Data and opinions as of October 31, 2024
In October 2024, five of the "Magnificent 7" tech stocks—Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple—reported their earnings, capturing significant investor attention amidst the volatility ahead of the 2024 U.S. Election. Compounding this uncertainty, U.S. Treasury yields surged and the dollar strengthened, reflecting heightened expectations surrounding the upcoming elections as investors navigate these turbulent conditions heading into 2025.
‒ NEI Asset Allocation team
During the last week of October 2024, five of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks—Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple—reported Q3 earnings, drawing significant attention from investors. Analysts projected robust revenue growth across these tech giants, but the overall market response was cautious due to concerns about a potential slowdown in earnings growth coupled with elevated valuations. This quarter's expected average growth rate for these companies marked the slowest in six quarters, leading to increased scrutiny from market participants.
The broader market reacted with volatility as investors questioned the sustainability of above-trend revenue and earnings growth, coupled with elevated valuations. The U.S. stock market had continuously hit all-time highs, driven largely by the largest AI and semiconductor themed stocks, but cooling labour markets, expectations of economic slowdown, and uncertainty in speed of monetary easing from the Federal Reserve created a complex environment for investors heading into 2025. A strong performance from the Magnificent Seven could bolster confidence in the tech sector and support continued market momentum; however, any disappointments might highlight vulnerabilities in a market heavily dominated by these few major contributors. While the mega caps may continue deliver above-trend earnings growth and price performance, it is prudent to maintain a well diversified portfolio to lower concentration risk.
In October 2024, the divergence between Canadian and U.S. interest rates became increasingly pronounced, with the Bank of Canada cutting its key lending rate to 3.75% while the U.S. Fed funds rate is currently at 5.0% after the aggressive 50bps cut, resulting in a notable 125 basis point spread. This gap is significant, outside of historical norm where a spread of around 100 basis points has typically been considered the "comfort zone." The last time the difference was so wide was during periods of economic stress or significant policy divergence, such as in the 1990s when it reached 250 basis points due to differing economic conditions in the two countries.
The implications of this widening spread are multifaceted, as a lower Canadian rate compared to the U.S. can lead to a depreciation of the Canadian dollar, which already fell sharply against the U.S. dollar during October. While U.S. GDP growth remains robust, Canadian growth has lagged, and therefore the gap in the path of rate cuts between the two countries may widen further. If Bank of Canada cuts rates more aggressively than the U.S., it is possible that the Canadian dollar may depreciate further against the U.S. dollar. The water in data collection is additionally muddied by disruptions caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton and a dockworkers' strike, adding noise to the latest U.S. labour market and economic growth data. As investors adjust their expectations for monetary policy and economic performance, this significant spread between Canadian and U.S. rates may continue to influence currency valuations and investment strategies heading into 2025.
Data and opinions as of August 31, 2024.
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