Tom Lee has been serving to expert hedge fund money managers navigate bull and bear markets as a result of the Nineties. He was among the many many few who precisely often called for a stock market rally this 12 months, making him worth listening to.

He offered up his latest deal with what’s subsequent for shares on Aug. 8, suggesting one massive event would possibly set off an infinite switch better in shares. Right here’s what Lee is watching and why he thinks markets would possibly see further upside.

Expectations have shifted, establishing this upside different

Inflation was sky-high in 2022 because of post-covid demand from stimulus, low costs, and supply chain disruptions. For example, the CPI inflation report confirmed prices grew 9.1% year-over-year in June 2022.

It’s been a particular story this 12 months. 

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In June 2023, year-over-year inflation retreated to a few% following a sequence of Fed Funds Price will improve and fewer present chain points. Crucial value declines have been ensuing from lower commodity prices, along with oil and gas.

The bettering inflation picture has supported shares, contributing to double-digit optimistic facets for the S&P 500. Nonetheless, a contemporary uptick in commodity prices has elevated worries inflation will rise as soon as extra, inflicting shares to tug once more since mid-July.

Shares’ retreat could be short-lived, in step with Lee. Whereas others anticipate inflation to pick out up, Lee is just not happy.

His evaluation implies that core CPI might be cooler than predicted, doubtlessly fundamental those who provided shares because of inflation worries to become customers as soon as extra.

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Lee’s evaluation implies that July’s month-over-month enhance in core inflation generally is a comparatively tame 0.15%. That’s beneath Wall Road’s 0.22% consensus estimate and far beneath the Cleveland Fed’s Nowcasting purpose of 0.40%.

“The issue with the Cleveland Fed forecast mannequin is it’s a comparatively easy 9 variable mannequin that makes use of gasoline plus the prior month’s CPI forecast to forecast July,” wrote Lee in a publish on Actual Cash Professional.

Lee’s outlook for cooler inflation is due to lower auto and shelter costs. Auto and shelter accounted for two-thirds of the rise in core CPI since 2019, in step with Fundstrat. In June, shelter alone represented 70% of the rise in headline CPI, in step with the Bureau of Labor.

That’s very important on account of the calculation for shelter costs shows historic lease costs pretty than current marketed rents. As leases renew, the shelter factor of CPI must play catch up, eradicating a severe headwind that’s conserving inflation extreme.

The July CPI data might be reported on Aug. 10. If Lee is suitable, a decline in shelter would possibly spark a rally.

“In our view, this optimistic shock can be greater than sufficient to offset the “tape bombs” that rattled markets on Tuesday. And we additionally assume it’s sufficient of a shock for shares to get well their losses from Tuesday and even presumably from earlier in August,” wrote Lee. “BOTTOM LINE: We expect the elemental catalyst of CPI seemingly triggers a large restoration in shares.”

Signal as a lot as see what shares we’re looking for now

Supply: www.thestreet.com”