Podcast Summary: "Standing by Our Outlook" – Morgan Stanley's "Thoughts on the Market"

Episode Details

• Title: Standing by Our Outlook
• Host: Serena Tang, Chief Cross Asset Strategist, Morgan Stanley
• Guest: Vishy Tripator, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, Morgan Stanley
• Release Date: June 6, 2025

Introduction to Morgan Stanley's Mid-Year Outlook

In this episode of "Thoughts on the Market," Serena Tang and Vishy Tripator delve into Morgan Stanley's recently published mid-year outlook. Released two weeks prior, the outlook represents a collaborative endeavor integrating the firm's economic perspectives with high-conviction strategic ideas. The primary recommendation is to adopt an overweight position in U.S. equities and U.S. core fixed income sectors, including U.S. Treasuries and investment-grade (iG) corporate credit.

Reconciling Divergent Economic and Market Narratives

One of the central themes of the discussion revolves around the pushback Morgan Stanley has received due to apparent dissonance between their economic and market narratives.

• Economic Outlook vs. Market Positioning:

  Vishy highlights, "[...] Our economists call for a significant weakening of economic growth from about 2.5% in 2024 to 1% in 2025 and 2026, and the Fed doesn't cut rates in 2025 but cuts seven times in 2026" (00:55). This projection suggests a slowing economy without tipping into recession, which some investors find at odds with the firm's optimistic stance on U.S. assets.

• Morgan Stanley's Response to Pushback:

  To address concerns, Vishy explains that the firm views the economic and market trajectories as "different plot lines across different asset classes" (00:55). This means that while economic growth is expected to decelerate, the strategic asset allocations remain favorable due to factors like anticipated policy easing and strong credit fundamentals.

Diving into U.S. Equity and Fixed Income Recommendations

The podcast emphasizes Morgan Stanley's confidence in U.S. assets, despite broader economic headwinds.

• Equities:

  Serena points out that historical analysis shows equities can perform well even in low-growth environments with low inflation. She notes, "When you have rather unencouraging growth, that tends to map onto a slightly risk-off scenario. And historically that's also a backdrop where you see the dollar strengthen" (03:39). However, Morgan Stanley anticipates a magnitude of dollar weakening by around 9%, which is a more aggressive stance than the consensus.

• Fixed Income:

  Vishy elaborates on the fixed income strategy, stating, "Our expectation of rate cuts, slowing growth but not tipping into recession, and our idea that these spreads are really not going very far from where they are now gets us to a total return of about over 10% for investment grade corporate credit" (07:44). This underscores the firm's bullish outlook on investment-grade corporate credit and securitized credit.

U.S. Dollar Forecast and Policy Uncertainty

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the forecasted weakening of the U.S. dollar and the implications of policy uncertainty.

• Dollar Weakness:

  While acknowledging that some dollar weakness is a consensus view, Vishy attributes Morgan Stanley's more pronounced expectation to their assessment of policy uncertainty: "The policy uncertainty adds a greater degree of risk premia for taking on U.S. assets" (04:34). This additional layer contributes to their forecast of a greater depreciation in the dollar compared to competitors.

• Market Size and Liquidity:

  Serena underscores the dominance of U.S. markets, highlighting that "60% of liquid high-quality fixed income paper is actually denominated in U.S. dollars" (06:52). This immense size and liquidity make U.S. assets a cornerstone for globally diversified portfolios, reinforcing their recommendation to remain overweight despite currency considerations.

Corporate and Securitized Credit Insights

Addressing the less-discussed but consensus-boring area of corporate credit, Vishy shares positive sentiments:

• Investment-Grade Corporate Credit:

  The firm anticipates stable spreads and a total return exceeding 10%, making it an attractive proposition for fixed income investors. Vishy emphasizes, "This actually is a pretty good outcome for credit investors. For fixed income investors in general that calls for continued allocations to high-quality credit in corporate credit as well as in securitized credit" (07:44).

Conclusion and Strategic Takeaways

Serena wraps up the discussion by reiterating Morgan Stanley's distinctive outlook, emphasizing:

• Rate Cuts and Policy Easing: A significantly higher number of expected rate cuts in 2026 than currently priced by the market.
• Dollar Depreciation: An anticipated weakening of the U.S. dollar by approximately 9%.
• Asset Allocation Recommendations: Maintaining an overweight position in U.S. equities and core fixed income assets, with a specific focus on U.S. Treasuries and investment-grade corporate credit.

She concludes, "As much as we're not arguing U.S. exceptionalism can continue on forever over the next six to 12 months, we are constructive on U.S. assets" (08:20). Serena advises investors to hedge currency risk to navigate potential bouts of volatility, ensuring that their exposure to U.S. assets remains strategically advantageous.

Key Takeaways:

• Overweight in U.S. Equities and Core Fixed Income: Despite a projected economic slowdown, Morgan Stanley remains bullish on U.S. assets due to anticipated policy easing and strong credit fundamentals.
• Aggressive Dollar Weakness Projection: The firm expects the U.S. dollar to weaken by around 9%, factoring in policy uncertainty and risk premia.
• Positive Outlook on Corporate Credit: Investment-grade and securitized credits are poised for strong returns, offering attractive opportunities for fixed income investors.
• Strategic Allocation with Currency Hedging: Emphasizing the importance of maintaining exposure to U.S. assets while mitigating currency risks through hedging strategies.

This episode provides a comprehensive overview of Morgan Stanley's strategic positioning amidst divergent economic indicators and market sentiments, offering valuable insights for investors navigating the current financial landscape.

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