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In 2024, we witnessed two distinct narratives unfold. Initially, cooling inflation and robust corporate earnings supported a positive risk appetite.
However, later in the year, resurging inflation emerged, disrupting market sentiment. While BlackRock maintain an overweight position in U.S. stocks, they remain prepared to adapt to changing market conditions.

Robust U.S. economic expansion and corporate earnings have bolstered risk sentiment, propelling stocks to record levels, despite notable increases in bond yields. BlackRock anticipates that earnings performance will be crucial in meeting elevated market expectations, particularly following recent data revealing persistent inflation concerns that unnerved investors.

The working-age populations in developed markets (DMs) are dwindling, contrasting with the growth observed in emerging markets (EMs). This trend adversely affects economic growth in DMs while bolstering growth prospects in EMs—a divergence that, according to BlackRock, is widely evident in asset valuations.

Yields surged as central banks raised rates to unprecedented levels, marking the onset of a new era for fixed income investments. BlackRock anticipates continued elevated yields despite potential rate cuts. They believe central banks will maintain higher rates for an extended period compared to pre-pandemic levels due to ongoing supply constraints.