US equities capped a 4th consecutive week of gains, bringing US equities back roughly +13% thru this past Friday from its Christmas-eve lows. As one might anticipate, the markets are also off to an extraordinarily strong New Year start with the S&P500 up +6.6%; encouraging, more economically sensitive areas of the market like small-size companies are faring even stronger over that period with gains of roughly +10% (Russell 2000). Most of that strength is being attributed to a more collaborative narrative surrounding trade negotiations between the US and China, as well as a more data-dependent and cautious Federal Reserve as it relates to normalization of monetary policy. The only missing element of full improvement from a domestic policy perspective at this point is that the US government remains partially shut down and there is little sign of either side appearing willing or desirous of reaching compromise. In any event, the stock market’s strong rebound serves valid reminder of how quick and suddenly direction can reverse course in financial markets, even as worries are not fully resolved.
Government Dysfunction and Uncertainty Remains, but Tone Improved In Early-’19 – Week Ended 1/11/19
Following the worst performance for the S&P500 since 1931, the tone so far in these early weeks of 2019 is more hopeful. This is evidenced by broad and strong consecutive-day winning streaks; the S&P for instance was up +2.6% last week and +3.6% month-to-date. Even stronger are some areas of the market traditionally considered risk-seeking; the small-cap Russell 2000 climbed +4.8% last week and +7.4% in January. Key commodities viewed as a bellwether to economic growth including oil are also seeing their price recover notably off stressed December lows and international equities are participating in-line with the S&P. The cause? From a fundamental perspective, very little. But Fedspeak turned decidedly more dovish from the worrisome pre-disposed and not-so-data-dependent (toward additional hikes) tone that Chairman Powell conveyed with the rate decision in December.
“Confused? Understandable”; “Shilly-Shally Prone”; and “Working With Rock Stars” – Nvest Nsights Q4 Newsletter
Below, we submit our latest quarterly installment of Nvest Nsights. The first article reviews how chaotic, volatile, and disappointing was the market’s performance during 2018. But more important from our perspective is how swift selloffs like witnessed during the 4Q can cause one to suddenly feel confused and uncertain about the future; in these times it is most critical to step back and consider facts and fundamentals to avoid short-term action based on emotion. The article “Shilly-Shally Prone” reminds how long-term investment success accrues to those who remain steadfast to a repeatable and disciplined process. There are two remarkably similar historical backdrops which suggest it is very possible that present-day concerns could resolve or fade quickly against a still-sound economy, providing swift relief to recent market volatility here in 2019. Finally, “We Work With Rock Stars” provides insight into our investment selection philosophy with rationale motivating several portfolio adjustments being executed over recent weeks and as we enter the New Year.
The full printer-friendly version of our newsletter, including data tables for selected mutual fund and ETF performance as well as portfolio benchmarking, can be downloaded here: NVEST NSIGHTS 4Q.
Plan for a High Definition Life
According to a recent study, 90% of Americans will spend more time planning for vacation than they spend planning for retirement. Similarly, we often observe firsthand how many do not truly know where their money is spent; and they do not devote time to gain more clarity about it. Life becomes a foggy trip without rich meaning.
No one purposely sets out to have an undefined financial life… it just happens to us as we become a part of the culture in which we live. It’s human nature which spans all of time; we repeat actions generation after generation. One of the wisest men to ever live, Solomon, offers sage points in the Bible’s Ecclesiastes which can be simplified to these thoughts:
Market Alert – “The Politics That Stole Christmas”
Uncle Sam stole the year-end Santa rally. The worst December since 1931 and the worst Christmas Eve stock market performance of all time occurred this year. From my perspective, it is all politics this December. Yes, our great Uncle Sam “Scrooge” stole Christmas and a small positive investment performance for 2018. It traces to bad politics coming together in a “perfect storm.” A “perfect political storm” is the coming together of at least 2 bad events at the same time. We count at least 3 negative political charges right now: the Fed, Tariffs, and government shutdown (budget).
