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In our thirteenth season of Insights Now, we delved into the research that informed our portfolio managers' investment strategies. Gabriela Santos engaged in insightful discussions with top-tier buy-side equity research analysts from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, covering a diverse array of sectors such as semiconductors, payments and fintech, industrials, utilities, healthcare, and financials. For the last episode of the season, Gabriela Santos, Chief Market Strategist for the Americas, and David Kelly, our Chief Global Strategist, reflected on the most memorable highlights from that season's extensive conversations. Additionally, they answered the top three questions frequently received from clients, which unsurprisingly revolved around economic policies emerging from Washington, D.C., and their potential impacts on the economy and markets.

Resources:

Subscribe to the Notes on the Week Ahead podcast for more insights from Dr. David Kelly: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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In this episode of Alternative Realities, we explore the dynamic world of private credit with Aaron Mulvihill, Global Market Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Lynnette Ferguson, Global Co-Head of Investment Specialists for J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset Management, as they discuss the significant growth of private credit over the past decade and its role as a competitive alternative to traditional bank lending.

The conversation delves into the benefits private credit offers to both borrowers and investors, the interplay between private credit and private equity, and the emerging trends in asset-backed lending. Lynnette shares insights from her extensive experience in the industry, including lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis and the importance of relationships in private credit.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how interest rates, economic environments and regulatory changes impact the private credit market.

Resources:

• For more resources on Alternatives, visit our Guide to Alternatives, Principles of Alternatives Investing, and Alternatives 2025 Outlook
• Subscribe to the Notes on the Week Ahead podcast for more insights from Dr. David Kelly: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Watch the video version on YouTube.

Financials, the second largest sector in the S&P 500, has had its fair share of ups and downs in recent years. As the Federal Reserve kicked off its aggressive rate hiking campaign in 2022, the yield curve inverted, loan growth slowed and M&A activity plummeted, all of which hampered earnings growth. Then, in March 2023, the failures of several U.S. regional banks sparked concerns about the health of the banking sector and commercial real estate market. The dust from this crisis gradually settled, which, in conjunction with Fed rate cuts and a resilient consumer, helped the sector gain over 30% in 2024. In fact, financial deregulation is now top of mind, with the Trump administration recently naming “regulatory dove” Michelle Bowman as the Federal Reserve’s next Vice Chair of Supervision. Prospects for increased deregulation, in addition to trends in consumer spending, will be key themes moving forward. Companies in financials tend to be represented in the value style and can be a good complement to growth exposure, especially the Magnificent 7.

On this episode of Insights Now, Gabriela Santos, is joined by Laura Huang, an equity research analyst covering financials at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, to discuss Laura’s day-to-day, and what she is seeing across her sector.

Subscribe to the Notes on the Week Ahead podcast for more insights from Dr. David Kelly: Apple Podcasts | Spotify