Investment Insights
CIO Insights: The Only Rotation Is In Favor Of Defensives
Sunil Garg Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer
Table of Contents
The much championed rotation into small caps, on expectations of a monetary easing cycle, is reversing rapidly. As we argued in our note (When the FED Cuts, Cut Your Risk), any bullishness for small caps needs growth momentum - and this is precisely what is being challenged as progressive data points suggest an economy that is cooling off. While the FED remains confident of a “soft landing”, their behind the curve stance makes it all the more challenging.
In the meantime, defensive stocks appear to have broken out of a declining trend in force since beginning of 2023.
For now, any reversals are likely to fall in the category of a “dead cat bounce”. Bonds (duration), defensive and gold appear best positioned.
Defensives (Staples, Utilities, Healthcare) vs. SPY
Small Caps (Russell 2000) vs. SPX
Source:TradingView
