Investing

Raymond James' Jeff Saut: 'A major bottom' is approaching in the market

Key Points
  • Jeff Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James, sees mid-November as the first logical place for a major market low and the beginning of a year-end rally.
  • "Stocks are cheap and I do think they are going to bottom here in the next few weeks," he says.
  • "After raising cash at the beginning of October, we're looking to put that cash back to work."
Major bottom approaching the market very soon, says Raymond James strategist
VIDEO1:5801:58
Major bottom approaching the market very soon, says Raymond James strategist

There is a "major bottom" approaching in the stock market, Raymond James' chief investment strategist, Jeff Saut, told CNBC on Tuesday.

The firm's short-term proprietary model gave a sell signal on Oct. 2, he said, prompting it to sell short-term trading positions.

Now that model is "targeting mid-November as the first logical place for a major market low and the beginning of the year-end rally," Saut said on "Closing Bell."

People walk past the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on a rainy day in the Financial District, October 11, 2018 in New York City. 
Drew Angerer | Getty Images

U.S. equities closed higher Tuesday but have had a rough month.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down nearly 6 percent for October, its worst performance since May 2010. The is off by 7.9 percent, its worst month since February 2009.

Saut said the sell-off has been about China, midterm elections and the Federal Reserve having a more hawkish tone.

Earlier this month, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said rates are a long way from neutral. That led to concerns about rising rates and inflation, resulting in a sell-off

However, he called the fear of the Fed an "overreaction."

"Stocks are cheap and I do think they are going to bottom here in the next few weeks," he said. "After raising cash at the beginning of October, we're looking to put that cash back to work."

He specifically likes technology, energy and financials even though they have been disappointing. He doesn't like utilities or consumer staples.

Disclaimer