Mark Smucker shares consumer concerns, Dan Morgan breaks down Micron Technology earnings, Anjee Solanki talks about retail real estate, and Jimmy Lee offers insights on market performance. Topics include consumer worries, General Mills' performance, trade tensions in the chip sector, gaming and AI chips, the state of the retail industry, creating community-driven spaces, Federal Reserve actions, and market opportunities in private credit.
CEO of Wealth Consulting Group, Jimmy Lee, remains optimistic about the US economy's prospects, believing that a recession can be avoided.
Lee predicts interest rates to decline and advises investors to diversify their portfolios, including exposure to international stocks for better valuations.
Deep dives
Optimism on Avoiding a Recession
The CEO of Wealth Consulting Group, Jimmy Lee, remains optimistic about the US economy's prospects, believing that a recession can be avoided. He expects the Federal Reserve to stop raising rates as he anticipates inflation to come down faster than expected. Lee also highlights the $5 trillion in money market funds that could be injected into the economy, keeping it strong.
Tech and Diversification for Investment
While Lee predicts interest rates to decline, he believes that the tech sector will experience another push upward. He advises investors to diversify their portfolios, including exposure to international stocks, which offer better valuations. Lee also notes that his recent trip to Asia revealed robust business activity and consumer spending, bolstered by China's stimulus efforts.
Soft Economic Landing and Private Credit Opportunities
Lee expresses confidence in a soft landing for the economy, applauding Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for his transparent communication. He expects value stocks to outperform growth stocks in the long term and highlights opportunities in private credit and real estate investments for new capital. However, he advises caution with legacy assets.
Consumer Spending and Global Trade Concerns
Lee dismisses worries that consumers will run out of money this summer, pointing to the large amount of cash held in money market funds. He also emphasizes that concerns over global trade dynamics may be overestimated and that longer-term inflation could result from the shift toward domestic production and global naturalization.
Mark Smucker, CEO of JM Smucker, shares his thoughts on consumer's concerns about the US economy. Dan Morgan, Senior Portfolio Manager at Synovus Trust, breaks down Micron Technology earnings. Anjee Solanki, National Director of US Retail at Colliers, talks about the impact of consumer data on retail real estate. And we Drive to the Close with Jimmy Lee, CEO at Wealth Consulting Group. Hosts: Carol Massar and Matt Miller. Producer: Paul Brennan.