Thanksgiving week has come and gone, oStockPointDigitalcially kicking off the Christmas season. Stocks rose this
week as markets continue to be encouraged by the progress in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Globally, COVID-19
infections continue to increase. New daily infections in the U.S. remain stubbornly above 100K. Economic data
was mostly positive this week with spending, housing and manufacturing all beating expectations. Unemployment
claims have been choppy but moving downwards, likely indicating slowly recovering labor markets. Recently,
unemployment declines have slowed somewhat, prompting questions as to whether or not the recovery may be
coming to a halt. The persistently high and increasing case rates of COVID-19 in the U.S. remain concerning,
and restrictive measures have begun being reinstated in some areas. The increase in cases has been
statistically correlated with schools reopening, and as the flu season sets in transmission rates may increase
even further.
Overseas, developed markets and emerging markets both rose. Global indices continue to respond well to
reports of an effective vaccine, likely increasing hopes that lockdowns in Europe could be ended sooner than
later.
Markets performed well this week, with equity indices bringing in positive returns. Fears concerning global
stability and health are an unexpected factor in asset values, and the recent volatility serves as a great
reminder of why it is so important to remain committed to a long-term plan and maintain a well-diversified
portfolio. When stocks were struggling to gain traction last month, other asset classes such as gold, REITs,
and US Treasury bonds proved to be more stable. Flashy news headlines can make it tempting to make knee-jerk
decisions, but sticking to a strategy and maintaining a portfolio consistent with your goals and risk
tolerance can lead to smoother returns and a better probability for long-term success.
Chart of the Week
European stocks have skyrocketed during November, and may even set a new record for a monthly performance
mark. Europe was battered in the fall by resurgent COVID-19 spread, making recent news of effective vaccines
extremely supportive for European stocks.
Market Update
Equities
Broad market equity indices finished the week mostly positive, with major large cap indices underperforming
small cap. Economic data has been solid, but the global recovery is still threatened by COVID-19. S&P
sectors returned mostly positive results this week. Energy and financials outperformed, returning 8.51% and
4.60% respectively. Utilities and real estate underperformed, posting 0.24% and -0.37% respectively.
Technology leads the pack so far YTD, returning 33.69% in 2020.
Commodities
Commodities rose this week, driven by a substantial jump in oil prices. Oil markets have begun to show a
significant responsiveness to the status of vaccine development efforts, as normal economic conditions are
critical to energy consumption. Energy markets have been highly volatile, with oil investors focusing on
output and consumption concerns. Demand is still likely to recover slowly however, and recent lockdown
restrictions in Europe have raised doubts as to whether demand is going to continue in a positive direction.
On the supply side, operating oil rigs are still well under early 2020 numbers, but trending upwards.Gold fell
this week even as the U.S. dollar weakened. Gold is a common “safe haven” asset, typically rising during times
of market stress. Focus for gold has shifted to global macroeconomics and recovery efforts. Recent declines in
the precious metal could indicate increasing risk appetites.
Bonds
Yields on 10-year Treasuries rose this week from 0.82% to 0.84% while traditional bond indices fell. Treasury
yield movements reflect general risk outlook, and tend to track overall investor sentiment. Treasury yields
will continue to be a focus as analysts watch for signs of changing market conditions.High-yield bonds rose
this week as spreads tightened. High-yield bonds are likely to remain volatile in the short to intermediate
term as the Fed has adopted a remarkably accommodative monetary stance and investors warm slightly to economic
risk factors, likely driving increased volatility.
Lesson to be Learned
Invest for the long haul. Don’t get too greedy and don’t get too scared.”
-Shelby M.C. Davis
StockPointDigital Indicators
StockPointDigital has two simple indicators we share that help you see how the economy is doing (we call this the
Recession Probability Index, or RPI), as well as if the US Stock Market is strong (bull) or weak (bear).
In a nutshell, we want the RPI to be low on a scale of 1 to 100. For the US Equity Bull/Bear indicator, we
want it to read at least 66.67% bullish. When those two things occur, our research shows market performance is
typically stronger, with less volatility.
The Recession Probability Index (RPI) has a current reading of 28.43, forecasting a lower potential for an
economic contraction (warning of recession risk). The Bull/Bear indicator is currently 100% bullish, meaning
the indicator shows there is a slightly higher than average likelihood of stock market increases in the near
term (within the next 18 months).
It can be easy to become distracted from our long-term goals and chase returns when markets are volatile and
uncertain. It is because of the allure of these distractions that having a plan and remaining disciplined is
mission critical for long term success. Focusing on the long-run can help minimize the negative impact
emotions can have on your portfolio and increase your chances for success over time.
The Week Ahead
This week sees multiple high impact releases. OStockPointDigitalcial unemployment and PMI numbers for both services
and manufacturing will be updated. Continued progress in these areas should provide encouragement for
economists and analysts.More to come soon. Stay tuned.