TexBr/iStock via Getty Images By Ayush Babel and Alejandro Saltiel, CFA At first glance, 2025 appeared disappointing for Indian equities. Relative returns lagged meaningfully, headlines lacked excitement, and foreign participation was notably weak. In U.S. dollar terms, the MSCI India Index returned approximately 4.2% , a modest outcome compared to the broader global rally. By contrast, the MSCI E...
TexBr/iStock via Getty Images By Ayush Babel and Alejandro Saltiel, CFA At first glance, 2025 appeared disappointing for Indian equities. Relative returns lagged meaningfully, headlines lacked excitement, and foreign participation was notably weak. In U.S. dollar terms, the MSCI India Index returned approximately 4.2% , a modest outcome compared to the broader global rally. By contrast, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index advanced roughly 34.3% , while the S&P 500 Index finished the year up around 17.9% . This divergence made 2025 one of the most challenging relative years for India in decades. Importantly, however, this underperformance reflected positioning and narrative dynamics rather than a deterioration in fundamentals. India simply lacked exposure to the dominant global equity themes, such as the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor boom or the stimulus-driven rebound in China. What Weighed on Performance Foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows was a key drag throughout the year. FPIs were net sellers of approximately $18.4 billion, as global capital rotated toward markets offering cheaper valuations and more technology-heavy growth narratives. While domestic institutional investors stepped in effectively and prevented sharper drawdowns, the absence of incremental foreign capital limited upside and kept index-level returns subdued. Valuations also underwent a period of normalization (see Figure 1). India entered 2025 trading at a significant premium to both its emerging market peers and historical averages. Although earnings growth remained healthy at mid-teens levels, it was insufficient to justify further multiple expansion, particularly against the backdrop of a strong U.S. dollar and restrictive global financial conditions. As a result, the market experienced a time correction rather than a sharp price adjustment, allowing fundamentals to catch up with expectations. Figure 1 shows the MSCI India Index price-to-earnings (P/E) has come down signific...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images There's a fine line between confidence and hubris, and we believe the low risk perception evident in certain markets entering 2026 leaves them particularly vulnerable to the latter. Perhaps chief among these is the US, where rich equity valuations (particularly among growth names), tight credit spreads and low implied volatility suggest spirits are high. While dow...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images There's a fine line between confidence and hubris, and we believe the low risk perception evident in certain markets entering 2026 leaves them particularly vulnerable to the latter. Perhaps chief among these is the US, where rich equity valuations (particularly among growth names), tight credit spreads and low implied volatility suggest spirits are high. While downside risks are plentiful, as we will discuss, this ebullience is not without a foundation in reality. Corporate earnings growth forecasts remain constructive, driven by factors ranging from the impact of the artificial intelligence ( AI ) capex cycle to accommodative fiscal conditions. At the same time, short-term interest rates have drifted lower from the start of the year as expectations of easier Federal Reserve policy mounted and ultimately were realized; after being on pause for much of 2025, the central bank cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in September, October and December. 1 Markets may be further encouraged by conditions John Williams, president of the New York Fed, has described as “ equipoise .” 2 A cooling labor market and moderating inflation have brought the risks to each into balance, according to Williams, suggesting that significant progress has been made toward a post-pandemic soft landing for the economy. This normalization is encouraging. Still abnormal and discouraging, however, are the country's fiscal settings. As shown in Exhibit 1, the federal deficit remains historically outsized relative to the unemployment rate—as it has since the outbreak of Covid-19. Normally, high unemployment rates and recession beget large fiscal deficits, as lower tax revenues combine with increased government spending. Conversely, low unemployment rates and robust economic growth typically support higher tax revenues and tighter fiscal policy, causing deficits to contract or even turn into surpluses. If the economy were truly in equipoise, we'd expect budget...
Select Wall Street analysts think shares of Datadog and Atlassian are headed much higher in the next year. The S&P North American Technology Software Index, which tracks 111 software stocks, has fallen 24% from the record high it reached in September 2025. That puts the index in bear market territory. Investors are worried that artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools will limit demand for softwa...
Select Wall Street analysts think shares of Datadog and Atlassian are headed much higher in the next year. The S&P North American Technology Software Index, which tracks 111 software stocks, has fallen 24% from the record high it reached in September 2025. That puts the index in bear market territory. Investors are worried that artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools will limit demand for software in the future. I think the market is too pessimistic. Morgan Stanley's fourth-quarter CIO survey suggests software will be the fastest-growing IT sector in 2026. "CIO survey data affirms our view on incumbent software vendors benefiting from this disruption, as they will ultimately serve as the delivery mechanism" for new generative AI features. With that in mind, certain Wall Street analysts forecast triple-digit upside in Datadog (DDOG 0.05%) and Atlassian (TEAM 3.77%): Adam Shepherd at Arete Research recently raised his target price on Datadog to $260 per share. That implies 102% upside from the current share price of $129. Keith Weiss at Morgan Stanley recently set his target price on Atlassian at $320 per share. That implies 170% upside from its current share price of $118. Here's what investors should know about Datadog and Atlassian. Datadog: 102% implied upside Datadog develops observability software. Its platform includes two dozen products that help businesses monitor the performance of critical IT infrastructure and applications. It also features an artificial intelligence (AI) engine called Watchdog that automates anomaly detection, incident alerts, and root cause analysis to help teams resolve problems more quickly. Artificial intelligence should be a tailwind for Datadog. Forrester Research recently ranked the company as a leader in AI for IT operations, a technology that uses machine learning to help IT teams keep infrastructure and applications functional. Also, Gartner has recognized its leadership in digital experience monitoring and observability platf...
