The Daily Spark

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  • Margin Debt at Record Highs

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    With margin debt at record highs, any downturn in stocks risks turning into a sharper correction as leveraged investors are forced to sell into falling markets, see chart below.

    Margin debt at record high levels
    Sources: FINRA, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Our chart book (available here) looks at the simulated effects of $100 oil prices on the economy.

    What is the impact of $100 oil prices on the US economy?

    Note: Effects fade over several quarters. Source: Apollo Chief Economist

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  • K-Shaped Expansion Continues

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Consumer spending data from the New York Fed shows a clear K-shaped pattern where growth has been faster for high-income households than low-income households, see the first chart below. The stronger growth in consumer spending for high-income households is driven by the K-shaped growth in wages and wealth, see the second and third chart.

    K-shaped pattern for consumer spending
    Sources: Economic Heterogeneity Indicators (EHIs) – FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of NEW YORK, Apollo Chief Economist
    K-shaped economy for wage growth
    Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist
    K-shaped economy for wealth
    Sources: Federal Reserve Board, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Net Unauthorized Immigration

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Dallas Fed data show net unauthorized immigration flows turning negative, meaning more individuals are leaving the US than entering, see chart below.

    Monthly new unauthorized immigration
    Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • New Business Formation Exploding Higher

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The surge in new US business formation is being fueled by AI and large language models that are dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of launching a company, see chart below. As these firms scale, they will create jobs, underscoring that AI is likely to strengthen, not disrupt, the US labor market.

    Weekly business formation exploding higher, likely driven by AI
    Sources: US Census Bureau, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Single-Stock Volatility vs. Index Volatility

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Single-stock implied volatility continues to trade at a historically wide premium to index volatility, reflecting structurally lower implied correlation and persistent demand for idiosyncratic protection. Investors appear less concerned about macro shocks and more focused on widening dispersion between winners and losers in an increasingly concentrated equity market grappling with the implications of AI.

    Single-stock volatility premium near cyclical highs
    Sources: Bloomberg, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • The Chicago Business Barometer for February showed strong improvements across production, employment, new orders and deliveries, see chart below. Perhaps we are underestimating the positive effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which took effect on January 1. The CBO estimates that it will boost GDP growth by 0.9% in 2026, and the chart below suggests that nonfarm payrolls in February could be significantly stronger than the 58,000 currently expected by consensus.

    Chicago Business Barometer points to strong growth in nonfarm payrolls in February
    Sources: Market News International, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Wage Growth for Job Switchers Moving Higher

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    With low immigration and strong tailwinds to growth from AI spending, the industrial renaissance and the One Big Beautifull Bill, it is not a surprise that wage growth is rising for job switchers, see chart below.

    Rising wage growth for job switchers
    Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Strait of Hormuz: Energy Demand and Supply

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The Strait of Hormuz is a key chokepoint for global oil trade, making any disruption an immediate risk to energy prices and macro outcomes. Our chart book, available here, examines energy demand and supply, as well as the significance of the Strait of Hormuz.

    The Strait of Hormuz is important
    Sources: US Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis, based on Vortexa tanker tracking and Panama Canal, Apollo Chief Economist
    Ship crossings in the Strait of Hormuz: West to East
    Sources: Bloomberg, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist
    Ship crossings in the Strait of Hormuz: East to West
    Sources: Bloomberg, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist
    Recent developments in oil prices
    Sources: Bloomberg, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist
    Impact on inflation if oil prices rise by $50/barrel
    Note: Assumptions: If oil prices rise by $50/bbl in 1Q26. Sources: Bloomberg SHOK model, Apollo Chief Economist

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  • Strong Net Foreign Buying of US Assets

    Torsten Slok

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Foreign demand for US assets remains very strong, see chart below.

    Strong global demand for US assets
    Note: Data is a 12-month rolling sum. Sources: US Department of Treasury, Macrobond, Apollo Chief Economist

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