The Flow Show

Living History

Authored By
Analyst Name Michael Hartnett
Analyst Email michael.hartnett@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 1508
Analyst Name Elyas Galou
Employed by a non-US affiliate of BofAS and is not registered/qualified as a research analyst under the FINRA rules.
Analyst Email elyas.galou@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofASE (France)
Analyst Phone +33 1 8770 0087
Analyst Name Anya Shelekhin
Analyst Email anya.shelekhin@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 3753
Analyst Name Myung-Jee Jung
Analyst Email myung-jee.jung@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 0389
Report Details
21 November 2024 Investment Strategy Global

The Flow Show

Living History

Authored By
Analyst Name Michael Hartnett
Analyst Email michael.hartnett@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 1508
Analyst Name Elyas Galou
Employed by a non-US affiliate of BofAS and is not registered/qualified as a research analyst under the FINRA rules.
Analyst Email elyas.galou@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofASE (France)
Analyst Phone +33 1 8770 0087
Analyst Name Anya Shelekhin
Analyst Email anya.shelekhin@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 3753
Analyst Name Myung-Jee Jung
Analyst Email myung-jee.jung@bofa.com
Analyst Designation Investment Strategist
Analyst Region BofAS
Analyst Phone +1 646 855 0389
Report Details
21 November 2024 Investment Strategy Global
Glossary
displayAudiocast is false

 

Trading ideas and investment strategies discussed herein may give rise to significant risk and are not suitable for all investors. Investors should have experience in relevant markets and the financial resources to absorb any losses arising from applying these ideas or strategies.

>> Employed by a non-US affiliate of BofAS and is not registered/qualified as a research analyst under the FINRA rules.

Refer to "Other Important Disclosures" for information on certain BofA Securities entities that take responsibility for the information herein in particular jurisdictions.

BofA Securities does and seeks to do business with issuers covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

 

 

Key takeaways
  • History says stock will see big double-digit returns in '25, and bonds to set direction of risk assets...
  • ...lower yields = big stock gains (see 1997/98), higher yields = big reversal (see 1929/30, 1937/38, 1956/57)
  • We say stocks & credit peak early '25; yield curve "bear steepening" to signal allocation shift to commodities.

BofA Data Analytics


The Flow Show

 

Chart 1: BofA Bull & Bear Indicator

Dips to 5.4 from 5.9

Chart 1: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy The indicator identified above as the BofA Bull & Bear Indicator is intended to be an indicative metric only and may not be used for reference purposes or as a measure of performance for any financial instrument or contract, or otherwise relied upon by third parties for any other purpose, without the prior written consent of BofA Global Research. This indicator was not created to act as a benchmark.

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

The Flow Show
   

Scores on the Doors: crypto 75.6%, gold 29.1%, stocks 18.7%, HY bonds 7.6%, US$ 5.7%, cash 4.8%, commodities 4.3%, IG bonds 1.8%, oil -2.2%, govt bonds -3.4% YTD.

Tale of the Tape: NDX vs. SPX price relative holding above secular high in 2000 (Chart 3), keeping investors comfortably long US tech stocks & US dollar; watch NDX/SPX, as crack below 2000 high catalyst for rotation from "US exceptionalism" trades.

Living History I: SPX on course for +20% in 2 consecutive years…happened just 4 times past 150 years (1927/28, 1935/36, 1954/55, 1995/96 - Table 2); history lessons from returns in following 2 years…1. SPX in '25 will likely have another big double-digit move; 2. falling bond yields = secret sauce for SPX to avoid huge reversals seen in 1929/30, 1937/38, 1956/57, catalyze further big equity gains, as occurred in 1997/98.

 Living History II: US Treasuries on course for 3rd loss in 4 years in 2024…1st time since 1955-58 (Table 1); note Treasury returns were again negative in 1959 as US economy boomed/budget deficit rose, i.e. bond returns can fall in 4 out of 5 years.

The Biggest Picture: BofA Investment Clock says equity-bullish "recovery" phase of lower rates and higher EPS (2024) to be followed by commodity-bullish "boom" phase of higher EPS and higher rates; "bear steepening" of yield curve in '25 signals transition as bonds price-in "inflation boom" and price-out rate "cuts," signals bond yield levels that cap risk assets in early '25 (real rates >2.5%, long rates >5%, short rates >4.5%).

