Chart of the Week

S&P 500 Returns After All-Time Highs

January 13, 2026

Lesezeit: 3 mins

The S&P 500 recently hit a new all-time high after a notable year of peaks in 2025. Is now the time for caution? History tells us attractive performance often follows record highs.

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Last week, the S&P 500 set a record closing high that neared the still unbroached 7,000 level, after reaching a notable record of 39 all-time highs throughout 2025. Last year’s performance reflects the fifth most all-time highs in a year since 2000 and the 15th most in the entire history of the index.

However, when markets reach new highs, some investors become overly cautious and conclude that the market has hit a ceiling. It’s therefore important to recognize that historically, forward returns after new all-time highs are higher on average than those following other days.

This is a key reason why we advise investors to stay invested at all times, including now. Even when faced with headlines on matters such as geopolitics, the labor market and artificial intelligence capital expenditures, looking past the noise and keeping a long-term perspective is the best way to build wealth.

Chart of the Week | Makroökonomisch

History of stocks after the fed hikes

Sticky inflation and resilient growth have revived monetary tightening, increasing the risk of higher-for-longer rates and near-term volatility. We continue to believe economic resilience and strong corporate profits should continue to provide a favorable backdrop for stocks, and would use periods of market weakness to add selectively to equities. Additionally, owning real assets can help hedge against inflation.

Chart of the Week | Makroökonomisch

Inflation is a global problem

Resilient economic growth, sticky inflation driven by higher energy prices and continued geopolitical uncertainty are complicating the path back to central-bank price targets. We believe policymakers are likely to adopt a tightening bias but remain data dependent.

Chart of the Week | Makroökonomisch

A good outlook for global earnings

Global earnings growth has been strong this year, led by the U.S. and reinforced by improving profit growth across Europe, Japan and other major markets. While volatility may rise in the near term, above-average earnings and broader global participation remain supportive of global equities.

Chart of the Week | Makroökonomisch

In a real regime shift?

Higher inflation has been a dominant theme of the current decade. In addition to price shocks, it is being shaped by secular investment trends in infrastructure, defense spending, onshoring and the ongoing AI buildout. These structural changes reinforce the case for looking beyond traditional 60/40 portfolios to include real assets as a source of diversification and return potential in portfolios.