The Stagflation Regime | Aahan Menon on What Works When Stocks and Bonds Don’t

This episode of Excess Returns features Aahan Menon of Prometheus Research breaking down the growing risk of an inflation shock driven by energy markets and what it means for investors. The discussion explores how a potential shift toward stagflation could challenge traditional stock and bond portfolios and why commodities, trend following, and systematic frameworks may be better suited for the current environment.Prometheus Researchhttps://www.prometheus-research.comAahan Menon Twitterhttps://x.com/@AahanPrometheusWhy the current inflation shock may be one of the most significant in recent historyHow oil prices and geopolitical conflict are reshaping macro expectationsThe growing risk of a stagflationary environment and what it means for portfoliosWhy traditional 60/40 portfolios may struggle in sustained inflation regimesHow expected returns differ across equities, bonds, commodities, and FXWhy commodities and energy markets offer the most attractive opportunities todayThe role of backwardation and supply shocks in driving commodity returnsWhy consensus earnings expectations may be too optimistic relative to macro realityHow inflation flows through the economy from energy to consumer demandThe Fed’s dilemma between inflation control and economic slowdownA simple rule for when to own treasuries based on inflation trendsWhy correlations across asset classes are breaking down in crisis environmentsHow systematic investors manage risk when markets are driven by news and geopoliticsThe case for trend following as a core portfolio strategyHow Aahan’s free trend system works across stocks, bonds, gold, and BitcoinThe behavioral advantages of systematic investing during volatile marketsRisks of trend following including whipsaws and false signalsHow portfolio construction is evolving to include crisis protection and energy overlays00:00 Inflation shock and why equities and bonds may struggle01:03 Setting up the macro backdrop before the oil shock03:12 Labor market slowdown vs strong GDP divergence04:45 Consumer spending driven by de-saving05:35 Oil-driven inflation shock as a recession catalyst07:32 Preparing for stagflation vs disinflationary growth09:18 Why commodities outperform in inflation regimes10:45 Expected returns framework across asset classes12:05 Why commodities and FX offer the best opportunities14:05 How commodity carry and backwardation work16:42 Trend following and commodities as pro-cyclical exposures17:43 Ranking expected returns: energy, FX, bonds, equities18:51 Challenges of systematic investing in news-driven markets20:15 Extreme correlations and oil dominating asset pricing23:47 Earnings expectations vs macro reality gap28:30 Why the Fed faces an impossible policy tradeoff30:00 Real-time CPI estimates and inflation pressure32:00 A rule for when to own treasuries based on CPI37:30 Stock-bond correlation regime shifts39:34 How the trend following system works45:10 Benefits and limitations of trend strategies