logo
How to play the outperforming financials sector as the second half of 2025 kicks off

How to play the outperforming financials sector as the second half of 2025 kicks off

CNBC2 days ago
(This is a wrap-up of the key money moving discussions on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" exclusive for PRO subscribers. Worldwide Exchange airs at 5 a.m. ET each day.) Investors heading into Monday's session were looking at financials as the sector outperforms. JPMorgan also breaks down its year-end outlook for stocks. David Zervos' outlook on financials David Zervos of Jefferies expects financials to be one of the best performing sectors in the second half of 2025. "I'm very optimistic on deal flow and a deregulatory story that starts to hit the energy sector and financial sector," said Zervos. " I think there is a story here with the SLR (Supplementary Leverage Ratio)." He added: "The administration is very keep on wrestling some regulator purview back into the administration … they want to see deals, they want activity and I think they are going to get it." SLR was established in 2014 as part of the Basel III reforms to monitor banks Tier 1 capital. Last week, big banks passed their most recent stress test, but those were reportedly less vigorous than previous years. Passing the stress test lest major banks to issue dividends to shareholders and announce stock buybacks. The dividend plans are expected to be announced this week. The financial sector is more than 26% higher year to date. JPMorgan 2025 year-end outlook; how to play defense sector Joyce Chang of JPMorgan has a S & P 500 forecast of 6,000 implying a 4% pullback from current levels. "I think we are in a range here, you have slower growth coming and we think higher inflation," said Chang. "You also have very steady retail demand and buybacks, we have been looking at $7 billion-$8 billion daily into equity markets. The technicals could squeeze this higher but we are on a stagflationary tilt here. I would careful calling for much higher market." She added on the headwind from tariffs and trade deals: "We are still looking an effective tariff rate that is 14% that is a $400 billion tax." On a sector level, Chang is bullish on defense and aerospace and said she sees more upside in the European players in the space. "What they are doing at NATO is historic (increasing defense spending), even though it is going to play out over a period of time." Since the June 13 Israel strike on Iran, The EUAD Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF and the ITA iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF are trading very closely. Baidu releases 'Ernie' bot Chinese tech giant Baidu is scheduled to release it's "Ernie" open source large language model on Monday, seen by many as the biggest AI development out of China since the "Deep Seek" release in January. Dan Ives from Wedbush has high expectations, "We believe Baidu has built an impressive 'Ernie' that will send some potential shockwaves across the AI market and it speaks to China becoming more and more successful on the AI front. I don't expect a 'Deep Seek' moment but the early reads are positive." Kevin Carter of EMQQ Global said investors should also pay attention to Baidu's developments in the autonomous driving space with its "Apollo Go" robotaxi service. " AI and Ernie GPT are important to Baidu, but real-world physical AI is happening right now with robotaxis scaling at an incredible rate," said Carter. "Many analysts have reiterated bullish views on the autonomous mobility market where Waymo is the clear US leader. Baidu's 'Apollo Go' is neck and neck with Waymo in the self-driving car market and has given more rides so far than Waymo so far. Apollo Go also has significantly more room to grow as China has 145 cities with 1 million people versus only nine in the U.S ." U.S.-listed Baidu shares are 4% higher year to date.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A bare-bones deal is Europe's best hope in trade talks with the U.S., sources say
A bare-bones deal is Europe's best hope in trade talks with the U.S., sources say

CNBC

time38 minutes ago

  • CNBC

A bare-bones deal is Europe's best hope in trade talks with the U.S., sources say

The clock is ticking in trade talks between Washington and the European Union, with European officials now saying their best hope is striking a "political" deal before a key July 9 deadline, three sources told CNBC. Concrete details of such a trade arrangement would have to be worked out at a later time. "The U.S. proposal from last week is aimed at an agreement in principle," one EU official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the talks, told CNBC, adding that this agreement in principle would then "be negotiated out into a proper trade agreement at a later stage." Previously close allies, the U.S. and EU have had a fractious relationship amid disagreements over trade and support for embattled Ukraine in the months since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term. Tensions escalated in early April, when White House announced a spate of reciprocal tariffs against most global trade partners, including a 20% levy on the EU. All such duties have been temporarily reduced until July 9 to facilitate talks. The U.S. sent a new proposal to the EU's negotiating team last week. European negotiators are having face-to-face talks with their American counterparts later this week with the view to get a deal done in the coming days. Total bilateral trade in goods between the EU and the U.S. accounted for 851 billion euros ($1 trillion) in 2023, according to figures from the European Commission. European officials expect a new update on the negotiations Friday, but the situation is fluid. On Monday, European ambassadors had conversations about the state of play in the trade negotiations. Lithuania's Minister of Finance Rimantas Šadžius told CNBC on Wednesday that he is "slightly optimistic" there will be a trade compromise between both sided of the Atlantic. Despite this, sources told CNBC that, despite efforts to reach a trade compromise, the EU is preparing for any possible outcomes, including the return of reciprocal tariffs. "The general sense is that in the coming days and weeks, all outcomes, ranging from a successful deal on a framework agreement all the way to higher US tariffs with additional sectors, are still possible," the same EU official told CNBC. This sentiment was also shared by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last Friday. "We are ready for a deal. At the same time, we are preparing for the possibility that no satisfactory agreement is reached," she said at a press conference. The European Commission was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC Wednesday about an update to the talks. Another EU official, also speaking to CNBC on the condition of anonymity, said there is an awareness in Brussels that it is almost impossible to return to the trade relationship that the EU and U.S. enjoyed before the April 2 announcement of reciprocal tariffs. A third EU official, who also chose to speak anonymously, told CNBC that there is a risk that the outcome of the talks will be an "asymmetrical" deal, under which the EU will not escape some additional U.S. levies. Nonetheless, the bloc is looking to get concessions in critical areas for its economy, including automotive, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, all three sources confirmed. The first EU official added that some member states will only agree to a deal in principle if there is a commitment from the Trump administration to "upfront tariff relief." The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, negotiates trade with other parts of the world, but its proposals and position reflects the thinking of the 27 capitals.

TSLA: JPMorgan Sees 'Material Risk' To Tesla, Shares Could Fall Over 60%
TSLA: JPMorgan Sees 'Material Risk' To Tesla, Shares Could Fall Over 60%

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

TSLA: JPMorgan Sees 'Material Risk' To Tesla, Shares Could Fall Over 60%

July 2 - J.P. Morgan (NYSE:JPM) warns Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares could slide more than 60%, as the EV maker's recent political distractions and soft sales weigh on demand. Tesla stock fell about 5% Tuesday, extending a year?to?date decline of over 25%. Analyst Ryan Brinkman cites material risks to delivery forecasts after Q1's 13% year?on?year drop, which channel checks suggest may deepen to a 19% fall in Q2. He now expects deliveries of 360,000 vehicles, below the 392,000 consensus. Brinkman trimmed his Q2 EPS estimate to $0.42 from $0.48, and cut full?year guidance to $1.75 from $2.07, both under Wall Street's respective forecasts of $0.45 and $1.87. The analyst retained his Underweight rating with a $115 price target, implying roughly a 62% downside over the next 12 months. By contrast, the Street's average target of $291 still suggests a modest overvaluation of about 3%, with a consensus Hold rating. Brinkman points to waning federal subsidies and a challenging macro environment as headwinds, even as Musk prepares to unveil a lower?cost model. Investors will be watching Tesla's Q2 delivery report closely for signs of a sustained recovery. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store