Government and Markets Woefully Out of Sync; Santa Nowhere to be Found – Week Ended 12/21/18
With just 5 trading days remaining in 2018, Santa is missing, failing to deliver any holiday cheer more familiar to investors at this time of year. Even a lump of coal might feel better at this point. Instead, the ill-behavior of financial markets would suggest that something very bad is happening to the global economy. On the heels of a -1.2% slide during the week ended December 14, the selloff intensified with the S&P tumbling another –7.0% for the week. It was the worst week for US equities in 10 years, and stocks are now off more than -12% for the month. Smaller-size US companies are generally faring even worse with the Russell 2000 small-cap index down -15% for the month and crossed the bear market threshold of -20% from its peak. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is also officially closed in bear territory on Friday (12/21) from its peak after leading the charge throughout most of the last two years. But regardless of size, US stocks are decidedly negative for 2018 to varying degrees.
Market Alert – “Short Runway”
Barron’s front cover over the weekend (12/15/2018) read “2019 Outlook: US Stocks Could Rally More Than 10%”; while the New York Times front page (12/15/2018) was “The Best Place to Put Money? Your Mattress” and in the Style Section (same paper/date) read “Are You Ready for the Financial Crisis of 2019?” Quite divergent headlines on the same day.
Message to Policymakers Growing Louder and More Urgent – Week Ended 12/7/18
As we noted in these pages at the beginning of last week, we find it simply remarkable how quick the market’s mood can change against a fluid and stressed environment like the recent two months. Entering the week, the stars seemed to be aligning for those hopeful a more dovish Fed and collaborative tone between the US and China over ongoing friction about trade might develop. As recent as last Monday, optimists were starting to feel as if the storm clouds were receding during the final week of November, and a much longed-for Santa Rally in December might be starting to take shape. Then, with seemingly little warning, the bears were awakened again with declines throughout the balance of the week. The carnage began to unfold Tuesday, with blame by the media mostly being attributed to investors having second thoughts about the trade truce with China, although less recognized was a troubling development in Europe with British Prime Minister May suffering a setback in her government and undermining the Brexit proposals. We also believe that the inversion of the yield curve among some shorter maturities likely triggered indiscriminate and heavy risk-off program selling of US equities exacerbating any fundamental concerns. Despite the tail end of a strong multi-day rally on Monday, and the market being closed in honor of the passing of the 41st President Bush on Wednesday, the major US indexes still found themselves -4.6% in the hole to conclude the first week of December. From a psychological standpoint, the market backdrop is feeling increasingly pessimistic. Most challenging however is for investors to try and keep in mind how quickly the environment could take a turn for the better again seeing as how so many of the worries are “man-made” and policy-related.
“What’s The Rush?” – December Commentary
All the historical hype surrounding favorable mid-term election year investment returns is yet to materialize as we conclude 2018. Since 1950, every mid-term election (17 of them) resulted in strong end-of-year stock performance because the unknown of political change concluded. A different stock market stat, again since 1950, reflects that 75% of December returns are positive; that is the highest single month probability of upward performance for any of the 12 months (next highest is April at 71%, and November with 68% of the time being positive – see chart below). This year, the 4Q experience to-date seems stark opposite.
How the World Can Change in Just 5 Days – Week Ended 11/30/18
In our November market commentary entitled “Shake or Break”, as well as periodic updates in recent weeks, we’ve spoke extensively about how the market’s October swoon and elevated volatility were not without justification. The sudden awakening by investors following conclusion of the 3Q can be linked to persistent worries that the economic strength being witnessed in the US for 2018 might be “as good as it gets”, set to fade as we anniversary tax reform; when paired with the lack of constructive progress between Trump and China over trade and the Fed communicating in a way that felt decreasingly data-dependent and instead on autopilot with respect to additional interest rate hikes it makes sense why so many market participants were in bad moods. We’ve stated throughout the duration of this corrective phase that the economic data in the US remained supportive and the probability of recession in the near-term would still appear remote. But the financial markets needed to quickly see a more conciliatory tone begin to develop from both Trump and Fed Chairman Powell before further psychological confidence damage and any meaningful stock market recovery could develop. That’s exactly what we received last week and financial markets responded strongly with their best week in two years.