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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Oil fell and markets fell with them. Why did the inflation maker not have a positive impact on equities?
Monday S&P 500 0.02% | NASDAQ 0.14%
Market movement was choppy all day. They ended up roughly unchanged. Investors were digesting elevated Russian activity in Ukraine and mixed earnings data. An outperformer was Bank of America as they capitalized on consumer lending, which will likely slow in the second quarter.
Tuesday S&P 500 1.61% | NASDAQ 2.15%
Stocks came out of the gates smoking hot on Tuesday. Yields were rising, which would typically signal a stronger S&P 500, but it was NASDAQ that led the way. This came as a result of weaker energy prices. That would signal weaker inflation and less impetus for rate hikes.
Wednesday S&P 500 0.06% | NASDAQ 1.22%
Markets ebbed and flowed between gains and losses throughout the day. Crude inventories fell more than expected, causing oil prices to be more volatile on the day. Earnings data performed well with the exception of United Airlines.
Thursday S&P 500 1.50% | NASDAQ 2.06%
The trading day started red hot with the S&P 500 up over 1%; however, that faded immediately. The fade came as yields pressed higher. Equities sold off as inflationary pressures lead us to persistent rate hikes likely throughout next year.
Friday S&P 500 2.77% | NASDAQ 2.55%
The selling continued into Friday. The pressure on yields continued and oil prices continued to ease. Those easing prices did nothing to buoy stocks. Oil prices struggled as a result of continued lockdowns in Shanghai. The lack of demand from that region has dampened prices.
Conclusion S&P 500 2.60% | NASDAQ 3.60%
Oil Prices have softened over the last week. On the surface, this can be seen as a positive as it would signal weaker inflationary pressures over the next several weeks (and if it persists, months). “If it persists” is the key, however. The current move in oil prices has to do with slowing demand as Shanghai remains under a COVID related lockdown. If they were to reopen soon, that demand comes back online. More concerning is the impact their closure will have on supply lines a few months from now. Our demand will deplete inventories and shelves likely will not be restocked in time for that depletion. This will further delay the softening of inflationary factor.
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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.