U.S. Markets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stocks rebounded sharply in April, fueled by a flattening pandemic curve and positive results from a clinical trial investigating a treatment for the virus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which dropped 14 percent in March, jumped 11.08 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 12.68 percent, and the NASDAQ Composite surged 15.45 percent.1
Slowdown in InfectionsJust as it appeared that April might be a repeat of March, stocks turned higher with signs of a slowdown in COVID-19 infections, especially in Italy and New York state. Though jobless claims were breathtakingly high, they were expected, allowing investors to focus on positive developments. A more stable bond market also helped support the rally. The stock market struggled to move higher, as a weak start to earnings season and troubling economic data created some underlying crosscurrents. Gains Despite Stalled MomentumMomentum stalled as oil prices drifted lower, but accelerated again on the news of positive results from a clinical trial investigating a treatment for COVID-19. Stocks continue to climb higher as more states begin the initial phase of reopening their economies and others have announced target reopening dates. Sector ScorecardAll industry sectors moved higher in April, with increases in Communication Services (+18.10 percent), Consumer Discretionary (+19.66 percent), Consumer Staples (+10.19 percent), Energy (+37.17 percent), Financials (+11.28 percent), Health Care (+17.88 percent), Industrials (+11.24 percent), Materials (+20.81 percent), Real Estate (+9.45 percent), Technology (+16.83 percent), and Utilities (+5.26 percent).2
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What Investors May Be Talking About in May | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The national dialogue over the COVID-19 outbreak has shifted toward restarting the economy, with state and national leaders devoting more attention to plans of loosening the shelter-in-place and social-distancing guidelines. There are two key aspects that investors may be watching as they try to figure out the pace of the recovery. State by StateThe first factor is the nature of the reopening. The White House plan for restarting the economy involves a three-step process, but leaves the decision-making to the governors of the states. The reopening timing and process may vary depending on health experts’ assessments of the risk profile of each state as well as voter sentiment to return to their usual activities. The second factor is the public’s confidence in resuming their pre-quarantine routines. How soon will people be showing up to work, going out to eat, and traveling? That is a clear unknown at this time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Markets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rising global optimism worldwide propelled stocks upward, lifting the MSCI-EAFE Index to a 6.75-percent gain.3 European markets were broadly higher, with gains in France (+4.01 percent), Germany (+9.32 percent), and the U.K (+7.97 percent).4 Pacific Rim stocks saw similar gains, as Australia jumped 8.78 percent, Japan added 6.75 percent, and Hong Kong rose 4.41 percent.5
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Indicators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Domestic ProductThe U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8-percent annualized rate during the first quarter, which was the biggest drop in GDP since the fourth quarter of 2008.6 EmploymentThe unemployment rate jumped to 4.4 percent, up from the previous month’s 3.5-percent rate, as employers shed 701,000 jobs in March. Keep in mind that this month’s jobs report did not fully reflect the jobless claims filed during the last two weeks of March.7 Retail SalesSpending by American consumers dropped in March, with retail sales falling 8.7 percent. It was the deepest decline since the tracking of retail sales began in 1992.8 Industrial ProductionIndustrial output fell 5.4 percent, the sharpest decline since 1946. Motor vehicles and parts were hit particularly hard, sliding 28 percent.9 HousingHousing starts were affected by the downturn, falling by 22.3 percent.10 Existing home sales declined by 8.5 percent as buyer-and-seller activity slowed.11 New home sales tumbled 15.4 percent in March, representing the biggest drop since July 2013.12 Consumer Price IndexThe cost of consumer goods fell by 0.4 percent in March, led by declines in energy (-5.8 percent), apparel (-2.0 percent), and transportation services (-1.9 percent). Excluding food and energy, the CPI fell by 0.1 percent.13 Durable Goods OrdersOrders of long-lasting goods shrank 14.4 percent, weighed down by orders for aircraft and their corresponding parts.14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Fed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s two unscheduled meetings in March were released during the month. The meetings resulted in a 50 basis point rate cut in the federal funds rate, followed by another 100 basis point cut. The meeting notes reflected how alarmed Fed officials were about the economic situation and the disruptions in the financial markets.15 Following the conclusion of the April 28th-29th meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, Fed Chair Jerome Powell did not announce any new policies, but did emphasize the Fed’s commitment to using all available tools to support economic recovery.16 By the Numbers: Camping |
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite, LLC, is not affiliated with the named representative, broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize and are subject to revision without notice. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. The S&P 500 Composite index is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. 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 Russell 1000 Index is an index that measures the performance of the highest-ranking 1,000 stocks in the Russell 3000 Index, which is comprised of 3,000 of the largest U.S. stocks. 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. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility. Please consult your financial professional for additional information. Copyright 2020 FMG Suite. |
1. The Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2020
2. FactSet Research, April 30, 2020
3. MSCI.com, April 30, 2020
4. MSCI.com, April 30, 2020
5. MSCI.com, April, 2020
6. The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2020
7. The Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2020
8. The Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2020
9. MarketWatch.com, April 15, 2020
10. CNBC.com, April 16, 2020
11. Reuters.com, April 21, 2020
12. Reuters.com, April 23, 2020
13. The Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2020
14. The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2020
15. The Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2020
16. The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2020
17. KOA.com, 2020. “2019 North America Camping Report.”
18.TheWanderingRV.com, April 8, 2020
19. PRNewswire.com, February 7, 2019