The strong rally within the S & P 500 final week prompted some traders to ask whether or not inventory markets have lastly bottomed. Wall Avenue analysts, nonetheless, have cautioned that there may be extra draw back earlier than a bull market begins. Whereas the mega-cap U.S. index has already tanked by greater than 22% this 12 months, solely two out of the ten metrics that Financial institution of America tracks to sign a bull market have turned optimistic. Meaning there’s more likely to be extra volatility earlier than a sustained market rally. Swiss funding financial institution UBS additionally warned that the outlook for the S & P 500 had “deteriorated” in a observe to its purchasers dated Oct. 19. “In truth, the risk-reward outlook for markets has change into unfavorable within the close to time period, in our view, reflecting a mix of persistent inflation, rising charges, falling development estimates, and heightened monetary stress,” stated Mark Haefele, the international chief funding officer at UBS Wealth Administration. Goldman Sachs has additionally urged that the index might backside at 3,150 factors by the tip of the 12 months below a “arduous touchdown” situation — referring to a recession attributable to the Federal Reserve tightening monetary situations severely. Hedge fund supervisor Dan Niles stated the “bear market rally” in October will proceed till Oct. 25, when mega-cap tech firms report third-quarter outcomes. The Satori Fund portfolio supervisor reiterated his perception that the S & P 500 will backside at 3,000 factors . Learn how to belief a market rally? Analysts at Financial institution of America stated traditionally — noting the previous seven recessions since 1974 — the inventory market has solely rallied 12 months after the Fed first minimize rates of interest. Markets at present solely count on the primary minimize to rates of interest within the second half of 2023. The BofA report additionally stated regardless of the bear market, shares nonetheless will not be “low cost sufficient.” Analysts on the financial institution stated their “Rule of 20” metric, which has a “good observe document” for predicting a bull market, is but to start out flashing. For the “Rule of 20” metric to show optimistic, CPI inflation plus the trailing price-to-earnings ratio ought to add as much as lower than 20. In response to the funding financial institution, with the most recent U.S. CPI at 8.2% and P/E at 17.39, this metric might want to fall by 5 proportion factors earlier than a bull market begins. Though the financial institution urged traders to not time the market backside, its fairness and quant technique group earlier this month stated it was higher to be late than early in a bear market. The analysts level to analysis that confirmed that traders that waited for eight out of 10 metrics to show optimistic had the next likelihood of bigger returns the next 12 months. What is going to outperform in a bear market? Client staples and well being care are anticipated to outperform when the market on this surroundings, in line with UBS. Not like earlier recessions, the Swiss financial institution additionally prefers the vitality sector to rise as firms ship on dividends and buybacks. “We proceed to favor worth and high quality revenue relative to development sectors. We additionally advise traders to hunt defensives of their portfolio to brace for extra uneven markets forward,” the financial institution stated in a observe to its purchasers.