US Markets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock prices posted gains in November as a change in the Fed’s interest outlook sparked a late-month rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.7 percent, and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index tacked on nearly 1.8 percent. The NASDAQ Composite lagged a bit, picking up 0.3%.1
The stock market opened the month higher following the midterm elections which placed Democrats in control of the House and left a Republican majority in the Senate. Those gains were quickly lost, however, as an increase in the Producer Price Index prompted fears that accelerating inflation could force the Fed to take a more aggressive stance on interest rates. Worries of Global SlowdownPrices fell sharply during Thanksgiving week, led by steep declines in technology stocks and a plunge in oil prices, which raised concerns of a worldwide economic slowdown. As the last week of trading began, stocks surged as a blowout start to the holiday shopping season pushed many of the market’s worries to the backburner. Fed’s Nuanced ShiftStocks jumped again mid-week on comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who appeared to change his stance on monetary policy, stating interest rates were “just below” a neutral level. This follows a previous statement in which he indicated rates were a “long way” from neutral. This subtle change was a welcome relief to investors worried that an aggressive rate hike policy could dampen economic growth and corporate profitability going forward. Stocks cemented gains in the final trading days as investors awaited any signs of progress in resolving trade tensions with China during the G-20 summit. Sector ScorecardAside from Energy, which was down by 1.02 percent, all industry sectors moved higher in November, with gains in Communication Services (+2.66 percent), Consumer Discretionary (+4.60 percent), Consumer Staples (+2.66 percent), Financials (+7.13 percent), Health Care (+7.21 percent), Industrials (+5.72 percent), Materials (+7.35 percent), Real Estate (+4.78 percent), Technology (+0.54 percent), and Utilities (+1.22 percent).2
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What Investors May Be Talking About in December | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With the uncertainty of midterm elections behind them, investors are focused on several key issues that may affect how the markets enter the new year: Interest RatesThe Fed outlined a deliberate plan to hike the federal fund’s rates, with one bump expected after its December 18-19 meeting and two more proposed in 2019. But the rate increases next year are now uncertain after Fed Chair Powell’s remarks suggesting that rates were “just below” a neutral level. One unknown is the impact of the Fed’s ongoing program to sell its Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds, which it purchased following the credit market downturn. In one poll, 32 percent of economists believe that the Fed’s sale of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities is the equivalent of 2 or 3 quarter-percentage point hikes. Another 32 percent said the Fed’s actions are equal to a single rate hike.3 In other words, prevailing rates may reflect only a portion of the Fed’s overall activity. Consumer Prices and Wage GrowthThe number of future rate hikes by the Fed may largely depend on its reading of inflation. A pick up in consumer prices or an increase in wage growth may force the Fed to stick with its plan for continued rate hikes in 2019. Trade Talk ProgressThe trade tariff battle between the U.S. and China is an enormous overhang for the market. The continuing impasse may affect economic growth and push prices higher, which may result in higher inflation. A quick resolution should come as a relief to the market, but a protracted standoff may prove detrimental to stocks. Corporate EarningsTwo factors drive stock prices: earnings and what investors are willing to pay for those earnings. Some economists say that future stock valuations may be more likely driven by earnings increases rather than an expansion in price-to-earnings ratios. Investors should consider watching corporate earnings results, with a keen interest in economic growth in Europe and China to gauge whether economic activity abroad can help U.S. companies grow their profits. The DollarRobust economic growth and higher rates have led to a stronger U.S. dollar. A strong dollar can negatively affect profits of U.S.-based multinational companies since it can make their products more expensive to overseas customers. Consequently, investors may watch how the dollar performs against major international currencies to gain insight into future corporate earnings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Markets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International markets managed a slight gain for the month, with the MSCI-EAFE Index rising nearly 0.3 percent.4 European markets battled headwinds all month, from weakening economic reports to increased uncertainty surrounding the Brexit deal. The ongoing budget conflict between the European Union and Italy also weighed on the markets. France lost 1.8 percent, Germany 1.7 percent and the U.K. 2.2 percent.5 Pacific Rim countries had a better month. Japan rose 2 percent while Hong Kong tacked on more than 6 percent.6
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Indicators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Domestic ProductEconomic growth in the third quarter was unchanged from its initial estimate of 3.5 percent.7 EmploymentThe unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent in October, despite a jump in nonfarm payrolls of 250,000. An increase in labor force participation of 0.2 percentage points (or 711,000 Americans) may explain why the unemployment rate did not fall in the wake of an increase in new jobs.8 In a possible sign of a tightening labor market, wage growth rose above 3 percent for the first time in more than nine years.8 Retail SalesRetail spending rose 0.8 percent, ending two months of declines.9 Industrial ProductionA modest increase of 0.1 percent in industrial production captured headlines, but didn’t tell the whole story. Manufacturing output rose 0.3 percent, a solid 4.1 percent increase from October 2017 levels.10 HousingA jump in multifamily construction helped overall housing starts rise in October by 1.5 percent. Residential building permits, an indicator of future construction, declined by 0.6 percent.11 New home sales fell 8.9 percent, its largest drop since December 2017. Purchases of new homes were down 12 percent year-over-year.12 Sales of existing homes increased by 1.4 percent from September but were 5.1 percent lower compared with October of last year. That decline represents the largest monthly year-over-year drop since 2014.13 Consumer Price IndexConsumer prices rose 0.3 percent in October, the largest jump since January. The year-over-year inflation rate was 2.5 percent, an increase from the prior month’s 2.3 percent rate.14 Durable Goods OrdersFor the third time in four months, durable goods orders dropped, declining by 4.4 percent. It was the biggest monthly decrease since July 2017.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Fed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Fed met in November and decided to keep rates unchanged, but signaled that a rate hike was likely in December. In a change of tone, the minutes indicated that future rate hikes would become more dependent on whether fresh economic data warranted additional increases in the federal funds rate.16 By the Numbers |
Holiday Traditions
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite, LLC, is not affiliated with the named representative, broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize and are subject to revision without notice. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility. Please consult your financial advisor for additional information. Copyright 2018 FMG Suite. |
1. The Wall Street Journal, November 30, 2018
2 FactSet Research Systems, Inc., November 30, 2018
3. CNBC.com, November 7, 2017
4. MSCI.com, November 30, 2018
5. MSCI.com, November 30, 2018
6. MSCI.com, November 30, 2018
7. The Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2018
8. The Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2018
9. The Wall Street Journal, November , 2018
10. The Wall Street Journal, November 15, 2018
11. The Wall Street Journal, November 20, 2018
12. The Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2018
13. The Wall Street Journal, November 21, 2018
14. The Wall Street Journal, November 14, 2018
15. The Wall Street Journal, November 21, 2018
16. The Wall Street Journal, November 29, 2018
17. Elvis-News.com, September 15, 2017
18. National Christmas Tree Association, 2018
19. National Retail Federation, 2018
20. WorldBank.org, 2018
21. The Washington Post, January 12, 2018
22. Statista, October 2017
23. Reuters.com, December 14, 2017
24. WorldBank.org, 2017
25. Census.gov, November 20, 2017
26. Newsweek, December 23, 2017