Chart 2: BofA Investment Clock: '24 "recovery" to transition to '25 "inflation boom"

BofA Investment Clock

Chart 2: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

More on page 2…

 

The Flow Show 

 2024 Flows:  record inflows to US stocks ($448bn annualized - Chart 10), IG bonds ($425bn - Chart 9), EM stocks ($165bn), HY bonds ($54bn), crypto ($38bn - Chart 11), massive $1.1tn inflow to money market funds; in contrast, big outflows in '24 from US value ($46bn) & Europe stock funds ($58bn), unloved contrarian plays heading into '25.

 Weekly Flows: $14.4bn to equities, $9.1bn to bonds, $0.9bn to crypto, $0.6bn from gold, $1.3bn from cash.

Weekly Flows to Know:

  •  Treasuries: $2.9bn outflow…past 2 weeks biggest outflow ($6.4bn - Chart 12) since Dec'23;
  • EM debt: $3.0bn outflow…biggest weekly outflow since Mar'23 (Chart 13);
  • Financials: $1.1bn inflow…past 4 weeks biggest inflow ($6.0bn - Chart 14) since Feb'22;
  • Tech: $5.4bn inflow…biggest in 6 weeks;
  • Healthcare: $1.1bn outflow…biggest since Dec'23 (Chart 15).

 BofA Private Clients: $3.8tn AUM…62.8% stocks, 19.2% bonds, 11.1% cash; small weekly inflow to stocks, as private clients selling bonds in past 4 weeks at fastest pace since Mar'20 Covid shock (Chart 16); in ETFs BofA GWIM buying MLP, munis, industrials, and selling utilities, energy, EM debt past 4 weeks.

BofA Bull & Bear Indicator: falls to 5.4 from 5.9 driven by higher Nov FMS cash levels, EM debt outflows, and poor global stock index breadth (23 out of 45 global equity indices trading below 50 & 200dma); investors are bullish on America, but are not bullish on the World.

SPX 6666…US equity bull began March 2009 at 666…would almost be a surprise for melt-up not to continue coming weeks/months given: 1. Trump admin sees rising stocks/crypto as tool to boost "animal spirits" & few believe Trump will allow bear market; 2. "boomy" global macro data coming in short-term as companies front-run tariffs (Port of Long Beach imports at record high), hoard labor ahead of immigration controls (unemployment claims tumbling), 3. bond yields remain in Goldilocks range as bear catalysts of rising 3% inflation, $36tn debt, 7% of GDP deficit, offset by bull catalysts of central bank rate cuts in 2025 (BofA forecasting 124 cuts - Chart 5), peak geopolitical risk, optimism Trump knows political malpractice to allow 2nd wave of higher inflation in '25.  

2024 in 4 Trades:

  1. ABP "Anything but Populism"…80% of world market cap, 60% of world GDP, 40% of global population went to the polls in '24; in anticipation policy makers eased fiscal, monetary, energy policies to maintain full employment and in hopes of maintaining political status quo; the "ABP" easing sent Bitcoin & gold prices to all-time highs, but failed politically as electorates angered by inflation & inequality punished incumbents (80% of incumbent parties lost), and voted for populists, culminating with big Trump victory in US election; we say expectation that Trump 2.0 = US inflationary boom means bid for crypto & gold to continue;
  2. ABB "Anything but Bonds"…inflation fell and central banks cut rates 153 times; shift from "easy fiscal-tight money" in '23 to "easy fiscal-easy money" in '24 caused asset prices to soar and the US economic growth to accelerate…there was no global recession, "soft landing" became the '24 macro narrative; bond yields were range-bound as lower inflation & rate cuts were offset by ongoing rise in US government debt ($36tn, rising $1tn in 100 days in '24) & deficits (7% of GDP), and investors had no excuse to abandon their 2020s "Anything but Bonds" stance, and rotate away from risk assets (stocks & credit); we are buyers of Treasuries above 5%...triggers asset losses/growth slowdown;
  3. AI "Artificial Intelligence": can't buy bonds, can't buy "leverage" (e.g. small cap, China, regional banks), can't buy "duration" (e.g. biotech); '24 liquidity poured into high quality assets e.g. IG bonds and global companies with strong monopolistic market positions, particularly those in US driving/benefiting from AI "arms race," conviction secular growth theme; S&P 500 trailing P/E now 26.5x (4th highest in past 125 years - Chart 6), US stocks at 75-year highs vs. rest-of-world, record US index concentration (top 10 stocks = 37% of market cap - Chart 7), market cap of the "Magnificent 7" stocks up $4tn in 2024 (Chart 8); US is secular AI winner, but we say "US exceptionalism" theme cyclically peaks, allocation to International troughs in Q1, as US financial conditions tighten, and Asia & Europe ease.
  4. ABC "Anywhere but China": investors in '24 remained resolutely negative on China, and reduced portfolio sensitivity to a China economy plagued by real estate deflation, weak consumption, and geopolitics; asset deflation drove China stocks to 51-year lows vs US, and China bonds to all-time highs vs Treasuries; but the ABC trade reversed in H2'24 as China policymakers began surprise aggressive easing… China stocks rallied big, big regional equity beneficiaries of "ABC" (Japan, Mexico, India) notably peaked in H2'24, and China real estate & macro data improved; we say China outperforms '25…China unloved but notable China tech (26% YTD) pacing US tech gains (34% YTD) in '24, after big underperformance since 2022.

