Market moves across the month were to the south. Fixed income markets seemed to have a more drastic message on the monitor than that of equities.
Fixed Income: 2-Yr Treas Yield 4.16% | 10-Yr Treas. Yield 4.28%
Bond markets went for a reversal ride in October. After several months of falling rates, we began to see a pullback in the bond market as interest rates rose. The 2-year treasury rose 0.55%, while the 10-year treasury rose 0.54%. The good news is that while rising, the rates did not invert again. The long picture remains intact. We are still in an elevated rate environment with them more likely to drift south rather than north. This move may have been the result of predictions for a potential structure that would mean tariffs. This would reflect a higher inflation potential which would signal a slower path in future rate cuts. Additional good news is that while rates from 6 months on rose, shorter duration rates continued to fall. This bodes well for the normalization of the entire curve.
Equities: Dow Jones 1.34% | S&P 500 0.99% | NASDAQ 0.52%
While it was a down month for equites, the overall move south was not bad for the month. From the top of the market for the S&P 500 (10/18/2024) to the end of the month logged a 2.83%. This proved to be a mild lead up to the beginning of November. The nice part is that while a correction has not materialized, earnings season did, bringing the P/E ratio for the S&P 500 back down to 21.19.
Throughout the month utility stock did well until the last week of the month. A shifting towards Financial and consumer discretionary was underway. Neither of which are surprising given interest rates (favoring financials) and the fact that we are in the fourth quarter… I like to say, ‘Americans spend money they do not have on things they do not need’, AKA: holiday season!
Conclusion
Equities pulled back less than was indicative of the rate move on the bond market. The move there signaled more concern about higher rates for longer than equities chose to price in. The shift in rates seemed like a long-term change in projection, while short rates seemed anchored to FRB actions. The longer rage rates often can be equated to long range GDP expectations. If the view is that we would have stronger forward GDP in 5 years, then we see a stronger 5-year rate.
A Look Ahead…
Market responses in October could have been far more drastic than they were. We should feel fortunate that we got the October that we did. This still leaves a correction (a market fall of 10% to 19%) unattended to. The last one ended 10/27/2023. While stretched P/E’s from over the summer have become more reasonable, that’s been due to strong earnings. Those may continue in the short run, but moving into 2025 those might be harder to come by. It may very well cause a correction in the first half of the year.
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Markets have now gained for two weeks after a rough start to the year. Should the growth continue?
Monday S&P 500 0.04% | NASDAQ 0.40%
Markets started on shaky footing and found its way lower for the day. The markets were reacting to comments from Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Chair Powell. He stated inflation is running much higher than they would like, and they will take aggressive actions to combat it. He referenced 0.5% hikes as an option. Additionally, oil prices spiked as a peaceful resolution in Ukraine seemed to become less likely over the weekend. The net impact is additional concern for inflation for the FRB. The S&P 500 ended up clawing back to even to close the session.
Tuesday S&P 500 1.13% | NASDAQ 1.95%
Markets came out punching on Tuesday morning. Word that Ukraine was making ground reclaiming neighborhoods helped sentiment. Oil prices softened and the 10-year treasury yield jumped. Over the last 3 months the yield has risen .88% reflecting the stress created by the FRB policy around rates.
Wednesday S&P 500 1.23% | NASDAQ 1.32%
Markets opened in the red and stayed there all day. Sentiment was sour at the open as new home sales continued to slow. More impactful, however, was a larger than expected draw down of oil supplies for the US. Elevated concerns of an oil shortage ended up pushing oil prices above $115.
Thursday S&P 500 1.43% | NASDAQ 1.93%
Services and manufacturing both showed signs of strengthening. Additionally, jobless claims came in at a historically low level. All of these would point to a more hawkish FRB, but markets climbed. In part, oil retreated as WTI Crude came in around $111. While equity markets rallied on oil’s slide, bond markets tipped lower as rate increase odds rose.
Friday S&P 500 0.51% | NASDAQ 0.16%
Both consumer sentiment and pending home sales softened. Setting markets in the wrong direction Friday morning. The S&P managed to claw its way to positive territory. This was a statement of investor sentiment as opposed to data. Treasuries continued the sell off that has been underway for a few weeks now.
Conclusion S&P 500 1.79% | NASDAQ 1.98%
The markets climbed for the week as investor sentiment seems to be improving. Days starting in the red and investors buying into the close is pushing markets to the green. This sentiment is a clear message from investors that status quo from the global environment will still spell growth for the US economy.
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Any and all third-party posts or responses to this blog do not reflect the views of the firm and have not been reviewed by the firm for completeness or accuracy.