(March 27): Investors should buy consumer stocks in a way to play “policy panic” as the US strives to prevent a recession, according to Bank of America’s Michael Hartnett. “We assume policy panic to avoid recession,” Hartnett said, as Trump pursues a “post-war pivot to address affordability and a slump in approval ratings”. Hartnett highlighted US consumer stocks as his “fave contrarian long”, given concerns around inflation and slower economic growth. He also recommended long-yield curve steepeners, which target gains from increased spreads between short-term and long-term interest rates, as an investment strategy that can deal with the post-war policy response. Outflows from US stock funds hit the highest in 13 weeks in the period ended March 25, at US$23.6 billion (RM94.7 billion), they said, citing EPFR data.

Source: The Edge Markets March 27, 2026 13:13 UTC