With bonds and stocks rallying ahead of a crucial Federal Reserve meeting, traders are drawing parallels to the 1995 era when Alan Greenspan successfully navigated a soft landing for the U.S. economy. The focus now is on whether Fed Chair Jerome Powell will opt for a 25 or 50 basis point rate cut, and how it will impact the economy.
Historical data shows that during past Fed easing cycles, including the six analyzed since 1989, the S&P 500 Index, Treasuries, and gold typically rise when the Fed begins to lower rates. Traders are looking back at 1995 for guidance, a year when the Fed managed to reduce rates without triggering an economic downturn.
Kristina Hooper, Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco, believes the U.S. economy is on track to dodge a recession with the Fed's anticipated policy shift. "Once the Fed starts cutting rates, there will be a positive psychological effect that will support the market," she said.
The S&P 500 Index has historically gained an average of 13% in the six months following the first rate cut, except during the recessionary years of 2001 and 2007. Additionally, short-term Treasuries have usually outperformed long-term notes during these cycles, leading to a steeper yield curve. Gold has also delivered returns in four of the past six easing cycles, while the performance of the dollar and oil has been mixed.
As the Fed prepares to implement rate cuts, uncertainty looms with the upcoming presidential election. Candidates have starkly different economic policies, which could significantly affect global markets based on election outcomes and Congressional votes.
Salman Ahmed, Global Head of Macro and Strategic Asset Allocation at Fidelity International, has downgraded his rating of U.S. equities to neutral from overweight due to election risks. "The most likely scenario is a soft landing, but elections could introduce unique challenges," he noted.
In the 1995 easing cycle, Greenspan and the Fed managed to lower rates from 6% to 5.25% within six months, cooling the economy without causing a downturn. This time, with the Fed's target range at 5.25% to 5.5% for 14 months, bond traders are pricing in over 2 percentage points of easing over the next year. The S&P 500 is nearing an all-time high, and credit spreads are at historical lows.
Investor optimism for a soft landing is supported by strong corporate and household balance sheets, with record-high corporate profits and household wealth. "Inflation is no longer the primary concern; it's high interest rates," said Yung-Yu Ma, Chief Investment Officer at BMO Wealth Management. "By cutting rates now, the Fed may address this issue and prevent a downturn."
Bloomberg strategists suggest that Treasury bonds typically rally at the onset of a Fed easing cycle, particularly when it coincides with a weakening economy. However, in a soft landing scenario, bond performance may lag behind stocks.
Recent data shows a rotation into utilities and real estate sectors, which historically benefit from rate cuts if economic growth remains robust.
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