2017-1-3

Stocks declined in light trading over the holiday shortened week.  Having neared the closely watched 20,000 level the previous week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -171 points to record its first weekly loss since early November, down -0.86% to 19,762.6.  The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite had its first down week in 4, falling ‑1.46% to 5,383.  The LargeCap S&P 500 index retreated -1.1%, while MidCaps and SmallCaps fell ‑0.78% and ‑1.05%, respectively.  Utilities and Transports were both negative, with Transports falling -1.6% and the defensive Utilities ended down only -0.18%. 

In international markets, Canada’s TSX gave up a portion of last week’s gains by falling ‑0.26%, while the majority of European markets rose for the week.  The United Kingdom’s FTSE 100 gained +1.06%, along with France’s CAC 40 that added +0.47%.  Germany’s DAX notched its fourth straight week of gains by adding +0.27%, but Italy’s Milan FTSE was unable to add a sixth week of gains, retreating‑0.57%.  In Asia, China’s Shanghai Composite fell ‑0.21%, while Japan’s Nikkei retreated ‑1.6% after seven straight weeks of gains.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rebounded +2% after two weeks of losses.  As a group, emerging markets (as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index) rose +2.13%, while developed markets (as measured by the MSCI Developed Markets Index) gained +0.09%.

In commodities, Gold had its first up week after 7 consecutive weeks of losses, rising +$18.10 to $1,151.70 an ounce.  Silver also rose for the week, up +1.46% to $15.99 an ounce.  In energy, West Texas Intermediate crude oil continued to break out of the last 6 month’s $50 a barrel range, rising $0.70, or 1.32%, to $53.72 a barrel.  Overall, the Commodity Research Bureau’s CRB Index was up +1.04% for the week.

The month of December was positive for all U.S. equity indexes.  The Dow showed the way, up +3.34%, SmallCaps and MidCaps followed with gains of +2.63% and 2.03%, LargeCap S&P 500 returned +1.82% and the NASDAQ comp trailed the pack with a gain of +1.12%.  The MSCI Developed Markets Index did well, too, up +2.7%, but the MSCI Emerging Markets Index trailed with a negative return of -0.26%.

The fourth quarter of 2016 showed a wide disparity in returns among U.S. and international indexes.  SmallCaps rocketed +8.43%, narrowly beating out the Dow which returned +7.94%.  Not too far behind was the MidCap index, which gained +6.98%.  However, the LargeCap S&P 500 lagged behind at +3.25%, and the NASDAQ Composite eked out a minor gain of +1.34% (the narrower NASDAQ 100 was actually negative for the fourth quarter, losing -0.25%).  International indexes ran far behind the U.S. for the quarter.  The MSCI Developed Markets Index fell -1.35%, and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index dropped -5.46%.  Gold was the largest casualty of the quarter, losing almost -13% - largely a victim of the strengthening post-election dollar. 

2016 again showed the futility of predictions – particularly in investing and politics.  Virtually no one predicted the election of President-elect Trump, and absolutely no one predicted the market’s post-election response.  Investors who acted on actual data did fine, but those acting on the vast majority of predictions did poorly.  In the U.S., SmallCaps led the way with a gain of +19.48%, followed closely by MidCaps at +18.73%.  The Dow was also in double digits, rising +13.42%.  The LargeCap S&P 500, with a gain of +9.54%, returned half that of SmallCaps.  Bringing up the rear for 2016 was the NASDAQ Composite with a rise of “only” +7.5%.  International markets were mixed for 2016.  The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained +9.9%, but the MSCI Developed Markets Index lost ‑0.7%.  Major international markets were bracketed at the upper end by the U.K., which gained +14.4%, and at the lower end by China’s Shanghai market, which lost -12.3%.  The U.S. has been much stronger than non-U.S. markets for the past 5 years; for example, the broad FTSE Global All-Cap ex-US Index has still not yet exceeded its peak of 2007, in contrast to the U.S. which has forged ahead to numerous new highs in that period.

In U.S. economic news, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell back to the extremely low levels that have been the norm for much of the year.  Initial claims for unemployment fell last week by 10,000 to 265,000.  Initial claims have remained below the key 300,000 level for 95 straight weeks, the longest streak in 46 years.  With the unemployment rate below 5%, businesses have reported having a difficult time finding skilled workers.  The less-volatile 4-week moving average of claims fell 750 to 263,000.

