Current Market Observations

by William Henderson, Vice President / Head of Investments
For the week that ended February 19, 2021, the Dow Jones Industrial Average returned a nominal +0.2%, barely positive while the two broader indices were both negative for the week with the S&P 500 Index falling –0.3% and the NASDAQ –1.1%. With last week’s mixed results, returns nonetheless remained positive on a year-to-date basis. Year-to-date, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has returned +3.2%, the S&P 500 Index +4.2% and the NASDAQ +7.8%. For the week, the 10-year U.S. Treasury note moved significantly higher by 13 basis points to a post-pandemic 1.29%. 

No one can question, that the economy still is not “normal,” but the markets sure are acting that way. Year-to-date returns, noted above, are decent and certainly point to a positive year overall. Further, last week’s economic releases around industrial production, housing and retails sales were strong. Everything seems to be COVID-19 related. According to Johns Hopkins University, fresh COVID-19 cases for the week ending Feb. 14 were the lowest since October, at 2.7 million, a modest 2.5% increase in total infections from the previous week, the weakest gain since the start of the pandemic and less than half the rate seen a month earlier. Lastly, corporate profits (EPS) announcements continue to beat expectations, credit spreads are narrowing and capital expenditures by corporations are increasing. Soon, we are going to see rebounds in the sectors that were most battered by the virus-related economic shutdown.

Even as Treasury Secretary Yellen calms warnings about inflation, investors are fleeing bonds amid fears that inflation with heat up and return. The rise in the 10-year Treasury to 1.29% last week certainly shows investors are worried about bonds. Yields move opposite direction to prices and rising bond yields can hurt investors. The bigger story here is not bonds but instead the stock market which has multiple tailwinds supporting further positive movements. President Biden’s stimulus package, whether it is $1.4 or $1.9 trillion is going to be huge. Treasury Secretary Yellen and Fed Chair Powell are going to be patient around inflation moves and fully supportive of the administration’s efforts with fiscal stimulus. As mentioned, COVID-19 cases are down, the vaccine is being widely distributed and national herd immunity is expected by mid-summer or sooner.   

Things may not be “normal,” but normal is closer than we think. A common misstep all investors should avoid is trying to time the market, and 2020 showed just how detrimental timing the market could be for investors even in the short term. Stay focused on the long-term objective and realize “normal” is coming back.  

The Numbers & “Heat Map”

THE NUMBERS
Sources: Index Returns: Morningstar Workstation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Three, five and ten year returns are annualized. Interest Rates: Federal Reserve, Mortgage Bankers Association.

MARKET HEAT MAP
The health of the economy is a key driver of long-term returns in the stock market. Below, we assess the key economic conditions that we believe are of particular importance to investors.

US ECONOMY

CONSUMER HEALTH

NEUTRAL

Retail sales increased by over 5% in January, far higher than the 1% economist expectations. January was also the first month since October in which retail sales were positive month-over- month.

CORPORATE EARNINGS

POSITIVE

With >80% of S&P 500 constituents having reported Q4 earnings, profit growth is coming in at >3% year-over-year, well more than analyst expectations, which figured that earnings would fall by 7%. Earnings in 2021 are set to look strong as they lap Q2-Q3 2020.

EMPLOYMENT

NEGATIVE

The unemployment rate declined to 6.3% in January from 6.7% in December. Labor weakness remains in sectors such as Leisure and Travel; such sectors stand to benefit as vaccine distribution accelerates.

INFLATION

POSITIVE

The Fed plans to allow inflation to temporarily overshoot its 2% target such that the long-term average is 2%. Inflation has been tame since the Great Financial Crisis, less than 2%.

FISCAL POLICY

POSITIVE

Discussions on President Biden’s a $1.9 trillion stimulus package are ongoing. If the bill passes through Congress, the U.S. economy will have received a total of approximately $4 trillion in stimulus over the trailing twelve months.

MONETARY POLICY

VERY POSITIVE

The Federal Reserve continues to indicate that the monetary environment will remain very accommodative for the foreseeable future.

GLOBAL CONSIDERATIONS

GEOPOLITICAL RISKS

NEUTRAL

There are few, if any, looming geopolitical risks that could upset the economic recovery.

ECONOMIC RISKS

NEUTRAL

Although economic activity mostly remains below 2019’s levels, improvement has occurred across nearly every measure since the April 2020 nadir. With multiple vaccines in distribution, a second fiscal package in place, and interest rates low, 2021 is positioning to be a strong economic year.

The “Heat Map” is a subjective analysis based upon metrics that VNFA’s investment committee believes are important to financial markets and the economy. The “Heat Map” is designed for informational purposes only and is not intended for use as a basis for investment decisions.