Table 1: USTs on course for 3rd loss in 4 yrs…1st time since '55-'58

US Treasury annual returns (%)

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

 US Treasury annual returns (%)

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

-1%

-3%

6%

-2%

-1%

 

 

 

 

 

2021

2022

2023

2024*

2025

-4%

-17%

4%

-1%

-

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Global Financial Data. *2024 YTD

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Table 2: SPX up >20% for 2 years…happened 4 times past 150 years

Returns in years following S&P 500 up >20% for 2 years in a row

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

S&P 500 up >20%

 

S&P 500 returns

 

Treasury returns

for 2 years in a row

 

in following 2 years

 

in following 2 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1927

1928

→

1929

1930

 

1929

1930

31%

38%

 

-12%

-28%

 

4%

5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1935

1936

→

1937

1938

 

1937

1938

42%

28%

 

-39%

25%

 

1%

4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1954

1955

→

1956

1957

 

1956

1957

45%

26%

 

3%

-14%

 

-3%

6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1995

1996

→

1997

1998

 

1997

1998

34%

20%

 

31%

27%

 

12%

14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023

2024

→

2025

2026

 

2025

2026

24%

24%

 

-

-

 

-

-

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Global Financial Data. *2024 YTD

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 3: NDX vs SPX holding above prior secular 2000 high - watch

Nasdaq 100 vs S&P 500 (price relative)

Chart 3: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 4: Big underperformance of China vs US tech past couple years

US tech (S5INFT) vs China tech (MSCI China tech)

Chart 4: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 5: BofA forecasting 124 rate cuts by global central banks in '25

Global policy rate cuts

Chart 5: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Research, Bloomberg.

*based on BofA Economics projections for 2024 and 2025.

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 6: 4th highest S&P 500 trailing P/E in past 124 years

S&P 500 Trailing P/E

Chart 6: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg. Trailing 4Q PE (GAAP until 1960, Pro-forma thereafter).

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 7: US stock market concentration hit record high in 2024

Top 10 companies % of S&P 500 market cap

Chart 7: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 8: 'AI "baby bubble"…$4tn rise in "Magnificent 7" market cap

History of asset bubbles

Chart 8: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Research, Bloomberg.

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 9: Inflows to IG bonds in '24 on pace for record year

IG bond fund flows (annual cumulative, $bn)

Chart 9: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR. *2024 annualized

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 10: Record $448bn YTD annualized inflows into US stocks

US equity fund flows (annual cumulative, $bn)

Chart 10: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR. *2024 annualized

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 11: Record $38bn YTD annualized inflows to crypto funds

Crypto fund flows (annual cumulative, $bn)

Chart 11: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR. *2024 annualized

ofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 12: Biggest outflow past 2 weeks from Treasuries since Dec'23

Treasuries fund flows (2-week cumulative, $bn)

Chart 12: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 13: Biggest weekly outflow from EM debt since Mar'23

EM debt fund flows (weekly & 4-week MA)

Chart 13: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 14: Biggest inflow to financials past 4 wks since Feb'22

Financials fund flows (4-week cumulative, $bn)

Chart 14: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 15: Biggest outflow from healthcare since Dec'23

Healthcare fund flows (weekly & 4-week MA)

Chart 15: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 16: GWIM selling bonds at fastest pace past 4 weeks since Mar'20

BofA private client debt flows (4-week moving average, % of AUM)

Chart 16: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

 

Asset Class Flows (Table 3)

