The S&P 500 broke below its 200-day moving average this week for the first time in 214 sessions, closing near 5,558 — its fourth consecutive weekly decline. The technical breakdown reflects mounting uncertainty as the Fed held rates at 3.50–3.75% with the updated dot plot signaling fewer cuts than markets had priced in. Core PCE projections rose to 2.7% for the year, and January PPI surprised hot at +0.5% headline and +0.8% core.
The geopolitical backdrop is the dominant macro risk. Brent crude pushed above $103/bbl on Strait of Hormuz disruptions tied to the Iran conflict. Market breadth has thinned sharply — only 33% of S&P 500 names trade above their 50-day moving average, down from 60%+ in late February. The VIX remains elevated near 20.
Against this volatility, we see opportunity. The AI capex cycle remains structurally intact — Morgan Stanley estimates $2.9T in global data center construction through 2028, accounting for roughly 25% of US GDP growth this year. And prediction markets are pricing several macro outcomes we believe the consensus has wrong. Here are this week’s highest-conviction plays.