Weekly Market Compass: ‘Animal spirits’ still matter, but a different animal is making noise today
Stocks globally have experienced more than a week of tumultuous trading, with the US stock market officially in correction territory. And after being relatively sedate for years, the VIX Index has risen dramatically in recent days, indicating rising volatility. Stocks have moved so far so fast that investors have experienced financial whiplash and are trying to understand what caused markets to change course so abruptly. To put it simply, almost everything that should be a positive for stocks is now a negative for stocks. Consider:
- Strong wage growth. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the US jobs recovery had been very weak. But over the last several years, the employment situation has improved substantially — although wage growth has remained quite lackluster. Then the January 2018 employment situation report was released more than a week ago, indicating that US wage growth had risen significantly, reaching a level not seen since 2009. While one would assume that data indicating a major improvement in the quality of the jobs recovery would be greeted positively by markets, it was not. One reason is that higher wage growth is likely to cut into corporate profits, thereby lowering the earnings outlook. And, more importantly, higher wage growth raises the specter of higher inflation, which in turn suggests the US Federal Reserve (Fed) might have to act more aggressively in tightening. And so this data point was actually the trigger that began the sell-off.
- The passage of US tax reform legislation. The significant reduction in the corporate tax rate, which is expected to materially improve earnings for most companies, has been a positive driver for stocks — both before and immediately after the actual legislation was passed in December. However, markets are now beginning to realize that there may be a downside to tax reform legislation; it is projected to reduce revenues and therefore add significantly to the government’s deficit. The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office is that this tax legislation will add $1.5 trillion to the deficit in the next 10 years. That, in turn, means the expected issuance of more government debt — more supply being added to the market and, all else being equal, the potential for lower government bond prices and higher yields.
- The aversion of a US government shutdown. In the past, markets have reacted positively when government shutdowns have been averted. However, the bipartisan, two-year deal passed Feb. 9 to avoid a shutdown came with a big price tag: It is estimated that spending will increase by $300 billion. A perfect sign of the times was President Donald Trump’s tweet last week that this budget bill ends “the dangerous sequester,” a budgetary feature enacted in 2011 that implements across-the-board spending cuts in the event that the federal government can’t agree to a specific budget. In fact, it was the sequester that helped lower deficits in recent years. And so not only could revenues drop because of the tax reform legislation, but spending could increase because of this budget deal. This again could mean the issuance of more government debt — more supply being added to the market and, all else being equal, lower government bond prices and higher yields.
- The global economic expansion. Certainly, a key driver of stocks in 2017 was the improving global economic environment. However, at a certain point growth improves so much that central banks must begin tightening monetary policy. That point has arrived for the US and may soon arrive for other economies. Keep in mind that for years, markets have been basking in the sunshine of ultra-accommodative monetary policy, which has driven stock and bond prices higher. Central banks needed to employ such a strategy in order for economies to recover from the global financial crisis, especially given the absence of adequate fiscal stimulus. But now central banks, particularly the Fed, must worry about rising inflation. And so tightening is underway. This includes balance sheet normalization, which means more government debt could come to market and, all else being equal, lower government bond prices and higher yields.
- Protectionist policies. While many Americans are excited about the Trump administration’s “America First” trade policies, such an aggressive stance could result in retaliatory actions — and they may not be trade-related. I believe one of the biggest risks created by such protectionism is retaliation by major buyers of US debt: Countries such as Japan and China could reduce their purchases of US Treasuries — or may even sell off some of the Treasuries they currently own. This too could add to the supply of government debt in the market and, all else being equal, could lead to lower government bond prices and higher yields.
The implications for stocks
There are certainly other factors that have contributed to these market gyrations; however, the main driver is concerns about higher yields on government bonds. But why exactly could this be a negative for stocks? Higher interest rates have several implications:
- Rates play a role in valuations. Higher rates are expected to result in lower valuations for stocks, which would mean a re-rating for equities.
- Higher rates make fixed income instruments such as Treasuries more attractive to investors, which can cause flows to move from other asset classes to fixed income.
- Higher rates place pressure on borrowers, from governments to corporations to households. Rising rates typically mean lower spending, as more money must be allocated to the servicing of debt.
