Macroeconomic figures released last week illustrate the resilience of the U.S. economy despite several quarters of rate hikes by the Fed. U.S. (real) GDP grew by 2.9% in Q4, a slight slowdown from the 3.2% annual growth rate in Q3. There were also gains in leading indicators, a further decline in unemployment insurance claims, and relatively encouraging new home sales figures.

For the first time since February 2020, Fed funds rates are positive in real terms, with the Core PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) index coming in at 4.4% (versus the Fed funds rate of 4.5%). This bodes well for an upcoming pause in the Fed's rate hike, unless the U.S. economy surprises on the upside in the coming weeks.

At the beginning of the year, the leading indicators of business activity in the eurozone (PMI indices) made a timid return into expansion territory after six successive months of decline. This slight improvement can be explained in particular by a much simpler than expected energy situation. In Germany, gas prices have collapsed to $54 per MWh, the lowest level since September 2021. Electricity is also cheaper than it has been in months. According to Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank, EU gas storage is now at its highest level for this time of year.

U.S. equities rallied last week as investor sentiment was boosted by the aforementioned macroeconomic (growth and inflation) figures. Year-to-date, the GAFA segment has been the best performer, with the Nasdaq outperforming both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones. GAFAs had experienced sharp declines in Q4 2022 and now offer more attractive valuation levels.

A massive build up of liquidity in U.S. money market funds could one day return to risky assets. Indeed, cash levels in money market assets have reached a record high of $4.8 billion. 

These high levels of investment in this type of investment are a result of the attractiveness of current interest rates but also reflect the level of caution of investors. 

S&P 500 was down 19.4% in 2022 (excluding dividends). The good news is that years of negative returns are usually followed by good ones.

However, the market recovery that follows is rarely a straight line. As we can see in the chart below, we can expect a rather volatile way back up. 

BuzzFeed’s stock jumped +290% in 2 days after announcing it would use ChatGPT to create content instead of the media company's editors. CEO Jonah Peretti said the publisher would use the technology to create more comprehensive quizzes and interactive content. 

Enterprise AI app platform C3.ai (AI) jumped 15% Friday after the White House and European Commission agreed to improve the use of AI in multiple areas.