Equities: $14.4bn inflow ($24.6bn inflow to ETFs, $10.2bn outflow from mutual funds)

Bonds: inflows past 48 weeks ($9.1bn)

Precious metals: outflows past 3 weeks ($0.6bn)

 

  Table 3:  Cumulative YTD flows by asset class

Global flows by asset class, $mn

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

   

Wk % AUM

YTD

YTD %AUM

Equities

0.1%

623,872

 3.1%

ETFs

0.2%

987,588

9.9%

LO

-0.1%

-363,022

-3.6%

Bonds

0.1%

593,210

7.9%

Commodities

0.0%

36,827

8.6%

Money-market

0.0%

990,782

11.2%

*week of 11/20/2024: Source: EPFR Global

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Fixed Income Flows (Chart 17)

IG Bond inflows past 56 weeks ($10.2bn)

HY Bond inflows past 15 weeks ($1.5bn)

EM Debt outflows past 5 weeks ($3.0bn)

Munis inflows past 21 weeks ($0.8bn)

Govt/Tsy outflows past 2 weeks ($2.9bn)

TIPS 1st inflow in 3 weeks ($1mn)

Bank loan inflows past 7 weeks ($1.6bn)

 

Equity Flows (Table 4)

US: inflows past 7 weeks ($16.4bn)

Japan: 1st outflow in 5 weeks ($0.6bn)

Europe: outflows past 8 weeks ($3.6bn)

EM: outflows past 6 weeks ($1.8bn)

By style: inflows US large cap ($9.8bn), US value ($0.8bn), US growth ($0.5bn); outflow US small cap ($0.5bn).

By sector: inflows tech ($5.4bn), materials ($1.2bn), financials ($1.1bn), energy ($0.1bn), com svs ($86mn); outflows utilities ($58mn), REITs ($0.2bn), consumer ($0.5bn), healthcare ($1.1bn).

 

  Table 4:  DM equity inflows > EM equity inflows YTD

Global equity flows by region, $mn

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

  

Wk % AUM

YTD

 Total Equities

 0.1%

623,872

  long-only funds

-0.1%

-363,022

ETFs

0.2%

987,588

  Total EM

-0.1%

148,870

 Brazil

-0.2%

-3,512

India

-0.3%

20,530

China

-0.2%

131,201

Total DM

0.1%

475,001

 US

0.1%

404,689

Europe

-0.2%

-52,540

Japan

-0.1%

13,287

International

0.1%

110,364

Total Equities = Total EM + Total DM

Source: EPFR Global

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

 

  Chart 17:  FICC inflows to bank loan, HY bonds, and IG bonds

Weekly FICC flows as a % AUM

Chart 17: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: EPFR Global

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

BofA private client flows & allocations

  Chart 18:  Private clients bought MLP, loans, and industrials ETFs

BofA private clients 4-week ETF flows as % of AUM

Chart 18: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 19: GWIM equity allocation at 63%

BofA private client equity holdings as % of AUM

Chart 19: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 20: GWIM debt allocation at 19%

BofA private client debt holdings as % of AUM

Chart 20: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 21: GWIM cash allocation at 11%

BofA private client cash holdings as % of AUM

Chart 21: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

  Chart 22:  GWIM equity ETFs 18%, debt ETFs 15% of AUM

BofA private client ETF holdings as % of AUM

Chart 22: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

  Chart 23:  BofA private clients continue to add to T-notes

BofA private client cumulative inflow to Treasuries since '18

Chart 23: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

The Asset Class Quilt of Total Returns

Chart 24: Historical asset class performance by year

Ranked cross asset returns by year since 2000

Chart 24: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg. *2024 YTD

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

BofA Rules & Tools

Table 5: BofA Global Investment Strategy Proprietary Indicators

Current reading of all BofA Global Investment Strategy Proprietary Indicators

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

  Proprietary Indicators

Category

Current reading

Current signal

Duration of signal

Contrarian

 

 

 

 

BofA Bull & Bear Indicator (B&B)

Contrarian

5.4

Neutral

1-3 months

Sell when investor sentiment > 8.0; Buy when investor sentiment < 2.0

 

 

 

 

BofA Global FMS Cash Indicator

Contrarian

4.3%

Sell

4 weeks

Buy when cash at or above 5.0%; Sell when cash at or below 4.0%

 

 

 

 

BofA Global Breadth Rule

Contrarian

-35.6%

Neutral

3 months

Buy when net 88% of markets in MSCI ACWI trading below 200-day moving & 50-day moving averages

