Jeremy Siegel: 'Under-Loved' Bull Market Could See Notable Gains

Professor Jeremy Siegel, Senior Economist to WisdomTree and Emeritus Professor of Finance at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Siegel previously estimated the Fed’s neutral rate at around 3.5%, but the latest data, with an unexpectedly strong labor market indicating the Fed has made only modest progress toward cooling the economy, has pushed his estimate toward 3.75%, he noted. The central bank indicates a 2.9% rate.

“This recalibration of the neutral rate has direct implications for long-term bond yields. Historically, the 10-Year Treasury yield has traded about 100 basis points above the Fed Funds Rate, and even wider in non-recessionary periods.

“With the Fed Funds Rate likely settling around 3.75%, this puts the 10-Year yield on a trajectory toward 4.75%,” Siegel wrote.

While the presidential election remains close, betting markets are leaning toward a Donald Trump victory, according to the economist, who said a Kamala Harris victory wouldn’t disrupt financial markets if government control is split between the two major parties.

The prospect for extending Trump tax cuts in 2026 “is seen as a tailwind for equities,” Siegel wrote. “While the geopolitical risks remain, there’s a reasonable chance that markets will continue their bullish trajectory into year-end, especially if fears of a recession recede further.” 

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