S&P 500 and Fed Funds Target Rate When the Fed cuts rates outside of a recession, U.S. stocks typically perform well. However, a perceived “too dovish” cut, signaling excessive economic worry, could disrupt the ongoing year-end stock rally. Image: Bloomberg
MOVE Index vs. S&P 500 S&P 500 performance tends to move in step with interest rate swings. When rate uncertainty builds, investors recalibrate risk, and volatility often follows. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Fed Funds Rate – 2026 Year-End Rate Levels Expectations Deutsche Bank’s latest poll of 40 global market participants shows expectations for the fed funds rate at end-2026 anchored near 3.2%, regardless of whether Powell keeps rates unchanged or opts for a 25-basis-point cut today. Image: Deutsche Bank
Cyclicals vs. Defensives – 12-Month Forward P/E Premium Cyclical stocks are leading the way in 2025, leaving defensives behind as optimism returns to markets. In the U.S., that surge has lifted cyclicals to a valuation premium over safer plays. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Different Market Sentiment Indicators Risk appetite stays intact, and the tone is starting to turn risk-on again, fueled by strong global equity flows. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Consumer Sentiment Index and Subsequent 12-Month S&P 500 Returns Historically, sharp drops in consumer sentiment have tended to precede strong stock market rallies, often turning pessimism into a springboard for future gains. Image: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Wealth and Spending by Income Quintile in the U.S. The middle 60% of Americans control just 26% of the nation’s wealth but account for more than half of all spending. Whether they can keep it up depends on how long the labor market stays strong. Image: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Discretionary Investors Equity Positioning vs. S&P 500 EPS Growth Discretionary investors are bracing for a sharp slowdown in earnings growth that’s increasingly hard to square with the data. If that gloom lifts, risk appetite could snap back and drive equities higher. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
U.S. Consumer Inflation Expectations U.S. households aren’t convinced the Fed has inflation under control. Expectations for the next year sit above the 2% goal, and longer-term views hover near 3%. Could easing too fast entrench higher inflation? Image: The Daily Chartbook
S&P 500 2026 Target Oppenheimer Asset Management expects the S&P 500 to surge 18% next year, lifting the index to 8,100 by end-2026 as solid growth, resilient earnings, and looser monetary policy keep the rally intact. Image: Bloomberg
S&P 500 2026 Price Target Major banks see the S&P 500 averaging 7,500 by the end of 2026, roughly 10% above current levels. Deutsche Bank is the most bullish, calling for 8,000 as earnings broaden beyond tech leaders and AI momentum holds. Image: Financial Times