July Market Review 2024

July Economic Background

• U.S. stock market has its worst day since 2022.
  
• Investors flock to small-caps as large-caps decline.
  
• Bank of England cuts interest rates for the first time
  since March 2020.

Source: Morningstar (MSCI ACWI IMI; Bloomberg Global Agg)

U.S Stock Sell-off: U.S stocks suffered their worst single day sell-off in over a year on Wednesday 24th July after disappointing results from Tesla and Alphabet put a sharp focus on the high valuations of many U.S based companies, particularly in the technology sector. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index closed down 3.6%, while the broader S&P 500 index closed down 2.3% — their worst single day performance in more than 18 months. The main losers were Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related companies, including Nvidia, Tesla, and the Googleowner Alphabet, whose shares have soared in recent months. The fall has raised concerns about whether excitement over seven major mega-cap tech stocks (known as the Magnificent Seven) has been overblown, as the benchmark S&P 500 is now trading at 20.7 times 12-months earnings estimates (a commonly used metric to value stocks), compared to its long-term average of 15.7. Throughout 2024, investors eagerly paid a premium for tech and growth stocks, driven by the excitement surrounding the business potential of AI. This enthusiasm led to significant rallies in companies like chipmaker Nvidia, whose shares have peaked at 175% year-to-date. However, recent market action shows investors becoming more wary of richly valued stocks and as a result, investors should be prepared for periodic market dips, further highlighting the importance of remaining well diversified.

Interest Rates: The Bank of England (BoE) has maintained interest rates at 5.25% since August of last year. However, investors were optimistic about a potential rate cut in the first week of August, encouraged by signs of receding global inflationary pressures. The UK’s annual inflation rate held steady at 2% in June 2024, matching May’s rate and remaining at 2021 lows. As a result, markets priced in a 65% probability that the BoE would reduce rates from the 16-year high of 5.25%, up from a 40% probability earlier in the month. Initially, investors were skeptical about an August rate cut after BoE Chief Economist Huw Pill noted that UK inflation drivers were showing “uncomfortable strength.” Furthermore, services inflation (a key indicator of underlying price pressure closely monitored by the BoE) remained high at 5.7% in June. Albeit, headline inflation had stayed at the BoE’s 2% target for two consecutive months so shortly after month end on August 1st, the BoE announced a 0.25% rate cut to 5%, the first reduction since March 2020. However, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey indicated that a series of rate cuts is unlikely in the coming months, as inflation is projected to rise to around 2.75% later this year due to increasing energy prices, before returning to the 2% target next year. 

Source: Bank of England. Last update: 1st August 2024 

Blog Post by Sam Startup
Investment Analyst at ebi Portfolios