EBC Markets Briefing | US stocks gain amid Wall St bullish views

US stocks continued to rally om Friday as investors are more confident about a soft landing scenario. A deepening conflict in the Middle East could prompt fund allocation out of Europe and into the US.

Morgan Stanley raised the view on so-called cyclical stocks relative to safer defensive peers, noting Friday’s blowout payrolls data and expectations of more interest-rate cuts from the Fed.

Goldman Sachs boosted expectations for S&P 500 earnings growth next year as a solid macro outlook drives margins. The bank’s strategist upgraded his 12-month target for the benchmark to 6,300 points from 6,000.

Companies in the S&P 500 are expected to report a 4.7% increase in Q3 from a year ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. A low bar leaves companies more room to beat forecast.

Since 1971, the S&P 500 has posted an annualized return of 15% during periods in which the central bank cut rates. Those gains have been even stronger when rate-cutting cycles hit in non-recessionary periods.

On the flip side, CTAs are expected to sell US stocks even if the market stays flat in the next month, according to data from Goldman Sachs. And volatility control funds no longer have room to add exposure.

The S&P 500 traded close to its record high but the double top pattern suggests it will more likely move sideways in the near term. The support lies around 5,680.

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