 

 

 

 

BofA Global Flow Trading Rule

Contrarian

0.8%

Neutral

8 weeks

Buy when outflows from global equities & HY > 1.0% AUM over 4wks; Sell when inflows > 1.0% AUM over 4wks

 

 

 

 

BofA EM Flow Trading Rule

Contrarian

-0.8%

Neutral

8 weeks

 Buy when outflows from EM equities > 3.0% of AUM; Sell when inflows > 1.5% of AUM over 4 wks

 

 

 

 

Macro

 

 

 

 

BofA Global EPS Growth Model

Macro

5%

EPS growth rising

6-12 months

Model indicates trend in year-on-year change in 12-month forward global EPS growth.

 

 

 

 

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy. For a (see report) guide to our trading models

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH 

 

BofA Bull & Bear Indicator (B&B)

Our BofA Bull & Bear Indicator is at 5.4 signal is Neutral.

Chart 25: BofA Bull & Bear Indicator

Falls to 5.4 from 5.9

Chart 25: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Table 6: Table 5: BofA B&B Indicator

BofA Bull & Bear current component readings

Components

Percentile

Sentiment

HF positioning

85%

V. Bullish

Credit mkt technicals

83%

V. Bullish

Equity market breadth

32%

Neutral

Equity flows

73%

V. Bullish

Bond flows

58%

Bullish

LO positioning

38%

Neutral

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg, EPFR Global, Lipper FMI, Global FMS, CFTC, MSCI

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Chart 26: BofA Bull & Bear Indicator at 5.5

BofA Bull & Bear Indicator since 2002

Chart 26: For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, EPFR Global, FMS, CFTC, MSCI

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

Disclaimer: The indicators identified above as the BofA Bull & Bear Indicator, MVP Model, BofA Global Breadth Rule, BofA EM Flow Trading Rule, BofA Global Flow Trading Rule, BofA Global FMS Macro Indicator, BofA Global FMS Cash Rule, Global Wave, Sell-Side Indicator, and Global Financial Stress Indicator are intended to be indicative metrics only and may not be used for reference purposes or as a measure of performance for any financial instrument or contract, or otherwise relied upon by third parties for any other purpose, without the prior written consent of BofA Global Research. These indicators were not created to act as a benchmark.

The analysis of the BofA Bull & Bear Indicator in this report is back-tested and does not represent the actual performance of any account or fund.  Back-tested performance depicts the hypothetical back-tested performance of a particular strategy over the time period indicated.  In future periods, market and economic conditions will differ and the same strategy will not necessarily produce the same results.  No representation is being made that any actual portfolio is likely to have achieved returns similar to those shown herein.  In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between back-tested returns and the actual results realized in the actual management of a portfolio.  Back-tested performance results are created by applying an investment strategy or methodology to historical data and attempts to give an indication as to how a strategy might have performed during a certain period in the past if the product had been in existence during such time. Back-tested results have inherent limitations including the fact that they are calculated with the full benefit of hindsight, which allows the security selection methodology to be adjusted to maximize the returns. Further, the results shown do not reflect actual trading or the impact that material economic and market factors might have had on a portfolio manager's decision-making under actual circumstances.  Back-tested returns do not reflect advisory fees, trading costs, or other fees or expenses.

 

 

2024 Cross-Asset Winners & Losers

Table 7: 2024 YTD ranked returns

Year-to-date ranked cross asset returns

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

 Ranked Returns, USD-terms (2024)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Equities

 

Sectors

 

Fixed Income

 

FX vs. USD

 

