In the first half of 2019, major stock indexes including the S&P 500® reached new highs, yet the outlook for global economic growth softened. Recession risk has risen, and rising tariffs have created even more uncertainty.
We believe a few themes will be important to watch in the second half of the year:
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The U.S. stock market will balance recession risk vs. rate cuts.Recession risk is rising, but markets currently expect the Federal Reserve to keep it at bay by cutting short-term interest rates at least once before the end of the year. Lower rates—which tend to spur borrowing and business investment—could help balance out the negative effects of slowing global growth and an ongoing U.S.-China trade war.
However, Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders notes in her mid-year U.S. stocks/economy outlook that the market’s response to rate cuts may depend on how close we are to a recession. “Initial rate cuts when no recession was underway or imminent were historically accompanied by stronger stock market performance over the subsequent year relative to recession periods,” she says.
Stock market action following an initial rate cut may depend on whether there’s a recession
Source: Charles Schwab, Ned Davis Research (NDR), Inc. (Further distribution prohibited without prior permission. Copyright 2019© Ned Davis Research, Inc. All rights reserved.). May 5, 1920-September 18, 2008. DJIA=Dow Jones Industrial Average. Recession cases: 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1981, 2001, 2007. No recession cases: 1933, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1984, 1989, 1995, 1998.The two series represent the average of the DJIA over one year (in trading days) before and after an initial Fed rate cut, in cases when there was a recession in the next year and when there was not. The data is indexed to 100.
If the economy holds up and the rate cuts are simply “insurance,” stock markets could rally strongly. However, if the economy weakens or the Fed doesn’t ease monetary policy as expected, the market’s rate-cut optimism could become a negative.
The Fed’s benchmark short-term rate, the federal funds rate, is currently between 2.25% and 2.5%. Based on the federal funds futures market, investors now expect it to be 100 basis points1—that is, a full percentage point—lower by the end of 2020, Liz Ann says.
“Aside from ongoing trade war uncertainty, our other concern is the possibility that the market has gotten ahead of the Fed,” Liz Ann says. “With fed funds futures now discounting more than 100 basis points of easing by the end of next year, equities may be at risk if the economy’s deterioration supports that much easing—but also at risk if the Fed under-delivers.”
- The fixed income market also will grapple with slowdown vs. recession.
“The key question facing the [fixed income] market in the second half of the year is whether the economy is just slowing down—or if it’s heading into recession,” says Kathy Jones, Chief Fixed Income Strategist with the Schwab Center for Financial Research, in her mid-year fixed income outlook.
At its June meeting, the Fed signaled a willingness to cut rates in response to signs of economic weakness, presumably to avoid a recession. That suggests it’s likely there will be a rate cut in July and possibly another in September. If the economic outlook improves, the 10-year Treasury yield probably would range between about 1.8% and 2.5%, Kathy says. However, if the economy continues to deteriorate and a recession appears likely, the 10-year Treasury yield could fall as low as 1.5% in the second half of the year, she says.
“We believe a slowdown scenario is the most likely, but worry that trade conflicts could be the catalyst for a recession longer term,” Kathy says. “Recessions are notoriously difficult to forecast, because they often are triggered by some shock to the economy that isn’t easy to see in advance.”
Much has been made of the “yield curve inversion” this year. Historically, when rates on short-term investments, such as three-month Treasury bills, are higher than rates on longer-term investments, like 10-year Treasury bonds, a recession often has followed within 12 to 18 months.
“It’s an indicator we are watching closely,” Kathy says. “It should be noted, however, that the lag time between an inverted yield curve and a subsequent recession can be long and variable. Also, there have been a few false signals in the past.”
Complicating the picture is the fact that other traditional warning signs aren’t flashing, Kathy says. “We would be more concerned about an imminent recession if other indicators, such as credit spreads—the difference between yields on corporate bonds and Treasury bonds—were also signaling increased risk.”
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Global long-term performance trends may reverse.Stock markets around the world will likely contend with slowing global economic growth, as well as other pressures including rising trade tariffs; the possibility the United Kingdom will leave the European Union (Brexit) with no transition plan; and rising tensions around countries including Venezuela, Iran and North Korea.
“Individually, these ‘straws’ may not be enough to break the market’s back, but they are piling up at a time when the global economy is vulnerable to shocks,” Jeffrey Kleintop, Schwab’s Chief Global Investment Strategist, says in his mid-year global outlook. “This may make for a more challenging second half of 2019 for unprepared investors.”
Many investors expect the Fed, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan to cut rates, but rate cuts alone may not be enough to avert all growth risks, Jeffrey says: “It’s important to remember that central bank rate cuts and other actions did not stop the most recent recessions in the U.S. in 2008, Europe in 2011 and Japan in 2014.”
U.S. yield curve inversions often signal a reversal in long-term global market trends, with leaders and laggards changing places. That means the relative performance of growth vs. value stocks, U.S. vs. international stocks, and large-cap vs. small-cap stocks could reverse.
“Many investors focus on the historically negative signal for the overall stock market indicated by a yield curve inversion,” Jeffrey says. “However, the opportunities signaled by a yield curve inversion deserve just as much attention.”
What investors can consider now
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Keep your U.S. stock allocations “neutral.” When the stock market is reaching new highs, it may be tempting to add more stocks. But Liz Ann suggests investors keep their U.S. equity allocations no higher than their long-term strategic allocations—for example, if your long-term portfolio allocation target is 60% stocks, don’t exceed that level. Also, a bias toward large-cap stocks may make sense, as large-caps historically have outperformed small-caps during the latter stages of the economic cycle. Large-cap companies also tend to have lower debt ratios and can be more nimble in adjusting to the effects of the trade war.
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Limit exposure to riskier segments of the fixed income market. Lower-credit-quality bonds, such as high-yield and emerging-market bonds, tend to be more sensitive to economic/market ups and downs compared with Treasuries or investment-grade municipal and corporate bonds. Kathy also suggests considering a bond “barbell,” containing some short-term (less than two years) and some intermediate-term (seven- to 10-year) bonds. The short-term investments provide liquidity and flexibility to reinvest if yields should move up, while the intermediate-term bonds provide a set level of income in case yields move down.
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Make sure your portfolio includes an appropriate amount of international exposure. Long-term trend reversals, if they happen, could catch unprepared investors by surprise. Portfolios should have an appropriate level of broad international exposure, including emerging- and developed-markets stocks, Jeffrey says. The degree to which the world’s stock markets move in sync has fallen to the lowest level in 20 years, enhancing the potential risk-reducing benefits of global diversification.
1 One basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1%, or 0.01%.
© Charles Schwab & Co.
© Charles Schwab
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