Fundstrat’s Tom Lee believes the current surge in U.S. equities is being met with misplaced skepticism.
Despite the S&P 500 climbing 17% from recent lows and approaching its previous record, many investors remain convinced the rally won’t last.
Lee characterizes the movement as one of the “most hated” in recent memory—driven more by disbelief than momentum. He suggests the hesitancy is tied to past shocks, referencing a steep 20% drop following an unexpected market event.
Drawing on past market behavior, Lee compares the mood to the post-pandemic rebound in 2020 and the October 2022 lows, noting that widespread bearishness persisted even as markets began to recover. “Investors tend to turn bullish only once new highs are set,” he said, arguing that doubt typically fades once milestones are broken.
He also highlighted Bitcoin’s performance as a potential leading signal for equities. With BTC having topped $111,000 weeks before the S&P’s latest surge, Lee sees both markets as riding the same wave of global liquidity expansion.
As for recent concerns around the U.S. credit rating, Lee downplayed Moody’s downgrade, reminding investors that previous rating cuts from S&P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023 had little long-term impact on market direction.
In a recent interview with Bankless, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino shed light on the growing adoption of stablecoins like USDT, linking their rise to global economic instability and shifting generational dynamics.
In a statement that marks a major policy shift, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that blockchain technologies will play a central role in the future of American payments, with the U.S. dollar officially moving “onchain.”
JPMorgan and other major U.S. banks are under fire for a lawsuit aimed at dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) newly established “Open Banking Rule.”
The crypto market remains firmly in “Greed” territory, with CoinMarketCap’s Fear & Greed Index clocking in at 69/100 on July 19. Despite a modest 24-hour dip from 71, the index has now held above 60 for 11 consecutive days.