November’s Data

If all you did was focus on the United States’ economy, you would conclude that October was a very good month. Over the past two weeks we learned that in October:

  1. Workers hourly wages shot up 3.1% from a year earlier, the best performance in a decade;
  2. U.S. Manufacturing activity remains solid (the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Manager’s Survey is solidly in the 55-60 range);
  3. Core domestic retail sales are up a whopping 5%, year over year, continuing a very strong upward trend.

These sorts of readings are unmistakable positives for the United States’ economy, and in no way speak to a weaker outlook. This raises an obvious question. Why are markets behaving as they have the past few weeks?

Markets Weigh In

Throughout the past couple of months, markets have not been singing a happy tune. The Dow has lost over 1,000 points and corporate credit spreads have jumped to levels not seen since early 2016. Measures of risk aversion have spiked (CBOE VIX and the St. Louis Financial Stress Index). Safer and more stable companies (“risk off” stocks) have been outperforming riskier and more volatile ones (“risk on” stocks). Markets seem to be questioning whether the good times will continue, despite continued news about the U.S. economy.

But if we take a step back, we growing global risk-aversion — suggesting that issues are emanating from elsewhere. Most of the world’s stock markets are in the red this year, as output and growth forecasts are cut. As the chart below shows, Chinese Manufacturing, often seen as the “canary in the coal mine” for global output, is rolling over (Chart A, Below) and global prices for industrial metals are also off sharply (Chart B, below). Not surprisingly, the International Monetary Fund also recently trimmed its global growth forecast to 3.7% from 3.9% for both 2018 and 2019.

Chart A

Chart B

Mixed Bag

All-in-all, we view the last month’s jump in market volatility as out of step with the hard data we are getting on the U.S. economy. Most of that data, sometimes referred to as “fundamentals”, is more positive than just about any time since the cycle began. The strong economy has led to tightening capacity in some areas, a firming of inflation, and prompted the Federal Reserve to begin to remove the “punchbowl” by raising interest rates.

A key question is whether the recent “risk-off” mindset of traders spreads beyond financial markets into the “real” economy. As evidenced by recent data on the economy’s performance, we can say that worsened market sentiment has not hurt the “real” economy yet. A sustained and further widening of credit spreads, a further sustained fall in commodity prices, or a sustained pickup in equity market volatility could begin to impact business’ investment and consumer’s spending plans. We think the U.S. economy will grow faster than our 2.75% long-run growth forecast.

Portfolio Posture

Portfolio risk levels have already been reduced from above average to about average, beginning last spring due to a fall in our WCA Barometer. For core equity positioning, we are sticking with tactical calls to remain overweight domestic versus foreign; developed versus emerging; and value over growth.

For more on our WCA Fundamental Conditions Barometer and long-term capital market assumptions, please click here.   

Kevin Caron, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Chad Morganlander, Senior Portfolio Manager
Matthew Battipaglia, Portfolio Manager
Suzanne Ashley, Analyst

(973) 549-4168

www.washingtoncrossingadvisors.com
www.stifel.com

Disclosures

WCA Fundamental Conditions Barometer Description: We regularly assess changes in fundamental conditions to help guide near-term asset allocation decisions. The analysis incorporates approximately 30 forward-looking indicators in categories ranging from Credit and Capital Markets to U.S. Economic Conditions and Foreign Conditions. From each category of data, we create three diffusion-style sub-indices that measure the trends in the underlying data. Sustained improvement that is spread across a wide variety of observations will produce index readings above 50 (potentially favoring stocks), while readings below 50 would indicate potential deterioration (potentially favoring bonds). The WCA Fundamental Conditions Index combines the three underlying categories into a single summary measure. This measure can be thought of as a “barometer” for changes in fundamental conditions.

The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by us and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data, nor is it considered an offer to buy or sell any securities referred to herein. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and do not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual investors. There is no guarantee that the figures or opinions forecasted in this report will be realized or achieved. Employees of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates may, at times, release written or oral commentary, technical analysis, or trading strategies that differ from the opinions expressed within. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged, and you cannot invest directly in an index.

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This commentary often expresses opinions about the direction of market, investment sector and other trends. The opinions should not be considered predictions of future results. The information contained in this report is based on sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed and not necessarily complete.

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