Insight & Commentaries
As has been the case for the past year, worries over global growth continue to dog markets. Last Friday’s large miss on Germany’s purchasing managers index is more evidence that global growth has turned sour (Chart A, below). Some hoped that a better result would be seen from Germany given that order rates have held up. However, the 44.7 reading on the index is far below 50, creating cause for further concern about Europe. The miss follows earlier warnings on growth from the European Central bank, who recently issued a cut to their outlook. Bloomberg’s estimate of 2019 German growth…
Investor expectations are usually anchored by central bank expectations which is why central bank statements deserve much attention. This Wednesday’s update on monetary policy from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is especially important given the FOMC’s recent pivot to “patience.” Market expectations are now set for an 85% probability of no further rate increases this year. The process of reducing short-term rate expectations, which began last fall, has now rippled through global financial markets, dampened volatility and helped buoy stocks so far in 2019. As the Federal Reserve gets ready to release an updated “dot plot” this Wednesday, the…
Central Banks Fall In-Line The global economy worsened in recent months by most accounts, but policy changes are now in place that could foster some improvement. Central banks in the United States, China, and Europe recently began moving toward greater accommodation — a major shift from early last fall. The Federal Reserve is telegraphing a need for “patience”, China has unveiled tax cuts and increased bank lending, and the European Central Bank (ECB) is now signaling renewed stimulus. Slipping growth is the reason cited for most of this renewed accommodation. Good Growth, Reasonable Valuation The United States growth engine appears…
THE WEEK AHEAD Is A Turn At Hand? If the U.S. expansion makes it to March, it will match the 1990s expansion as the longest on record. But the last few months have seen a slowing in global growth and a pickup in market volatility. Even though the current data flow remains mixed, global growth could improve because worries over trade and tightening monetary policy have faded and policy changes suggest stabilization. Our WCA Fundamental Conditions Barometer (chart, below), which measures broad changes in the growth outlook, improved slightly in the past month, but remains at levels suggesting some continued…
Global stocks continue to gain ground compared to bonds (chart, below). Headlines on trade, the budget, and Brexit are recent market movers. The resolution of these issues, yet unknown, could shape how the rest of the year plays out. A bullish scenario envisions growth returning to the globe as nations reach compromises. An intensification of these issues, or if left unresolved, could further darken the outlook. Slowing growth in China, softening sales of homes and automobiles, weak retail sales, and a sharp decline in European industrial production are the latest signs of stress. The adoption of a “wait and see”…
Data supports market momentum into the new year: Portfolio manager from CNBC.
Jim Lowell, Adviser Investments, and Kevin Caron, Washington Crossing Advisors, provide their outlook on the markets and economy in 2018. The only question for us is at some point valuations are beginning to look a little rich, says Caron.
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