Commodities

1

Gold

28.0%

1

Singapore Equities

34.5%

1

ACWI Info Tech

28.7%

1

CCC HY

17.4%

1

Bitcoin

125.3%

1

Silver

28.7%

2

US Equities

25.8%

2

Taiwan Equities

32.8%

2

ACWI Telecoms

27.7%

2

US Corp HY

8.1%

2

South African rand

1.4%

2

Gold

28.0%

3

Pacific Rim xJapan

9.9%

3

US Equities

25.8%

3

ACWI Financials

23.2%

3

EM Corporate

6.3%

3

British pound

-0.6%

3

Natural Gas

27.0%

4

EM Equities

9.7%

4

China Equities

19.7%

4

ACWI Banks

21.2%

4

EM Sovereign

4.9%

4

Indian rupee

-1.4%

4

Copper

6.1%

5

High Yield Bonds

7.6%

5

Canada Equities

16.5%

5

ACWI Industrials

14.4%

5

3-Month Treasury Bills

4.7%

5

Singapore dollar

-1.7%

5

Commodities

3.5%

6

UK Equities

7.4%

6

S. Africa Equities

15.5%

6

ACWI Cons. Discretionary

14.3%

6

BBB IG

3.9%

6

Chinese renminbi

-2.0%

6

Platinum

-2.9%

7

Industrial Metals

7.3%

7

India Equities

12.6%

7

ACWI Utilities

14.1%

7

2-year Treasury

3.2%

7

Indonesian rupiah

-2.9%

7

WTI Crude Oil

-3.9%

8

Japan Equities

6.0%

8

Spain Equities

12.4%

8

ACWI Energy

6.9%

8

US Corp IG

3.1%

8

Euro

-4.5%

8

Brent Crude Oil

-5.5%

9

US Dollar

5.3%

9

Italy Equities

11.7%

9

ACWI Real Estate

4.7%

9

TIPS

2.8%

9

Australian dollar

-4.5%

 

 

 

10

EM Sovereign Bonds

4.9%

10

Türkiye Equities

11.3%

10

ACWI Consumer Staples

3.5%

10

European HY

2.7%

10

Swiss franc

-4.8%

 

 

 

11

Europe Equities

2.6%

11

Germany Equities

8.6%

11

ACWI Healthcare

3.0%

11

US Mortgage Master

1.5%

11

Canadian dollar

-5.2%

 

 

 

12

Investment Grade Bonds

1.8%

12

Australia Equities

8.3%

12

ACWI BioTechnology

-1.0%

12

Treasury Master

0.9%

12

Taiwanese dollar

-5.5%

 

 

 

13

Government Bonds

-3.4%

13

UK Equities

7.4%

13

ACWI Materials

-3.3%

13

UK Govt

-4.1%

13

NZ dollar

-7.0%

 

 

 

14

Oil

-3.9%

14

Japan Equities

6.0%

 

 

 

14

German Govt

-4.5%

14

Norwegian krone

-8.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

Greece Equities

3.8%

 

 

 

15

30-year Treasury

-5.5%

15

Korean won

-8.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Hong Kong Equities

1.2%

 

 

 

16

Non-US IG Government

-6.8%

16

Swedish krona

-8.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

Switzerland Equities

0.6%

 

 

 

17

Japan Govt

-12.3%

17

Japanese yen

-9.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

France Equities

-5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

Turkish lira

-14.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Korea Equities

-15.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Brazilian real

-15.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Brazil Equities

-19.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Mexican peso

-16.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

Portugal Equities

-20.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

Mexico Equities

-24.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg, as of 20 November 2024.

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

Table 8: The Overbought & Oversold

Ranked deviation from 200-day moving averages in US dollar terms

For an accessible version Merrill clients call 800-637-7455; Merrill Edge Self-Directed clients call 877-653-4732

Ranked Deviation from 200-Day Moving Average, USD-terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Equities

 

Sectors

 

Fixed Income

 

FX vs. USD

 

