Wealth Insights

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced its decision to cut interest rates at the September FOMC meeting. This shift in monetary policy has implications for the financial markets and the investment landscape.

Stay informed on how this can impact your investment portfolio.

In our September report, we cover the following topics:

• Has the United States Federal Reserve’s focus shifted to employment?
• Is rising US government debt a concern?
• Should you favour big-cap or small-cap stocks now?

At the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a closely watched speech on the Fed’s interest rate outlook.

Learn more about the key insights and implications on monetary policy in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

What triggered the market sell-off and what does this mean for investors?

The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged for the eighth straight meeting. When will the Fed cut rates and what does this mean for investors?

In our August report, we cover the following topics:

• European stocks attractive despite political uncertainty
• Quality stocks beyond the United States (US) can provide opportunities
• Trade tensions may not be as damaging as feared

China outlined sweeping reforms to address key risks and position the economy on an innovation-led and sustainable growth path. How will these reforms impact markets and what does this mean for investors? Find out more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

Learn more about key market developments and how you can seize opportunities as they arise.

Discover the outlook for the economy, markets, interest rates and more in our 2024 Mid-Year Market Outlook publication.

As inflation declines gradually, will the US Federal Reserve proceed to cut rates this year?

Learn more in our Thinking Ahead report.  

In our June report, we cover the following topics:

• Improved company profit margins support stock performance
• Corporate reforms in Asia may benefit long-term investors
• Staying focused on investing fundamentals

​The US Federal Reserve (Fed) kept interest rates unchanged. Are rate cuts expected ahead?

Find out more in the May PowerBar.

In our May report, we cover the following topics:

• Interest rate cuts may happen later than expected
• Boost dividends in Asia
• Europe presents some opportunities

What is the immediate impact on the market and what can investors do amidst the major escalation in the Middle East crisis?

In our April report, we cover the following topics:

• Is it time to look beyond the Magnificent Seven?
• Will a no landing scenario happen?
• How has investing in China changed?

The latest policy meeting marked the end of an era of unconventional Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy. What does this imply? How will this impact investor decisions on Japan’s financial markets?

What are the key takeaways from China's annual National People’s Congress meeting? What are your options if you are thinking of investing in China? Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our March report, we cover the following topics:

• Have investors missed the boat on US stock market?
• Is cash still king?
• Will inflation make a comeback?

Global financial markets were enthused by the idea of early and aggressive interest rate cuts this year. Are investors too optimistic?

Central banks have been actively managing expectations of early and aggressive rate cuts. Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our February report, we cover the following topics:

• Prepare for volatility even if lower rates are expected in 2024
• Opportunities in a volatile market
• Asia benefits from artificial intelligence growth

In our December report, we cover the following topics:

• Low jobless claims show US economy remains resilient
• Tech sector outlook favours software companies
• Asia’s consumers will be a bright spot

The US Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of its policy meeting. While US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that he is not yet confident that interest rates are sufficiently high to slow inflation down, the Fed suggested that the rate hike cycle is near the end. Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our November report, we cover the following topics:

• United States government shutdown is looming, but impact may be limited
• Bear steepening of yield curve is a concern for investors
• Conflict in the Middle East sparks concern over global oil supply

In our October report, we cover the following topics:

• Weakening services sector suggests slower growth ahead
• Consumers are less sensitive to rate changes
• Favour higher bond quality and longer duration

In our September report, we cover the following topics:

• The United States economy delivered upside surprises in 2Q
• Take a closer look at income investing
• Time in the market beats timing the market

US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasised in his annual Jackson Hole address that the fight against inflation is not over. Upcoming job market and economic growth data will be closely watched for their implications on the Fed’s interest rate decisions. Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our August report, we cover the following topics:

• Stay cautious about the United States stock market rally
• The healthcare sector presents opportunities
• Take a closer look at the diversity of the healthcare industry

China’s leaders signalled more policy support at the latest meeting of the country’s top decision-making body. What impact will this have on the economy? Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

Learn more about key market developments to watch in 2H 2023 in this podcast featuring Abel Lim, Head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy at UOB, and Straits Times Associate Editors Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan.

In our June report, we cover the following topics:

• The Federal Reserve (Fed) may be close to ending its rate hikes
• A resolution is in sight for the US debt ceiling standoff
• Find opportunities arising from China’s recovery amid the global growth slowdown

Will the US Federal Reserve pause its rate hikes or even cut rates later this year? This has significant implications on the banking and commercial real estate sectors, which are facing challenges in this high interest rate environment. Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our May report, we cover the following topics:

• What recession indicators are telling us
• Frequently released economic indicators offer timely clues about the economy
• Investors can consider positioning for the next market upcycle

In our April report, we cover the following topics:

• Where are interest rates headed with banking sector troubles?
• How do different asset classes perform when interest rates change?
• Investors should maintain diversified portfolios when making investment decisions

The Swiss government brokered a historic deal for UBS to rescue Credit Suisse, to prevent confidence in the banking sector from further eroding. What does this mean for investors? Learn more in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our March report, we cover the following topics:

• Maintaining our case for Asia ex-Japan
• Unintended spillover effects of China’s reopening
• ASEAN markets could continue to perform in 2023

Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse has roiled markets, which were still in the midst of dissecting China’s recent National People’s Congress meeting. Learn more about the implications of these global events in our latest Thinking Ahead report.

In our February report, we cover the following topics:

• Bonds are a bright spot
• Asia ex-Japan stocks are well positioned to outperform
• What factors could result in growth stocks generating superior returns?

In our December report, we cover the following topics:

• Seasonal trends can sometimes be observed in stock markets, but investors should not make decisions based on them.
• After a tough year, there are signs the stock market may be reaching a bottom.
• Investors are on the lookout for sectors that typically outperform during an economic rebound.

What should investors watch out for as voters head to the polls for the United States midterm elections on 8 November 2022? Does the US Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike pose further risks to economic growth? Find out more in our latest Thinking Ahead report

We cover the following topics:

• The risk of a United States recession is rising, but any economic downturn would likely be mild.
• Persistently high inflation reduces the purchasing power of your cash and erodes your wealth over time.
• Earnings growth expectations for Chinese stocks have been depressed by negative news, which means there could be upside in the Chinese market.

Markets fell sharply after China’s 20th National Congress concluded, stemming from concerns about economic growth and how market-friendly the Chinese Community Party’s new leadership would be. Learn more about the outlook for the Chinese market, as well as key developments investors should watch.

We cover the following topics:

• More accommodative monetary policy in Asia can lend support to stocks
• Asian economies with a greater reliance on domestic demand may better withstand developed markets’ slower growth
• For China, focus on the valuations and trends of sectors with bigger weights in the benchmark index

We cover the following topics:

• Investing for income can help you withstand the volatile environment
• Build resilient income portfolios with quality bonds
• Enhance your income returns by diversifying into dividend-yielding stocks

Key takeaways from the Jackson Hole Symposium

Stock markets sold off sharply after US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cautioned that interest rates will likely stay elevated for some time, even if this causes “some pain” to households and businesses. Find out how you should position your investments to navigate this volatile environment.

Stay nimble amid recession risks and rate hikes

With the United States economy slipping into a technical recession and the US Federal Reserve cautioning that another “unusually large” interest rate hike could be on the cards at its next meeting, it is critical that investors stay nimble and think ahead in this uncertain market landscape.

We cover the following topics:

• Stock and bond prices should return to having an inverse correlation as inflation subsides
• Seek refuge in investment grade corporate bonds as uncertainty persists
• Asia ex-Japan stocks still present attractive opportunities