Morgan Stanley's analysts suggest the Trump administration intentionally enacted initially growth-negative policies, a strategy akin to a new CEO deliberately reporting poor results to lower expectations and clear the way for future positive growth.
A multi-year "rolling recession," which affected different sectors sequentially, concluded in April, quietly kicking off a new bull market. This recovery is not yet obvious because many parts of the economy still lag, which presents a significant investment opportunity.
The Fed is behind its usual schedule for easing policy due to data delays and COVID-era distortions. This has suppressed the typical market rotation but means the eventual dovish policy will likely be stronger than expected, creating significant upside for early-cycle investments.
