Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report provides insights into various asset classes including equities, fixed income, foreign exchange (FX), and commodities, with a focus on market sentiment and positioning as of August 29, 2025. Key Highlights Equities - **S&P 500**: Closed at 6,460, with a forecast range for Q2 2026 between 4,900 (bear) and 7,200 (bull), indicating a potential return of -22.9% in a bear case and 12.7% in a bull case [3][7]. - **MSCI Europe**: Closed at 2,198, with a forecast range of 1,610 (bear) to 2,620 (bull), showing a bear case return of -23.6% and a bull case return of 22.4% [3]. - **Topix**: Closed at 3,075, with a forecast range of 2,100 (bear) to 3,250 (bull), indicating a bear case return of -29.5% [3]. - **MSCI Emerging Markets (EM)**: Closed at 1,258, with a forecast range of 870 (bear) to 1,360 (bull), showing a bear case return of -28.4% [3]. Foreign Exchange (FX) - **Japanese Yen (JPY)**: Forecasted to weaken to 147 against the USD, with a bear case return of 17.3% [3]. - **Euro (EUR)**: Expected to trade at 1.17 against the USD, with a bear case return of -4.4% [3]. - **Indian Rupee (INR)**: Reached an all-time low of 88.2 against the USD, with a forecast of 12.5% return in a bear case [11][12]. Fixed Income - **UST 10-Year**: Yield at 4.23%, with a forecast range of 3.45% (bull) to 4.00% (base) [3]. - **US Investment Grade (IG) Bonds**: Yield spread at 79 bps, with a bear case return of -2.7% [3]. Commodities - **Brent Crude Oil**: Closed at $68, with a forecast range of $50 (bear) to $120 (bull), indicating a bear case return of -24.2% [3]. - **Gold**: Closed at $3,429, with a forecast range of $2,975 (bear) to $4,200 (bull), showing a bear case return of -17.2% [3]. Market Sentiment and Positioning - The **Market Sentiment Indicator (MSI)** aggregates survey positioning, volatility, and momentum data to quantify market stress and sentiment, indicating a mixed sentiment across various asset classes [53][58]. - **Equity Positioning**: US equities show a net positioning of 28% among asset managers, while EM equities show a higher net positioning of 42% [66]. - **Bond Positioning**: UST 10-Year shows a net positioning of 38% among asset managers [66]. Additional Insights - The report highlights the importance of monitoring fund flows across approximately 5,000 ETFs globally, covering around $7 trillion in assets, to gauge demand across assets and regions [22]. - The **COVA (Correlation-Valuation) scorecard** identifies good portfolio diversifiers at reasonable prices, rewarding assets with negative correlation to equities and attractive valuations [85]. Conclusion - The current market environment reflects significant volatility and mixed sentiment across various asset classes, with potential risks and opportunities identified in equities, fixed income, FX, and commodities. Investors are advised to consider these factors in their investment decisions.

Investment Rating - The report provides a detailed forecast for various asset classes, indicating a bearish outlook for equities and a mixed sentiment for fixed income and commodities [2]. Core Insights - The report highlights significant declines in equity indices, with the S&P 500 expected to drop by 20.7% in a bear scenario, while the MSCI Europe is projected to decline by 22.3% [2]. - The report notes that the AAII survey for Net Bulls has reached a six-month high, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment [6]. - US Quality metrics have fallen to their lowest levels since 2001, suggesting deteriorating market conditions [6][9]. Summary by Sections Equities - S&P 500 forecasted returns range from 4,900 to 7,200, with a base case return of 4.7% [2]. - MSCI Europe shows a similar trend with a forecast range of 1,610 to 2,620 and a base case return of 7.3% [2]. - Topix is projected to decline by 23.3% in a bear scenario, with a base case return of 5.0% [2]. Fixed Income - UST 10-year yields are forecasted to range from 2.85% to 4.35%, with a base case return of 12.1% [2]. - US Investment Grade (IG) credit is expected to yield excess returns of -0.1% in a bear scenario [2]. Commodities - Brent crude oil is projected to have a bear case return of -23.6%, with a base case return of -8.3% [2]. - Gold is expected to decline by 20.6% in a bear scenario, with a base case return of -6.5% [2]. Market Sentiment - The Market Sentiment Indicator (MSI) reflects a negative sentiment shift, with various indicators showing increased volatility and negative positioning [55][62]. - The report indicates a significant divergence in positioning among asset managers, hedge funds, and dealers across different markets [62]. Cross-Asset Correlations - The report notes that cross-asset correlations have increased, with equities showing a correlation of 71% and credit at 82% [73]. - The correlation between equity and rates is notably negative at -7%, indicating a potential decoupling of these asset classes [73].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" (OW) position on cash, equities, credit, and bonds, while being "Underweight" (UW) on commodities for the next three months [3][21]. Core Insights - Emerging Market (EM) equities have shown resilience despite tariff uncertainties, with a projected earnings growth of 10% to 11% for CY 2025/26, which is 2-3 percentage points higher than previous forecasts [2][6]. - The S&P 500 had its best May performance since 1990, outperforming EM equities year-to-date, although EM equities have generally outperformed US equities in the same period [2][7]. - A weaker US Dollar is expected to support EM outperformance, as EM equities have historically benefited from a weaker Dollar [2][14]. Summary by Sections Economic Outlook - The report highlights the importance of upcoming economic data and decisions from G4 central banks, with expectations of a 25 basis point rate cut by the ECB and stable unemployment rates in the US [1][2]. Market Performance - The S&P 500's performance in May 2025 was notably strong, while EM equities have shown positive macro surprises, contrasting with muted US macro surprises [2][9]. Asset Allocation - The report suggests a diversified approach, advocating for international diversification in equities and bonds, and highlights the potential benefits of EM equity and local rates [3][6][21]. Correlation Analysis - The correlation between MSCI EM and the US Dollar has turned more positive, indicating a decoupling of EM rates from US rates, which may provide investment opportunities [16][18].