Stocks Are Poised to Hit New Lows This Year, Survey of Investors Shows

Weak financial results may outweigh any relief over smaller rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Earnings Angst Put US Stocks’ January Rally in Peril
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Investors have little confidence in US stocks even after this month’s surge, fearing weak corporate earnings could drag them back down.

Any weakness in outlook or quarterly results from Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corp. could outweigh relief over a downshift by the Federal Reserve or anything Chair Jerome Powell says Wednesday, according to respondents in the latest MLIV Pulse survey. The central bank is widely expected to deliver a quarter-point hike on Feb. 1, the smallest increase in almost a year.