There’s a lot to be optimistic about in the Consumer Cyclical sector as 2 analysts just weighed in on Amazon (AMZN – Research Report) and Autoliv (ALV – Research Report) with bullish sentiments. Amazon (AMZN) In a report released today, Brent Thill from Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on Amazon, with a price target of $300.00. The company’s shares closed last Friday at $239.30, close to its 52-w...
There’s a lot to be optimistic about in the Consumer Cyclical sector as 2 analysts just weighed in on Amazon (AMZN – Research Report) and Autoliv (ALV – Research Report) with bullish sentiments. Amazon (AMZN) In a report released today, Brent Thill from Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on Amazon, with a price target of $300.00. The company’s shares closed last Friday at $239.30, close to its 52-week high of $242.52. According to TipRanks.com, Thill is a 5-star analyst with an average return of 11.1% and a 60.6% success rate. Thill covers the Technology sector, focusing on stocks such as International Business Machines, Palantir Technologies, and Procore Technologies. ;'> The word on The Street in general, suggests a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating for Amazon with a $296.22 average price target, implying a 23.5% upside from current levels. In a report issued on January 20, Bernstein also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $300.00 price target. See Insiders’ Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Autoliv (ALV) Barclays analyst Dan Levy maintained a Buy rating on Autoliv today and set a price target of $140.00. The company’s shares closed last Friday at $121.24. According to TipRanks.com, Levy is a 2-star analyst with an average return of 0.2% and a 40.4% success rate. Levy covers the NA sector, focusing on stocks such as Polestar Automotive Holding UK, Mobileye Global, Inc. Class A, and Magna International. ;'> Currently, the analyst consensus on Autoliv is a Moderate Buy with an average price target of $136.66, representing a 13.0% upside. In a report issued on January 29, TipRanks – xAI also upgraded the stock to Buy with a $142.00 price target. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue
You're not necessarily stuck with a smaller monthly benefit for life. For many retirees, Social Security inevitably becomes an important income source. And if you don't want those benefits reduced, you'll need to wait until full retirement age to file for them. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. However, you're allowed to sign up for Social Security as early as age 62. And...
You're not necessarily stuck with a smaller monthly benefit for life. For many retirees, Social Security inevitably becomes an important income source. And if you don't want those benefits reduced, you'll need to wait until full retirement age to file for them. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. However, you're allowed to sign up for Social Security as early as age 62. And while taking benefits before full retirement age will result in a permanent reduction to your monthly checks, for some people, it's easy to justify an early filing. But what if you claimed Social Security before full retirement age and are now regretting it? If so, all isn't lost. There may be a way to avoid a lifelong benefit reduction, but you'll need to act quickly. Don't forget about the do-over option One of Social Security's lesser-known rules is that each filer is allowed a single lifetime do-over. What this means is that if you claimed benefits already, you get one chance to undo your filing and sign up again at a later time. But to take advantage of this option, you need to follow two rules: You must withdraw your application for benefits within 12 months of signing up. You must repay all of the benefits you received from Social Security. Both of these rules could be a problem, depending on the circumstances. If you didn't realize you could undo your claim and you're beyond the 12-month mark, you may be out of luck. And if you have no idea where you'll get the money to repay the Social Security Administration, you may not be able to undo your filing. Otherwise, you can get a second chance at claiming Social Security and potentially lock in much larger monthly checks in the process. Think carefully before taking benefits Some people get excited over the idea of becoming eligible for Social Security and rush to file for benefits right away. If you're about to turn 62, don't assume that you should claim benefits immediately. Instead, run the numbers to see what you h...
The launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first flight of astronauts to the Moon in more than 53 years, will have to wait another month after a fueling test Monday uncovered hydrogen leaks in the connection between the rocket and its launch platform at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "Engineers pushed through several challenges during the two-day test and met many of the planned objectives," N...
The launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first flight of astronauts to the Moon in more than 53 years, will have to wait another month after a fueling test Monday uncovered hydrogen leaks in the connection between the rocket and its launch platform at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "Engineers pushed through several challenges during the two-day test and met many of the planned objectives," NASA said in a statement following the conclusion of the mock countdown, or Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), early Tuesday morning. "To allow teams to review data and conduct a second Wet Dress Rehearsal, NASA now will target March as the earliest possible launch opportunity for the flight test." The practice countdown was designed to identify problems and provide NASA an opportunity to fix them before launch. Most importantly, the test revealed NASA still has not fully resolved recurring hydrogen leaks that delayed the launch of the unpiloted Artemis I test flight by several months in 2022. Artemis I finally launched successfully after engineers revised their hydrogen loading procedures to overcome the leak. Read full article Comments