

The Swedish economy is set to break a three-year spell of near-stagnation as monetary and fiscal stimulus help revive household spending in 2026 https://t.co/g0baOSsOb9 ...

Very good morning to you. So we're busy waiting for nonfarm payrolls. One and a half non-farm payrolls.Looking at us features a little bit weaker, weighing on sentiment for tech here in Europe as well. What do you make of the price action heading into the yet important data points. It's been very disappointing price action and I think this kind of choppy price action with a negative bent is going to be the dynamic for the festive period.I don't think it's so much about the jobs data. I think the job today i ...

Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Reserve is currently exhibiting a divided stance, with some members favoring steady rates while others are more inclined towards rate cuts, indicating instability within the Fed [2][4][5] - The probability of a rate cut has fluctuated significantly, moving from 44% to over 90% within a short period, which is unusual and reflects market uncertainty [5][6] Market Conditions - The current accommodative monetary policy is seen as beneficial for equities, particularly small-cap stocks, with projections suggesting 2026 could be favorable for this segment [2][10] - The Fed has injected billions into the economy recently, transitioning back to quantitative easing, which may lead to currency devaluation [12][13] Investment Opportunities - Companies like L, which has a strong history of dividend growth and is currently 20% off its all-time high, are viewed as potential value plays [14] - Visa is highlighted as a strong investment due to its transition from traditional finance to blockchain technology, supported by significant free cash flow and a long history of dividend growth [16][18] Sector Analysis - The technology sector, particularly companies involved in AI and blockchain, is seen as a key area for growth, with Oracle facing pushback due to its debt financing strategy [7][9][19] - The overall economic stimulus from government spending is expected to positively impact equities, although its effects on the bond market may differ [10][11]

Economic Outlook and Market Sentiment - The US economy is expected to support stock performance in early 2026 due to monetary and fiscal stimulus, as well as ongoing AI capital expenditures [1][2] - The AI capital expenditure cycle is anticipated to evolve through three phases: expansion, implementation, and realization, with various companies positioned to benefit at each stage [1][2] AI and Technology Sector - Companies like Nvidia are currently leading the AI buildout, but there is a need for broader participation from other firms to drive the next phase of AI development [1] - The H200 AI chips from Nvidia are expected to be more powerful than existing Chinese alternatives, although there are concerns about actual demand from China [2][3][4] Small Cap Stocks - A shift is expected in small cap stocks from low-quality rallies to a focus on companies with high return on invested capital (ROIC) and consistent profitability [1][2] - Companies like Mueller Industries are highlighted as undervalued opportunities within the industrial sector, benefiting from the ongoing economic buildout [1] Consumer Discretionary vs. Staples - A preference for consumer discretionary stocks over staples is noted, driven by anticipated improvements in consumer spending, particularly among lower-end consumers [2] - Home Depot is identified as a particularly attractive investment opportunity within the consumer discretionary space, especially as housing markets recover [2] Oracle's Earnings Expectations - Oracle's AI cloud business is projected to see significant revenue growth, with expectations of a 68% increase in cloud infrastructure revenue [6][7] - Analysts are closely monitoring Oracle's capital expenditures and free cash flow implications as the company invests heavily in AI data center infrastructure [9][10] Regulatory and Political Landscape - The Supreme Court's potential ruling on Trump tariffs could significantly impact various sectors, with implications for companies like Nike and Walmart if tariffs are lifted [11][12] - The likelihood of extending ACA subsidies has decreased, which may affect healthcare companies and the broader market as affordability concerns rise [24][25]

2026 is the year of the yellow fruit, according to @raoulGMI as he kicks off Day 2 of #BinanceBlockchainWeek and moderated by Nic from @coinbureau“Liquidity, a weaker dollar, and big fiscal stimulus – those are the marker stones to watch.” - His outlook for 2026. https://t.co/E10Ow3lEbl ...

Renminbi Exchange Rate and Policy Recommendations - The renminbi is at its weakest since 2012 in real effective terms, having depreciated about 16% over the past ten years [2] - The US dollar is at its strongest in almost 40 years in real effective terms, although it has weakened from an index of 110 at the beginning of the year to about 100 [2] - Exchange rates should be determined by market forces, considering fundamentals, interest rates, and capital flows [7] - Policymakers should consider a combination of monetary and fiscal easing to achieve both a stronger renminbi and escape the low inflation zone [14] - A modest appreciation of the renminbi is unlikely to hurt Chinese companies' competitiveness [16] Renminbi Internationalization - The renminbi is already a reserve currency as it joined the SDR basket ten years ago, but its share is still low at 2% to 3% [18] - The shift from high to low interest rates in China makes it cheaper to borrow in renminbi, favoring internationalization [20] - Further opening up access to Chinese markets for foreigners and vice versa is needed [21][22] - More Chinese bonds should be issued both domestically and offshore to supply safe assets [23] Consumption and Investment Strategies - Boosting labor income requires a strong job market, while transfer income has slowed due to local government difficulties [24][25] - The marginal propensity to consume in China has decreased from $0.68 to $0.66 per dollar earned, indicating cautiousness [26] - Both Hong Kong and mainland markets are good strategies for equity allocation, considering the global monetary reset [31][32]