Michael Howell: Peaking Liquidity Suggests A Flat To Down Year Ahead For Stocks
Jan 23, 2025
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Michael Howell, the Founder and CEO of Crossborder Capital, dives into the intricate world of global liquidity and its sway over financial markets. He shares insights on the mixed economic landscape, highlighting growth in the US versus challenges in China. Howell emphasizes the cyclical nature of liquidity, warning of potential downturns ahead for stocks. He also discusses the implications of rising debt and Federal Reserve policies on asset classes and offers thoughts on gold's future in the market.
Michael Howell emphasizes that peaking liquidity suggests potential for flat or declining stock returns after recent gains.
The mixed global economic landscape shows positive growth in the U.S. while China faces severe economic challenges affecting the market.
Investors should prioritize portfolio diversification and inflation hedges like gold to navigate expected market corrections and liquidity declines.
Deep dives
Potential Market Correction Ahead
There is speculation about a possible correction in the markets after a long-term uptrend. The current outlook suggests lower returns on risk assets, especially following substantial gains in the previous year, with the S&P and gold both rising 25%. Analysts indicate that while gold might continue to perform well, the S&P is expected to either remain flat or decline slightly in value. This perspective raises questions about market sustainability and whether recent high returns can be maintained moving forward.
Mixed Global Economic Conditions
The global economic landscape is described as mixed, with varying growth prospects across regions. The U.S. economy shows positive signs of growth, while China's economic condition appears strained, suggesting a more severe situation than many believe. Europe's economic performance falls in between, facing challenges compounded by China's weakness as it affected exports from European countries like Germany. This varied growth reinforces concerns about the overall resilience of the global economy and its impact on financial markets.
Liquidity as a Driving Force
Liquidity is highlighted as a crucial factor influencing both financial markets and the real economy. The recent performance of markets is largely attributed to increased net liquidity, with suggestions that more substantial measures may be required to sustain it in the future. In the United States, liquidity conditions have been artificially boosted, contributing to market strength, but these levels are expected to decrease rapidly. Conversely, China is facing tight liquidity conditions, which poses risks to its economic stability.
The Need for Liquidity Management in China
China has already announced stimulus programs; however, implementing them remains uncertain and the proposed size may fall short of what is necessary. Analysts argue that without substantial and effective action, China risks exacerbating its debt deflation issues. The situation underlines the need for better liquidity management systems and greater transparency regarding the true scale of financial interventions required. Additionally, concerns over the currency valuation interconnect with the liquidity issues, complicating the effectiveness of proposed solutions.
Investor Caution and Asset Allocation Strategies
Investors are advised to adopt a cautious approach as concerns about market corrections rise. The prevailing sentiment suggests the importance of diversifying portfolios to include assets that can withstand potential downturns in liquidity. Inflation hedges, such as gold and TIPS, are emphasized as crucial components for navigating a world characterized by increasing inflationary pressures. Furthermore, maintaining some liquidity or cash reserves is considered prudent to capitalize on buying opportunities during market corrections.
In his previous appearances on this channel, Michael Howell, founder & CEO of Crossborder Capital, has explained that rising net liquidity been largely responsible for the surprisingly strong performance seen in both the economy & the financial markets over the past 2 years.
Will the good times continue into 2025?
Don't count on it, Michael says.
To find out why, we'll sit down today with the man himself.
WORRIED ABOUT THE MARKET? SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Thoughtful Money's endorsed financial advisors at https://www.thoughtfulmoney.com
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