Markets fell again this week as investors continue to assess the state of the global economy. Economic data has started to look more conflicted, as commodity prices continue to drive up costs. In positive news, unemployment claims declined again, signaling that employment markets are continuing to rebound. Overall, the economy remains well positioned to perform exceptionally in 2021 based on overall macroeconomic position. New COVID-19 infections moved substantially lower again this week, with 7 day moving averages decreasing by around 7K a day over the prior week. The most recent infection data puts the moving average below 28K new infections a day and at the lowest levels since June.

Overseas, developed markets outperformed emerging markets. European indices were mostly positive, while Japanese markets returned positive performance for the week. Improving prospects against the pandemic as well as improved prospects for economic recovery should continue to help lift markets globally over time.

Markets were mixed this week as investors continue to assess the state of the global economy. While fears concerning global stability and health appear to be in decline, the recent volatility serves as a great reminder of why it is so important to remain committed to a long-term plan and maintain a well-diversified portfolio. When stocks were struggling to gain traction last month, other asset classes such as gold, REITs, and US Treasury bonds proved to be more stable. flashy news headlines can make it tempting to make knee-jerk decisions, but sticking to a strategy and maintaining a portfolio consistent with your goals and risk tolerance can lead to smoother returns and a better probability for long-term success.

Chart of the Week

Relative to consumer price inflation, the S&P 500 has the worst earnings yields in almost 40 years. inflation has the ability to dramatically hinder valuations, especially with concern to growth companies dependent on favorable hurdle rates for future earnings potential.

Market Update

Equities

Broad market equity indices finished the week mostly negative, with major large cap indices performing comparably to small cap. Economic data has been mostly encouraging, but the global recovery has a long way to go to recover from COVID-19 lockdowns.

S&P sectors returned mixed results this week. Real estate and healthcare outperformed, returning 0.91% and 0.74% respectively. Industrials and energy underperformed, posting -1.70% and -2.84% respectively. Energy maintains its lead in 2021 with a 36.27% return.

Commodities
Oil fell this week as crude oil inventories rose less than expectations. Energy markets have been highly volatile in the COVID era, but it appears that stability may be more of the norm given recent market fundamentals. Demand is still low compared to early 2020, but as vaccinations proliferate, lockdown restrictions in Europe as well as the U.S. should start to loosen, helping support recovery. On the supply side, operating oil rigs are still well under early 2020 numbers, but trending upwards. In addition to supply and demand, a volatile dollar is likely to have a large impact on commodity prices.

Gold rose this week as the U.S. dollar weakened. Gold is a common “safe haven” asset, typically rising during times of market stress. Focus for gold has shifted again to include not just global macroeconomics surrounding COVID-19 damage and recovery efforts, but also inflation and its possible impact on U.S. dollar value.

Bonds

Yields on 10-year Treasuries fell this week from 1.6284 to 1.6216 while traditional bond indices rose. Treasury yield movements reflect general risk outlook, and tend to track overall investor sentiment. Recently, expected increases in future inflation risk have helped elevate yields. Treasury yields will continue to be a focus as analysts watch for signs of changing market conditions.

High-yield bonds fell this week as spreads loosened. High-yield bonds are likely to remain more stable in the short to intermediate term as the Fed has adopted a remarkably accommodative monetary stance, vaccines continue to be administered at high rates, and major economic risk factors subside, likely helping stabilize volatility.

Lesson to Be Learned

“The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path by means of which he can get from where he is to where he wants to go.”

-J.P. Morgan

FormulaFolios has two simple indicators we share that help you see how the economy is doing (we call this the Recession Probability Index, or RPI), as well as if the US Stock Market is strong (bull) or weak (bear).

In a nutshell, we want the RPI to be low on a scale of 1 to 100. For the US Equity Bull/Bear indicator, we want it to read at least 66.67% bullish. When those two things occur, our research shows market performance is typically stronger, with less volatility.

The Recession Probability Index (RPI) has a current reading of 11.02, forecasting a lower potential for an economic contraction (warning of recession risk). The Bull/Bear indicator is currently 100% bullish, meaning the indicator shows there is a slightly higher than average likelihood of stock market increases in the near term (within the next 18 months).


It can be easy to become distracted from our long-term goals and chase returns when markets are volatile and uncertain. It is because of the allure of these distractions that having a plan and remaining disciplined is mission critical for long term success. Focusing on the long-run can help minimize the negative impact emotions can have on your portfolio and increase your chances for success over time.

The Week Ahead

This week we will see updated durable goods orders along with personal spending and income data. Arguably most important will be updated PCE deflator metrics, which will be directly referenced by Fed officials when forming monetary policy.

More to come soon. Stay tuned.