Stocks are driven by stories. Stories such as AI, weight-loss medication, or CRE being a headwind for regional banks.
The bond market, on the other hand, is different. Bonds and credit are contracts. Contracts are formal and legally binding agreements about delivering future cash flows to investors.
The most remarkable difference between stocks and bonds is how unquantifiable stories are, how stories come and go, and how stories involve selecting certain facts and ignoring other facts.
At the moment, stocks are focusing on the rapid decline in inflation. But stocks could also have chosen to focus on rising delinquency rates on credit cards and auto loans, the rise in HY default rates, or the rapid decline in bank lending, see charts below. But these facts are complicated. So, for now, the stock market is holding on to the simple story that inflation is falling. Without the nuance that a rapid decline in inflation would often be driven by a rapid decline in the economy.
With Fed hikes every day biting harder and harder on consumers, firms, and banks, and rates staying high at least until the middle of 2024, the risks are rising that we over the next six months will get a soft landing in inflation and a hard landing in the labor market.
Source: FRB, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief EconomistSource: New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Apollo Chief EconomistSource: FRBNY Consumer Credit Panel, Equifax, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief EconomistSource: Moody’s Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
This presentation may not be distributed, transmitted or otherwise communicated to others in whole or in part without the express consent of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Apollo”).
Apollo makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy, reasonableness, or completeness of any of the statements made during this presentation, including, but not limited to, statements obtained from third parties. Opinions, estimates and projections constitute the current judgment of the speaker as of the date indicated. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Apollo and are subject to change at any time without notice. Apollo does not have any responsibility to update this presentation to account for such changes. There can be no assurance that any trends discussed during this presentation will continue.
Statements made throughout this presentation are not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal or tax advice and do not constitute an investment recommendation or investment advice. Investors should make an independent investigation of the information discussed during this presentation, including consulting their tax, legal, accounting or other advisors about such information. Apollo does not act for you and is not responsible for providing you with the protections afforded to its clients. This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, product or service, including interest in any investment product or fund or account managed or advised by Apollo.
Certain statements made throughout this presentation may be “forward-looking” in nature. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking information. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology including, but not limited to, “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target”, “project”, “estimate”, “intend”, “continue” or “believe” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology.
