2018: 4th Quarter Summary

Share On Facebook
Share On Twitter
Share On Linkedin

“What are the drums saying, Eli? Good news or bad?” Opening lines of “Bomba, the Jungle Boy” (1949)

Our 2017 review began, “What a great year for investors.” This year, we would have to note that 2018 was a disappointing year for investors. Pretty much everything that went right in 2017 reversed in 2018, and only bonds provided any solace as a punishing final quarter pushed equity markets well into negative territory. In fact, the S&P posted its worst December return in over 50 years, and December has historically been one of the index’s best months. Investors were harmed by tax-loss selling, thin trading volume—which left extreme moves to the so-called ‘algorithmic [program] traders’—and a recognition of discomfort with the policy and political issues that markets had long ignored. All U.S. stocks endured a ‘bear’ market during the correction that ended Christmas Eve; international stocks also declined, but by lesser amounts. High-yield and some investment-grade bonds also declined, but high-quality government and municipal bonds provided a correlating safe haven. Here are the results:

“We’ll have all sorts of crazy signals. And you’d be a damned fool if you didn’t look for things you weren’t expecting, because that’s probably what you’re going to see first.” Rainer Weiss, physicist

Investors’ expectations for 2018 were for continued synchronous global growth, continuing positive equity-market returns, some gradual losses in bonds as rates rose, and a relatively stable political environment. That was how the year started; however, rate-hike concerns set in almost immediately. Bonds fell, stocks began to sell off, and the rest of the year compounded on those fears. The S&P 500, which peaked near 10% on a price-return basis, posted four (4) sharp drawdowns; bonds, which were down about 2.5% at one point in the year, began to rebound and provided a haven from the equity sell-offs.

Clearly, the 4th quarter gyrations were unsettling, and brought forward many of the economic and interest-rate concerns that were in the back of investors’ minds. We think that some of these concerns warrant attention but aren’t supported by data and are still too early to spook the markets. Here’s a summary of our thinking:

First, we think that global growth will be positive, but at a lower level than in 2018. It’s difficult to accept that just one year ago, consensus estimates were for a strong year for many economies. Policy concerns, political flareups and elections have dampened expectations, but not to the point of recession. Here’s a look at economic cycle updates and a regional forecast:

Note that key economies are ‘plateauing’ (the U.S., Japan, India), China is restructuring, and the U.K. and Australia are dealing with Brexit issues and the China slowdown, respectively. These issues aside, projections for growth are still positive for the year:

One issue that we think is sometimes overlooked when thinking about growth is the low level of global inflation. Central banks focus on inflation and unemployment as their two key targets; as this graph shows, inflation in key regions is benign for the moment. Oil’s drop last year has left prices well below its pre-2014 peak north of $100 per barrel. Supply imbalances are contributing to a surfeit, and this key economic input is helping tame inflationary pressures.

One inflationary concern that is closely watched by the U.S. Fed is wage growth. Perceived overheating in this area may cause margins to suffer and the Fed to raise rates faster than expected, a clear economic risk. U.S. wages appear to be growing, but not at an excessive rate, and, given the years of low real-wage growth, the Fed may let the number ‘run hot’ (i.e. above a target level). One additional consideration is that above-trend wage growth is good for consumer sentiment and spending, which are key growth underpinnings.

Recent Fed actions and public comments, as well as a sudden fascination with the concept of an inverted yield curve in the financial media, have sparked fears of a recession. It is common knowledge that recessions are impossible to predict, but that doesn’t prevent pundits from trying. We don’t see a recession on the near horizon, and other data offer some support on this view:

A final comment on the U.S. economy and stocks: we are still in one of the longest post-war expansions and bull markets. Signals may indicate moderation or contraction, but these are not givens.

“Sometimes we wait for thunderclaps, drumrolls, and clarion calls to alert us to what’s important when, actually, it’s most often the subtle and persistent signals around us that make the most difference.” Gen. Martin Dempsey, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Since their zero-rate response to the Global Financial Crisis, it has been expected that the Fed would raise short-term rates at some point due to economic strength. That has been the policy for two years, and the cost of capital has been affected by rate hikes and balance-sheet reduction. A yield-curve inversion (where short-term yields are higher than long-term yields) has not occurred and may not for some time. Further, inversion does not indicate an imminent recession. What it usually signals is a still-growing, though late-stage, economic expansion. The Fed has indicated that they will pause to re-evaluate their regime when the ‘neutral’ Fed Funds rate is achieved (~3.00 – 3.50%), which we think is a prudent stance.

We also think context is extremely important with respect to central bank activity and suggest that the proper framing for current rate increases is future rate decreases. Here’s how the Fed has managed Fed-Funds rate reductions in the recent past:

Important takeaways from this data are:

  • The Fed Funds rate at the start of each reduction cycle was greater than 5.00%,
  • Each rate-decrease cycle saw rates lowered by at least 5.25 percentage points, and
  • The Fed lowered rates by an amount significantly greater than the actual current level of the Fed Funds rate.

