Week in Review
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Equity Markets:
The stock market volatility was certainly heightened this past week. On Wednesday, the Dow rallied 900 points, only to lose the gain on Thursday with a 1,000-point drop. Throughout the week, it was easy to get lost in the big swings, but the Dow and S&P ended the week nearly flat. Both were only down 0.2%. For the past 2 months, the market has been in a sideways move and we are again approaching the low levels of early March.
Amid the market uncertainty, there has been a quiet, but fairly solid, earnings season. With 87% of companies having reported, 79% have beaten earnings expectations and 74% have beat revenue expectations, according to FactSet. Expected Q1 earnings growth is 9% – an increase from 7% a week earlier, according to FactSet.
Fixed Income Markets:
For the first time in 20 years, the FOMC increased the Fed Fund’s rate by 50 basis points. The benchmark rate now stands at 0.75-1%. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said this level of hikes are likely to continue through the next two decisions, but he reduced the fear of a 75-basis point hike. Markets began to price in a more aggressive move as of late, and Powell’s statement that a 0.75% hike is not something they are currently considering calmed the markets.
The 10-year treasury yield ended the week at 3.12%. Yields are at levels we have not seen since late 2018. Along with the surge in yields last week, the yield curve steepened with the 2’s/10’s spread ending the week at ~0.4%. After a flattening trend over the past few weeks, this is a welcomed sign by market participants.
On the international front, the Bank of England raised its benchmark rate as they attempt to tackle their local inflation, which they believe will be 10%.
Economic:
The labor market remains strong with nonfarm payrolls adding 428,000 month over month. This number handily beat Bloomberg’s estimate of 380,000. The unemployment rate remained at 3.6% and average hourly earnings increased 0.3%.
Looking Ahead
Equity Markets:
We understand it is easy to sound the alarm when we experience weeks like last week. However, keeping a long-term perspective is important. Year-to-date, the S&P is down 13.5%. Historically speaking, this is very common. According to FactSet, the average non-recessionary correction from peak-to-trough is 14%. Intraday we have touched those levels from the January high. We recognize uncertainty in the market can be unsettling, but it is important to remember that these are not unchartered waters, especially during mid-term election years.
Market volatility is something we consider an opportunity for long-term investors. We believe some of these large swings have little to do with market fundamentals and are more sentiment- driven. For a long-term investor, these are great times to rebalance a portfolio and benefit from adding to quality positions that get caught up in what can be indiscriminate selling. Risks in the market have increased from a year ago, but we believe the base case is not a recession in the near term. Having a portfolio properly aligned with your long-term risk appetite will help ease fears and ensure you are able to stick to a disciplined investment plan to meet your long-term goals.
Fixed Income Markets:
In our opinion, we have seen the majority of the upward move in rates. We believe the 10-year will settle into a range of 2.55%-3.25% for the next 12-18 months. This is not to say yields won’t go above the range for a short period of time. However, we believe that if this happens, market participants will pull yields back into the range.
Economic:
The inflation picture for April will likely garner the most attention. We will see readings of the CPI, PPI and Import Price Index. The NFIB Small Business Sentiment Index will provide insight into the expectations of a major piece of the economy. A preliminary read from the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index will also be closely watched to gain a clearer picture on how inflation is affecting consumers.
Important Disclosures:
Investment Advisory Services offered through Krilogy®, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Please review all prospectuses and Krilogy’s Form ADV 2A carefully prior to investing. This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein. An offering is made only by a prospectus to individuals who meet minimum suitability requirements.
All expressions of opinion are subject to change. This information is distributed for educational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, products, or services.
Diversification does not eliminate the risk of market loss. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Investors should understand the risks involved of owning investments, including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. Investment risks include loss of principal and fluctuating value. There is no guarantee an investing strategy will be successful. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment; therefore, their performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. The S&P data is provided by Standard & Poor’s Index Services Group.
Services and products offered through Krilogy® are not insured and may lose value. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial advisor and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein.
