Many yearn for a degree of pre-COVID norms. Nevertheless, as we gradually adapt to the stubborn social standards spawned by the pandemic's reaction, we cannot forget the opportunities it has created and behavioral expectations that will likely remain.
As thematic investors who assess global consumer spending trends, we have so many exciting secular trends to explore. One of the largest and most prominent consumption trends is the dramatic rise in Fintech innovation and the slow but steady death of cash as the primary method of transactions. Cash used as a percent of total global purchase transactions is estimated to be roughly 70% so it’s still very large.
As thematic investors who assess global consumer spending trends, we have so many exciting secular trends to explore. One of the largest and most prominent consumption trends is the dramatic rise in Fintech innovation and the slow but steady death of cash as the primary method of transactions. Cash used as a percent of total global purchase transactions is estimated to be roughly 70% so it’s still very large.
We are now, approximately one year from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset in the United States. In short, we remain in the midst of a stock market rotation away from “momentum” stocks fueled by COVID-related shutdowns and societal adaptations towards “value” stocks that remain historically cheap and consist of cyclical laggards.
The economic recovery and reflation tailwinds wreaked havoc on stocks and other risk assets last week. As predicted in “Fixed Income’s year Ahead 2021: Short-Term Corporate Bonds & Legacy Non-Agency RMBS” yields at the longer end of the yield curve surged (bear steepening) with the US 10-Year Treasury reaching 1.61% (highest level in almost a year).
The economic recovery and reflation tailwinds wreaked havoc on stocks and other risk assets last week. As predicted in “Fixed Income’s year Ahead 2021: Short-Term Corporate Bonds & Legacy Non-Agency RMBS” yields at the longer end of the yield curve surged (bear steepening) with the US 10-Year Treasury reaching 1.61% (highest level in almost a year).
The inflation debate rages on. Will inflation pick up amid vaccine rollouts, fiscal stimulus, accommodative monetary policy, and federal reserve quantitative easing (QE)?
Will Mag 7 stock Nvidia beat estimates? David Miller, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Catalyst Funds, Rational Funds, and Strategy Shares, provided his insights to CNBC on Nov. 19 on why he believes the company will come out ahead this week despite potentially challenging headlines.
In October, Goldman Sachs strategists cautioned investors to be prepared for stock market returns during the next decade that are toward the lower end of their typical performance distribution.
In my opinion, true active strategies have a very important role in portfolios as complements to passive, cheap beta. Advisors need to understand what they own.
Catalyst Funds
Rational Funds
Strategy Shares