While recognizing that it’s difficult to do, we think the Fed may be able to engineer a ‘soft landing’ at the end of this growth cycle. This would lead to a re-pricing of risk assets but may lead to a longer expansion at lower growth rates than are currently projected by the Trump administration. Investors will have to determine which outcome is preferable: lower growth for longer, or higher short-term growth that leads to a ‘hard landing’ recovery. We can see that the Fed is currently engineering a gradual tightening of financial conditions at this point in the growth cycle:

“I know the signs of scaredness.” Michael Jordan, former NBA player

The stock market embodies all investors’ hopes and fears. As famed value investor Benjamin Graham said, “In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.” The December sell-off was an unexpected and unwanted gift during the holiday season, but it may have proven more valuable than investors realize. A much-needed dose of reality was injected into all forward discussions of markets and growth, as well as a recognition of the headwinds that geopolitics are whipping up. The sell-off also adjusted valuations and expectations, and this has provided global stock and fixed-income opportunities for the new year.

As we see below, earnings estimates and valuations have come in over the quarter and the year:

As Ben Graham noted above, stocks are long-term assets, and short-term fluctuations reveal nothing except heightened emotions. Value is created over time, not in a single day or by a single trade. This does not mean that every stock is a buy today, of course, but it does indicate that re-evaluation of economic conditions and company dynamics may lead to more global opportunities.

“Distinguishing the signal from the noise requires both scientific knowledge and self-knowledge.” Nate Silver, founder and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight

Some of our expectations for 2018 failed to materialize. Our analysis indicated that there are several key reasons for this, notably that investors re-priced a bit more policy risk into their longer-term assumptions. Based on our review of relevant data, we (again) expect the global recovery to continue, albeit at a slower pace than previously expected. We (again) expect a continuing expansion in the U.S. and abroad, and think that:

  • The U.S. economy will grow at a slower pace due to a lessening of the Trump tax-cut effects and rising deficits, trade issues and slightly higher interest rates;
  • The Fed will likely raise rates one to two times in 2019, as they see tamer inflation and become more concerned with upsetting markets as opposed to rapidly hiking rates; the U.S. 10-year Treasury will rise (absent a crisis) and trade in a range of 3.00 – 3.50%;
  • Growth in other regions will be modest in developed markets, especially Europe. Emerging markets will likely be higher; valuations are becoming compelling values. Interest rates will begin to trend higher in other regions due to central-bank activity.
  • China, the world’s second-most influential economy, will make a strong move to settle trade disputes with the U.S., but the effects will be reflected in market sentiment well before the respective economies.

Our major concerns for 2019 are focused on two things: policy and politics, and behavior. The recent elections have brought U.S. government partisanship to new heights, with the promise of more conflict and acrimony to come. Populism and ‘strong-man’ governments are cropping up in every region, prompting fractious relations around the globe. We see simplistic economic solutions and nationalism dictating policy rather than rational planning and acknowledgment of shared interests. It’s sometimes difficult to see how strong forward-looking decisions will be made in this environment, but markets are resilient, and we think cooler heads will prevail.

We think a more important focus than any data analysis in the coming year is behavior. The recent sell-off has provoked confusion and fear in investors. We often refer to the Four Horsemen of the Investing Apocalypse—Fear, Greed, Hope and Ignorance—and see them stampeding toward us now. Investors fear that the market will crash or their wealth will disappear, hope that their portfolios are relatively unscathed, and ignore their financial plans and the reason(s) for their asset allocation. As always, we remind our clients to review their circumstances and any changes in their lives to sharpen focus on the things they can control. It’s important that we reallocate the portfolio based on changing life event not market emotions. Understanding what might be ahead and how to prepare for it will help manage the distress market fluctuations may cause and prevent ill-timed decisions. If changes are warranted to a plan or portfolio, we can help make those adjustments and ideally steer the Four Horsemen away.

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and feedback. We wish you and your families a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.

—Your Wealth Management Team at JJ Burns & Company

downloadDownload Market Commentary

Disclosure: J.J. Burns & Company, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and maintains notice filings with the States of New York, Florida Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and California. J.J. Burns & Company, LLC only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or excluded or exempted from registration. Follow-up and individualized responses to persons that involves either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, will not be made absent compliance with state investment adviser and investment adviser representative registration requirements, or an applicable exemption or exclusion.

All investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment plan or strategy will be successful.

The foregoing content reflects the opinions of J.J. Burns & Company, LLC and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct.

Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns.

Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful. 

More To Read

October 31, 2023

2023: 3rd Quarter Summary

“I watch the sun go down / And I keep hanging on, waiting for my lucky day” Chris Isaak, “Waiting For My Lucky Day” Last... more

August 11, 2023

2023: 2nd Quarter Summary

“Have mercy, been waiting for the bus all day / I got my brown paper bag / And my take-home pay” ZZ Top, “Waitin’ for... more

May 25, 2023

2023: Mid-Year Summary

“Send lawyers, guns, and money / Dad, get me out of this” Warren Zevon, “Lawyers, Guns and Money” U.S. investors breathed a sigh of relief... more