Latest from BCA Research

Copper prices are surging again after a brief pullback in the first quarter. What is driving the renewed strength, and can it persist?

The US economy is moving back toward Expansion, supported by strong investment, improving earnings, and record margins. We are taking profits on our tactical Software long after achieving our target and rotating into Materials, where commodity strength and earnings momentum continue to support the sector.

The dollar's muted response to the Iran conflict has led many to question its safe-haven appeal. We argue the opposite – the dollar's defensive properties have returned, while improving growth and rate dynamics should underpin further USD strength in the months ahead.

So far most of the value in the AI supply chain has been captured by hardware companies. However, as model providers shift to usage-based pricing, value will begin to accrue to models and applications. Communications Services and Software should benefit from this shift. This broadening of the AI story, along with solid economic momentum should keep the rally going for the rest of the year. Remain overweight equities. Downgrade Energy to Neutral. Buy Software.

Oil shocks hit economies with a lag. China will feel the delayed pain of surging oil prices, pushing Beijing toward infrastructure spending as its main tool to prop up growth.

MacroQuant recommends a slight underweight position in equities, favors a below-benchmark duration stance in fixed-income portfolios, is very positive on the US dollar, downgrades gold to underweight, upgrades copper to overweight, and remains very bullish on oil.

Bank Credit Analyst

Every market cycle belongs to a longer history. The charts in the BCA Chartbook of Economic & Financial History trace the forces that have shaped economies, markets, and investment regimes across decades. That long view has guided BCA’s work since 1949.

The AI bubble is a different type of bubble. It is primarily an earnings bubble rather than a valuation bubble. Like all bubbles, the AI bubble will burst. For now, however, our AI demand indicators do not suggest that this is imminent.

Special Report

In Section II, Jonathan explores whether Kevin Warsh's appointment as Fed Chair signals a return to Greenspan-era, rules-based monetary policy.

Bank Credit Analyst

In Section I, Doug revisits the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its implications for growth in Europe and the US. In Section II, Jonathan explores whether Kevin Warsh's appointment as Fed Chair signals a return to Greenspan-era, rules-based monetary policy.