From Sectors and Smart Beta to Fixed Income, SPDR Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) give you wide access to diverse investment opportunities. Find out more.
Economic resilience and supportive earnings underpin equity markets, though sticky inflation and rate cut delays could hamper attractive bond prospects in the near term.
Global GDP growth is set to slow moderately from an unexpectedly robust expansion in 2023, with gentle declines to a little further below long-run averages anticipated in both 2024 and 2025.
Non-linear progress on inflation is still progress and allows central banks to nurture the soft landing scenario via moderate rate cuts during the second half of 2024.
Emerging Markets Outlook
For emerging markets, the more pro-growth policy backdrop in China provides support to EM economic prospects. Improving business activity in export markets such as the US and Europe is also key.
Recent bumpy inflation readings have renewed uncertainty around the timing and magnitude of rate cuts. Until the monetary easing impetus broadens across the globe, the improvement in EM growth will likely be subdued.
Global Capital Markets
Even as more equity markets eclipse all-time highs, we continue to see a solid foundation for them to advance amid resilient economic growth, healthy balance sheets, and supportive earnings and sales expectations.
Over the intermediate term, bond markets also look attractive, but the economic resilience that may benefit equities (alongside stubborn inflation) presents near-term risks for fixed income investments.
The views expressed in this material are the views of Simona Mocuta and Jeremiah Holly through the period ended December 31, 2023 and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This document may contain certain statements deemed to be forward looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, contained within this document that address activities, events or developments that SSGA expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by SSGA in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances, many of which are detailed herein. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks, uncertainties, many of which are beyond SSGA’s control. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements.
The information provided does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your tax and financial advisor. All material has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. There is no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information and State Street shall have no liability for decisions based on such information.
The information contained in this communication is not a research recommendation or ‘investment research’ and is classified as a ‘Marketing Communication’ in accordance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2014/65/EU) or applicable Swiss regulation. This means that this marketing communication (a) has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research (b) is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
Equity securities may fluctuate in value and can decline significantly in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions.
Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the value of the security may not rise as much as companies with smaller market capitalizations.
Investments in small sized companies may involve greater risks than in those of larger, better known companies.
The value of the debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases in interest rates, inability of issuers to repay principal and interest or illiquidity in the debt securities markets; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. To the extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. This may result in a reduction in income from debt securities income.
Bonds generally present less short term risk and volatility than stocks, but contain interest rate risk (as interest rates rise bond prices usually fall); issuer default risk; issuer credit risk; liquidity risk; and inflation risk. These effects are usually pronounced for longer term securities. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to a substantial gain or loss.
Government bonds and corporate bonds generally have more moderate short term price fluctuations than stocks, but provide lower potential long term returns.
Foreign investments involve greater risks than investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations, all of which may be magnified in emerging markets.
Investing in commodities entail significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Commodities investing entail significant risk as commodity prices can be extremely volatile due to wide range of factors. A few such factors include overall market movements, real or perceived inflationary trends, commodity index volatility, international, economic and political changes, change in interest and currency exchange rates.
Investing in foreign domiciled securities may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, withholding taxes, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.
Investments in emerging or developing markets may be more volatile and less liquid than investing in developed markets and may involve exposure to economic structures that are generally less diverse and mature and to political systems which have less stability than those of more developed countries.
Investing in REITs involves certain distinct risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of credit extended. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self liquidation. REITs, especially mortgage REITs, are also subject to interest rate risk (i.e., as interest rates rise, the value of the REIT may decline).
Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal.
The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
All the index performance results referred to are provided exclusively for comparison purposes only. It should not be assumed that they represent the performance of any particular investment.
The trademarks and service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Third party data providers make no warranties or representations of any kind relating to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the data and have no liability for damages of any kind relating to the use of such data.