Last week was a turbulent one for equity markets. Key indices slid following Wednesday remarks by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, signaling that the Fed may scale back monetary stimulus later this year. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 2.11%, the Dow lost 1.8%, and the Nasdaq trimmed 1.94%.[i]
As expected, news from the Fed dominated markets last week. Equities started the week with steady gains, suggesting that investors expected mostly reassuring words from the Fed. However, Wednesday’s official FOMC announcement and subsequent comments by Ben Bernanke pushed markets to session lows. The Fed chairman stated that, should economic conditions improve, the central bank could reduce the pace of bond purchases this year and potentially end the quantitative easing program entirely by mid-2014. He also said that economic conditions appear to be improving, suggesting that downside risk to the economy from tapering off quantitative easing programs may be low.[ii]
Recent economic data supports Bernanke’s optimism. Home resales reached a 3-1/2 year high in May and regional factory activity rebounded in June, suggesting that the economy has some momentum behind it.[iii] While government spending cuts and higher taxes stoked fears that the recovery might stumble, it appears that the economy is still chugging along. Weekly unemployment claims rose 18,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted level of 354,000. The four-week moving average, which is considered to be a less volatile measure, increased to 348,250 – a level economists usually associate with stable job gains.[iv]
In the weeks and months ahead, it is likely that Fed policy will continue to drive a measure of volatility. Even so, economic trends are showing modest improvement, and markets don’t rise in a straight line. Volatility is a fact of life, and short-term declines may present opportunities for value investing. We will continue to keep our eyes open for both risks and opportunities with the potential to affect our clients and will keep you informed.
ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Monday:Dallas Fed Mfg. Survey,
Tuesday: Durable Goods Orders, S&P 500 Case-Shiller HPI, New
Home Sales, Consumer Confidence
Wednesday: GDP, EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday: Jobless Claims, Personal Income and Outlays, Pending
Home Sales Index
Friday: Chicago PMI, Consumer Sentiment
Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. Sources: Yahoo! Finance and Treasury.gov. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.
The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.
The Nasdaq is a computerized system that facilitates trading and provides price quotations on some 5,000 of the more actively traded over-the-counter stocks
Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.
Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets
The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.
Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
[i] http://briefing.com/investor/markets/weekly-wrap/weekly-wrap-for-june-17-2013.htm
[ii] http://briefing.com/investor/markets/weekly-wrap/weekly-wrap-for-june-17-2013.htm
[iii] http://news.yahoo.com/jobless-claims-rise-above-expectations-last-week-123227735.html
[iv] http://news.yahoo.com/jobless-claims-rise-above-expectations-last-week-123227735.html