Commodities

1

Gold

9.9%

1

Singapore Equities

19.9%

1

ACWI Financials

10.7%

1

CCC HY

9.7%

1

South African rand

0.8%

1

Natural Gas

41.0%

2

US Equities

9.8%

2

China Equities

10.9%

2

ACWI Telecoms

9.3%

2

US Corp HY

4.1%

2

Russian ruble

0.0%

2

Gold

9.9%

3

Pacific Rim xJapan

6.8%

3

US Equities

9.8%

3

ACWI Banks

9.1%

3

European HY

3.7%

3

Indonesian rupiah

0.0%

3

Silver

7.3%

4

High Yield Bonds

3.4%

4

S. Africa Equities

9.6%

4

ACWI Cons. Discretionary

8.4%

4

EM Corporate

2.7%

4

Swiss franc

-0.2%

4

Platinum

-0.2%

5

US Dollar

2.6%

5

Canada Equities

9.4%

5

ACWI Info Tech

8.3%

5

EM Sovereign

2.3%

5

Singapore dollar

-0.7%

5

Copper

-3.6%

6

EM Sov Bonds

2.3%

6

Taiwan Equities

8.3%

6

ACWI Utilities

5.9%

6

3-Month Treasury Bills

1.9%

6

Chinese renminbi

-0.8%

6

Iron Ore

-6.0%

7

EM Equities

2.3%

7

Hong Kong Equities

6.0%

7

ACWI Industrials

4.5%

7

BBB IG

1.9%

7

Taiwanese dollar

-1.0%

7

Brent Crude Oil

-10.0%

8

Investment Grade Bonds

0.9%

8

Australia Equities

4.7%

8

ACWI Energy

0.9%

8

US Corp IG

1.6%

8

Indian rupee

-1.0%

8

WTI Crude Oil

-10.5%

9

Industrial Metals

0.1%

9

Spain Equities

1.9%

9

ACWI Real Estate

0.0%

9

2-year Treasury

1.5%

9

British pound

-1.3%

 

 

 

10

UK Equities

-0.7%

10

Germany Equities

0.1%

10

ACWI Consumer Staples

-0.4%

10

German Govt

1.5%

10

Australian dollar

-1.8%

 

 

 

11

Government Bonds

-1.0%

11

Russia Equities

0.0%

11

ACWI Materials

-3.0%

11

TIPS

1.2%

11

Canadian dollar

-2.2%

 

 

 

12

Japan Equities

-2.1%

12

UK Equities

-0.7%

12

ACWI Healthcare

-4.4%

12

US Mortgage Master

1.0%

12

Japanese yen

-2.3%

 

 

 

13

Europe Equities

-4.3%

13

India Equities

-1.6%

13

ACWI BioTechnology

-5.9%

13

Treasury Master

0.6%

13

Korean won

-2.8%

 

 

 

14

Oil

-10.5%

14

Japan Equities

-2.1%

 

 

 

14

UK Govt

-1.1%

14

Norwegian krone

-2.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

Italy Equities

-2.3%

 

 

 

15

Japan Govt

-1.1%

15

Euro

-2.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Switzerland Equities

-2.9%

 

 

 

16

30-year Treasury

-1.9%

16

NZ dollar

-3.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

Greece Equities

-5.6%

 

 

 

17

Non-US IG Government

-2.3%

17

Turkish lira

-4.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

Brazil Equities

-7.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

Swedish krona

-4.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

France Equities

-8.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Brazilian real

-7.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Turkey Equities

-11.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Argentine peso

-8.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

Korea Equities

-11.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

Mexican peso

-10.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

Portugal Equities

-12.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

Mexico Equities

-14.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: BofA Global Investment Strategy, Bloomberg, as of 20 November 2024.

BofA GLOBAL RESEARCH

 

 

Acronyms

FMS - Fund Manager Survey

ECI: Employment cost index

GWIM - Global Wealth and Investment Management

MMF - Money Market Fund

YCC - Yield Curve Control

QE - Quantitative Easing

QT - Quantitative Tightening

S&L - Savings & Loan

FCI - Financial conditions index

AUM - Assets Under Management

U-rate - unemployment rate

 

 

 Important Disclosures

 

FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY OPINION KEY: Opinions include a Volatility Risk Rating, an Investment Rating and an Income Rating. VOLATILITY RISK RATINGS, indicators of potential price fluctuation, are: A - Low, B - Medium and C - High. INVESTMENT RATINGS reflect the analyst's assessment of both a stock's absolute total return potential as well as its attractiveness for investment relative to other stocks within its Coverage Cluster (defined below). Our investment ratings are: 1 - Buy stocks are expected to have a total return of at least 10% and are the most attractive stocks in the coverage cluster; 2 - Neutral stocks are expected to remain flat or increase in value and are less attractive than Buy rated stocks and 3 - Underperform stocks are the least attractive stocks in a coverage cluster. An investment rating of 6 (No Rating) indicates that a stock is no longer trading on the basis of fundamentals. Analysts assign investment ratings considering, among other things, the 0-12 month total return expectation for a stock and the firm's guidelines for ratings dispersions (shown in the table below). The current price objective for a stock should be referenced to better understand the total return expectation at any given time. The price objective reflects the analyst's view of the potential price appreciation (depreciation).

Investment rating

Total return expectation (within 12-month period of date of initial rating)

Ratings dispersion guidelines for coverage clusterR1

Buy

≥ 10%

≤ 70%

Neutral

≥ 0%

≤ 30%

Underperform

N/A

≥ 20%

 R1Ratings dispersions may vary from time to time where BofA Global Research believes it better reflects the investment prospects of stocks in a Coverage Cluster.

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