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Citi Says U.S. Tech Stocks Face Risk Of Big Selloff On Positioning

Investor positioning in US technology stocks is so bullish that any selloff could trigger a wider rout, according to Citigroup Inc. strategists.

Stock market information at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Stock market information at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Investor positioning in US technology stocks is so bullish that any selloff could trigger a wider rout, according to Citigroup Inc. strategists.

Wagers on declines in tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures have been completely erased, leaving investors overwhelmingly expecting further gains. “The large consensus positioning is a risk that could amplify a turn in the market,” strategists led by Chris Montagu wrote in a note dated Feb. 5.

US stocks have rallied this year, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high for the first time since 2022, on optimism around a stronger-than-expected economy. Upbeat fourth-quarter earnings from tech mega-caps have also lifted sentiment.

Citi Says U.S. Tech Stocks Face Risk Of Big Selloff On Positioning

Still, investors are turning more cautious after signals from policymakers that the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates as early as March. JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategist Marko Kolanovic said on Monday he doesn’t expect monetary easing to begin until mid-year.

Read more: Goldman Sachs’ Rubner Says US Stock Market ‘Could Go Down a Lot’

Bullish trends in S&P 500 futures stalled last week, although positioning remains net-long, Montagu said.

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