It’s easy to be glum looking ahead to the new year. Many are resigned to the expectation that the Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening campaign will result in a recession sometime in 2023. Any lingering debate is largely focused on the downturn’s duration and severity. CNBC’s Jeff Cox spoke with economists about the various scenarios that could be ahead and found that there is a way forward without a recession . That path relies on a strong consumer, easing inflation and the Federal Reserve halting interest rate hikes before the economy crosses the line into a recession. Even in that best-case situation, the growth is likely to be lackluster. That means investors should brace themselves for a rough start to 2023 , reports CNBC’s Patti Domm . Still, some of 2022’s weaknesses could turn into 2023’s strengths. Many expect stocks will end the new year in a better place and that bonds will perform better . On the political front, 2023 could be a year of surprising stability. Assuming there aren’t any snap elections, none of the G7 countries have a major election planned next year, according to Deutsche Bank. The goal of the Fed’s tightening has been to cool rising prices. If the central bank succeeds, companies that have been pressured by higher costs will start to feel the relief of these pressures easing. Some of the biggest question marks focus on how China’s reopening will play out , and whether the Ukraine war will come to a resolution or continue to grind on. To best equip readers for these situations and more, CNBC Pro has talked to top investors , analysts and market strategists . Below are a collection of stories that share their insights, predictions and investment ideas for the year ahead. CNBC Pro’s guide to investing in 2023 2023 could end up a better year for markets, but it likely won’t start off that way Here’s how the U.S. economy could escape a recession in 2023 Top Wall Street strategists see a bumpy 2023 ahead with minimal returns for stocks Wall Street’s biggest investors are all but sure of a recession next year. Here’s where they are hiding out Oil expected to stay volatile in 2023, but the price could depend on China reopening The crypto investing outlook for 2023 after a 60% decline in bitcoin this year These ETF strategies can help investors navigate a murky 2023 for markets 2023 should be a brighter year for the traditional 60/40 portfolio Here’s why 2023 could be another solid year for dividend stocks — and how to play it The S & P 500′s best and worst stocks of 2022, and where they will go from here The Dogs of the Dow beat the market in 2022. Here’s how the list shapes up for next year The Dow’s yearly performance is beating the S & P 500 by the most in decades. Here’s why The Nasdaq had its worst year since 2008. These are the best and worst performers and what to expect in 2023 Energy funds were among the biggest ETF winners in 2022 — but not exclusively A China ‘spending boom?’ Your guide to emerging market investing in 2023
