Anndy Lian
Tech stocks lead the charge: Why growth is outpacing defensives in the S&P 500
The S&P 500 has staged an impressive recovery, moving from a daunting 17 per cent drawdown earlier this year to now trading slightly higher year-to-date. This turnaround marks a significant shift in market dynamics, driven by a combination of macroeconomic developments and shifting investor sentiment. A key catalyst for this rebound was a cooler-than-expected US inflation report, which sparked a renewed appetite for risk among investors.
As a result, major US benchmarks closed near their highest levels, with the S&P 500 now sitting just four per cent below its record close from February 19. This resurgence reflects resilience in the face of earlier uncertainties and a recalibration of expectations about economic growth and monetary policy.
The rally’s momentum has been predominantly fuelled by heavyweight technology stocks, which have emerged as the darlings of this recovery. Often seen as barometers of growth potential, companies in the tech sector have outpaced the broader market, leaving the Equal-weight S&P 500—a version of the index that gives equal weighting to all constituents—lagging behind by approximately 50 basis points. This disparity highlights a critical nuance: the current upswing is not a tide lifting all boats but rather a concentrated surge driven by a select group of high-performing stocks.
Meanwhile, a noticeable pivot has occurred in investor preferences, with money flowing out of defensive sectors such as Health Care, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples—all of which ended lower—into growth-oriented sectors like technology. This shift signals a growing confidence that the economy may be on firmer footing than previously feared, reducing the need for the safety traditionally offered by defensive investments.
Despite the encouraging inflation data, the market’s outlook for Federal Reserve policy remains measured. The cooler-than-expected inflation print, which showed the consumer price index rising by just 0.2 per cent in April, has alleviated some concerns about runaway price pressures. Yet, traders are still pricing in only two 25 basis point rate cuts by year-end—a stark reduction from the four cuts anticipated just a week ago.
This cautious stance suggests that while inflation may moderate, other factors temper expectations for aggressive monetary easing. The Fed, it seems, is navigating a delicate balance, weighing the positive signal from inflation against broader economic indicators and global uncertainties. Investors seem to interpret this as a sign that the central bank will maintain a steady hand, avoiding drastic moves that could either overstimulate the economy or stifle growth.
A pivotal development underpinning this market optimism is the recent US-China tariff cut, a 90-day reduction in some of the year’s harshest trade levies. This move has been hailed as a step toward averting a trade-driven recession, igniting a “Buy America” sentiment that has bolstered US equities. The tariff truce has eased fears of escalating trade tensions, which had loomed large over global markets, and prompted Goldman Sachs to raise its S&P 500 price target to 5,900 while lowering its odds of a US recession.
The investment bank’s bullish outlook reflects a belief that reduced trade friction could sustain economic momentum, particularly for American firms poised to benefit from a more stable international environment. However, the picture is not uniformly rosy. In China, stocks retreated as investors worried that the tariff rollback might diminish Beijing’s urgency to deploy new fiscal stimulus, potentially leaving its economy without the robust support needed to counter domestic challenges.
Across the Atlantic, a different story of economic vitality is unfolding. UK retail sales surged to a four-year high in April, propelled by Easter spending and favorable weather. This robust consumer activity underscores the strength of domestic demand in the UK, offering a counterpoint to the trade-focused narratives dominating the US and Chinese markets.
It suggests that, at least in some regions, consumer confidence and spending power remain resilient despite global headwinds. This divergence highlights the uneven nature of the global economic recovery, where localised factors can drive significant outcomes even as international policies shift.
The bond market has not been immune to these developments, with the US 10-year Treasury note yield climbing above 4.5 per cent—its highest level in over a month. This uptick follows a dramatic reversal from early April, when yields briefly fell below 4.1 per cent before peaking at 4.49 per cent. The rise reflects a complex interplay of factors: the tariff rollback has diminished recession fears, lifted risk sentiment and pushed long-end yields higher, while investors reassess the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory.
Higher yields often signal expectations of stronger economic growth or creeping inflation, and in this case, they may also indicate a market adjusting to the possibility of a less dovish Fed. The shift in rate cut expectations—from four to two—further reinforces this narrative, as traders recalibrate their bets in light of the latest data and trade developments.
In cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is riding the wave of improved risk sentiment, trading just shy of its January all-time high at US$104,000. Following the April inflation data, which showed a modest 2.3 per cent annual increase, its stability suggests that digital assets are increasingly viewed as beneficiaries of a growth-oriented market environment.
The tariff reduction’s role in easing trade-related recession fears has likely contributed to this buoyancy, aligning cryptocurrencies with broader risk-on assets like equities. Yet, beneath this optimism lies a potential wrinkle: analysts point out that firms may have stockpiled inputs ahead of the tariff window, muting the immediate impact on consumer prices.
This strategic buffering could explain the softer inflation reading but also raise the prospect of delayed inflationary pressures. As stockpiles dwindle in the coming months, price increases could emerge, posing a fresh challenge for the Fed and potentially altering the trajectory of monetary policy.
My perspective on the current market landscape
From my point of view, tracking these developments, the S&P 500’s recovery is a compelling story of resilience tempered by complexity. The interplay of cooler inflation, the US-China tariff cut, and sector-specific dynamics paints a picture of a market finding its footing after a turbulent period.
The dominance of tech stocks in driving this rally is both a strength and a vulnerability—while it reflects confidence in innovation and growth, the lagging Equal-weight S&P 500 warns that this recovery lacks breadth. Investors should be wary of over-relying on a handful of outperformers, as a more inclusive rally would signal a healthier, more sustainable uptrend.
The tariff cut is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a clear positive for US markets, reducing a major economic risk and fueling optimism that has lifted everything from stocks to Bitcoin. Goldman Sachs’ upgraded forecast is a testament to this newfound confidence.
On the other hand, the retreat in Chinese stocks reveals the flip side: what’s good for America isn’t necessarily good for its trading partners, and a less-stimulated Chinese economy could dampen global growth prospects. This asymmetry underscores the fragility of the global recovery, where policy shifts in one region ripple unpredictably across others.
The surge in UK retail sales offers a refreshing contrast, reminding us that consumer behavior can still defy broader uncertainties. It’s a bright spot that suggests pockets of strength persist, even as trade and monetary policy dominate headlines. However, the rise in Treasury yields and the pared-back expectations for Fed rate cuts introduce a note of caution.
The market seems to be betting on growth, but it’s also bracing for the possibility that inflation hasn’t been fully tamed—especially if the stockpiling theory holds true. If price pressures resurface later this year, the Fed could face a tougher balancing act, potentially unsettling the current rally.
In sum, I see a market at a crossroads. The S&P 500’s climb back to positive territory is a triumph of adaptability, driven by favorable data and a de-escalation of trade tensions. Yet, the concentration of gains in tech, the mixed global fallout from the tariff cut, and the looming question of future inflation suggest that this optimism is not without risks.
Investors would do well to celebrate the recovery while keeping an eye on these undercurrents. The next few months—particularly as stockpiles run dry and the Fed’s intentions clarify—will be critical in determining whether this is a lasting rebound or a fleeting reprieve. For now, the mood is cautiously upbeat, but the story is far from over.
Source: https://e27.co/tech-stocks-lead-the-charge-why-growth-is-outpacing-defensives-in-the-sp-500-20250514/
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