Capital Market Outlook
November 23, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
- Macro Strategy — Financial Markets Shaped More By Profits Than Coronavirus News — From manufacturing surveys to inflation and from productivity to corporate profits, our expectations for improved economic and financial-market conditions are in line with typical business-cycle patterns.
- Global Market View — Margins Should Help Earnings Grow into Valuations — Corporate earnings are fundamentally paramount for equity prices and profit margins are a key support driving that bottom line.
- Thought of the Week — Squirreling Away Savings for Future Spending on Services — The nature of the pandemic and attendant shutdowns has disproportionately affected services spending.
Important Disclosures
All data, projections and opinions are as of the date of this report and subject to change.
The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America") and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S" or “Merrill"), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.
Bank of America, Merrill, their affiliates, and advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Clients should consult their legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
All recommendations must be considered in the context of an individual investor’s goals, time horizon, liquidity needs and risk tolerance. Not all recommendations will be in the best interest of all investors.
Investments have varying degrees of risk. Some of the risks involved with equity securities include the possibility that the value of the stocks may fluctuate in response to events specific to the companies or markets, as well as economic, political or social events in the U.S. or abroad. Bonds are subject to interest rate, inflation and credit risks. Treasury bills are less volatile than longer-term fixed income securities and are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government. Investments in foreign securities (including ADRs) involve special risks, including foreign currency risk and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks are magnified for investments made in emerging markets. Investments in a certain industry or sector may pose additional risk due to lack of diversification and sector concentration.
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