Doubts Persist About the US Evading a Recession
US Recession Debate Persists Amid Growing Economic Optimism
chandni
Recent weeks have seen mounting arguments against a looming recession in the US, yet cautionary voices on Wall Street are advising against unwavering confidence.
Despite a plethora of data indicating a mild slowdown, the US economy continues to display strength, fostering investor hopes that recession can be averted even in the face of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.
Economists from Bank of America, including lead economist Michael Gapen, contend in a recent report that the economy is poised for further expansion in the upcoming quarters, albeit with a gradual rise in unemployment. Gapen's team now maintains that the prospect of a recession is waning, in contrast to earlier predictions.
The July employment report has added weight to Wall Street's optimism for a smooth tapering scenario, characterized by inflation receding to the Fed's 2% target without precipitating a recession or abrupt economic decline.
July's job growth, totaling 187,000 positions, fell short of economists' projections, extending the cooling trend seen in revised June job gains of 185,000, down from the initially reported 209,000.
JPMorgan Chase's chief US economist, Michael Feroli, indicated that he no longer anticipates a recession in the current year. Feroli pointed to robust third-quarter forecasts as evidence of a healthy economic pace.
However, some investors maintain that a recession could still materialize later in the year.
David Donabedian, Chief Investment Officer at CIBC Private Wealth US, shared insights on why he remains cautious about the economy and market prospects. He noted that while current data reflects a solid economy, leading indicators point to potential future weaknesses, suggesting a more challenging environment ahead.
Donabedian cautioned that relying solely on strong current economic metrics might overlook underlying vulnerabilities that could impact earnings and corporate performance in the latter half of the year and into 2024.
He emphasized that the economy's direction and the extent of monetary tightening, particularly an increasingly inverted yield curve, could play a significant role in shaping the future economic landscape.
In terms of market testing, Donabedian suggested that the next pivotal moment might come when economic data transitions from surprising optimism to unexpected pessimism, observing how the market responds.
Amid these economic debates, Google has introduced new privacy features in the US, granting users greater control over their online search results. The technology giant's update includes a dashboard to manage search engine results containing users' contact information, allowing for quick removal requests.
Additionally, Google now offers the ability to remove personal and explicit images from search results, enhancing users' control over their digital presence.
Shifting gears, toy company Mattel has launched a nationwide search for a "core Uno player" to promote its new game, Uno Quatro. The chosen candidate will earn $4,444 per week over a four-week period to engage with strangers in New York City, showcasing the game on social media. Uno Quatro combines classic Uno gameplay with Connect 4 mechanics, presenting an innovative twist on the beloved card game.