In summary, last year I wrote about how the “animal spirits” of investor psychology had taken over the market, driving stocks higher. I think animal spirits are still driving stocks — but this is a different animal. In 2017 and January 2018, the stock market’s spirit animal was the bull, a powerful force moving straight upward. However, I would argue that the stock market’s spirit animal is now the Chihuahua — a much smaller creature than the bull, but one that can make quite a bit of noise, jump up and down, run in circles and nip at investors’ heels.
With two Chihuahuas at home, I have firsthand experience seeing how these small but mighty dogs can scare other animals that are far larger — but their bark is usually worse than their bite. Don’t be scared by the Chihuahua market. Embrace it and take advantage of the opportunities such fluctuations offer for alpha creation.
Given the potential for disruption and higher volatility, I believe investors may consider:
- Alternatives, which may react differently than stocks and bonds to market moves.
- Strategies designed to focus on the low volatility factor within equities.
- Actively managed strategies, in which portfolio managers have the flexibility to find opportunities and seek to avoid risks that they see in stocks.
Given that valuations are stretched in the US, making US stocks particularly vulnerable, I believe investors may consider:
- Strategies that focus on the value factor within equities.
- A well-diversified multi-asset product.
- An increase in international exposure. While volatility has hit markets around the world, valuations are relatively lower in many markets outside the US.
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Also, explore our Market Compass investment guide, which provides a look at three macro issues —disruption, divergence and demographics — using clear, compelling charts.
Kristina Hooper
Chief Global Market Strategist
Kristina Hooper is the Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco. She has 21 years of investment industry experience.
Prior to joining Invesco, Ms. Hooper was the US investment strategist at Allianz Global Investors. Prior to Allianz, she held positions at PIMCO Funds, UBS (formerly PaineWebber) and MetLife. She has regularly been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters and other financial news publications. She was featured on the cover of the January 2015 issue of Kiplinger’s magazine, and has appeared regularly on CNBC and Reuters TV.
Ms. Hooper earned a BA degree, cum laude, from Wellesley College; a J.D. from Pace University School of Law, where she was a Trustees’ Merit Scholar; an MBA in finance from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, where she was a teaching fellow in macroeconomics and organizational behavior; and a master’s degree from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where she focused on labor economics.
Ms. Hooper holds the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Investment Management Analyst and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. She serves on the board of trustees of the Foundation for Financial Planning, which is the pro bono arm of the financial planning industry, and Hour Children.
Important information
Blog header image: Javen/Shutterstock.com
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX®) is a key measure of market expectations of near-term volatility conveyed by S&P 500 stock index option prices. VIX is the ticker symbol for the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index, which shows the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility.
A value style of investing is subject to the risk that the valuations never improve or that the returns will trail other styles of investing or the overall stock markets.
All investing involves risk, including risk of loss.
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or eliminate the risk of loss.
Alpha refers to the excess returns of a fund relative to the return of a benchmark index.
Alternative products typically hold more nontraditional investments and employ more complex trading strategies, including hedging and leveraging through derivatives, short selling and opportunistic strategies that change with market conditions. Investors considering alternatives should be aware of their unique characteristics and additional risks from the strategies they use. Like all investments, performance will fluctuate. You can lose money.
The risks of investing in securities of foreign issuers can include fluctuations in foreign currencies, political and economic instability, and foreign taxation issues.
The opinions referenced above are those of Kristina Hooper as of Feb. 12, 2018. These comments should not be construed as recommendations, but as an illustration of broader themes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions; there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.
This does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy or product for a particular investor. Investors should consult a financial advisor/financial consultant before making any investment decisions. Invesco does not provide tax advice. The tax information contained herein is general and is not exhaustive by nature. Federal and state tax laws are complex and constantly changing. Investors should always consult their own legal or tax professional for information concerning their individual situation. The opinions expressed are those of the authors, are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. These opinions may differ from those of other Invesco investment professionals.
All data provided by Invesco unless otherwise noted.
Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd.’s retail products and collective trust funds. Invesco Advisers, Inc. and other affiliated investment advisers mentioned provide investment advisory services and do not sell securities. Invesco Unit Investment Trusts are distributed by the sponsor, Invesco Capital Markets, Inc., and broker-dealers including Invesco Distributors, Inc. Each entity is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. PowerShares® is a registered trademark of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, investment adviser. Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (PowerShares) and Invesco Distributors, Inc., ETF distributor, are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd.
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