Demand in the housing market continues to be the strongest in years, according to the latest S&P Case-Shiller national home price index reading.  U.S. home prices hit a new peak in October, up +5.6% from a year earlier and setting another new high from the previous month.  In addition, all 20 cities in the Case-Shiller 20-city home price index saw annual home price increases, and 15 out of the 20 also posted month-over-month increases.  Seattle, Portland, and Denver posted the largest year-over-year price gains, with Seattle and Portland rising over +10%, and Denver up +8%.  David Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices warned that the current pace of growth can’t continue forever writing, “Home prices and the economy are both enjoying robust numbers.  However, mortgage interest rates rose in November and are expected to rise further as home prices continue to out-pace gains in wages and personal income."  The home price index tracks prices on a rolling three-month average.  October’s reading represents the three-month average of August, September, and October prices.

The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index fell ‑2.5% in November to a seasonally-adjusted 107.3.  The index measures homes under contract that have not yet closed.  Despite the fall, the NAR noted that the reading still marked the index’s 31st straight month above its baseline reading of 100.  The baseline reading is the rate at which homes went to contract in the year 2001, the first year in which the index was published and itself a good year for U.S. housing.  Therefore, the current reading is seen as “exceptional” by the NAR, despite the drop.  By region, pending home sales were mixed.  The Northeast region was up +5.7% from the prior year, while the Midwest region declined -2.4%, and the South and West regions were each down ‑1%.

Confidence among American consumers surged in December to 113.7, reported the Conference Board - the highest level since 2001.   Lynn Franco, the Conference Board’s director of economic indicators, attributed the strong reading to a “post-election surge in optimism for the economy”, citing strong jobs and income prospects, all-time highs in the stock market, and a new President and administration.  The present situation index, which measures Americans’ current confidence, fell almost -6 points to 126.1, but that’s still near its highest level in 9 years.  A measure of expectations over the next six months rose over +10 points to its highest level since 2003.  Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities said, “The election of Donald Trump has raised household expectations for the economy to a very high level.  It remains to be seen whether Trump can deliver, but the ground would certainly appear to be ripe for a pickup in consumer spending based on this confidence data.”

In the Windy City, manufacturing activity fell more than expected in December, retreating from last month’s highest reading since January of 2015.  The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index decreased ‑3 points to a seasonally-adjusted 54.6 this month.  Analysts had expected only a ‑0.6 point drop.  In the details of the report three out of the five components decreased.  New orders led the decline, losing ‑6.7 points to 56.5, while employment and supplier deliveries components remained positive.  Economist Jamie Satchi reported, “Most firms are upbeat going into 2017 and believe new and better things are to come under the new administration.” 

The U.S. trade deficit increased +5.5% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual $65.3 billion, according to the Commerce Department.  A stronger U.S. dollar could weigh on U.S. exporters, as the dollar has surged +5% since Trump’s victory.  Imports rose +1.2% to $187 billion, while exports were up +1% to $121.7 billion.  This difference between imports and exports is known as the “trade gap”.  Economists suggest that Trump’s proposals will lead to wider budget deficits which may trigger higher inflation and interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve. 

In Canada, the U.K.’s Centre for Economics and Business Research had some bad news for Canadians.  In a new report, the group stated Canada’s economic growth is set to flatline at 2% or less per year over the next 15 years, leading the country to lose ground in the ranking of the world’s economies.  The forecasts call for Canadian GDP growth of just +1.8%/yr. from 2016-2020, then +2%/yr. growth from 2021 to 2030.  The group is concerned with Canada’s public sector deficit which has risen to 2.5% of GDP, and its gross debt as a percentage of GDP of 92%.

Across the Atlantic, Britain’s corporate finance chiefs are more optimistic about the future than at any point over the past 18 months, according to a survey of chief finance officers by Deloitte.  Overall companies remain cautious about launching big new investments, but their appetite for hiring is rebounding.  Ian Stewart, Deloitte’s chief economist stated, “The economy has accelerated in the second half of the year and is stronger than people expected even before the referendum, so I think the resilience of the economy has boosted that measure of confidence.”  Deloitte’s optimism index, which measures the proportion of CFO’s who are more optimistic than they were three months ago turned positive for the first time since the middle of last year.

On Europe’s mainland, German industry leaders warned in 2017, to “expect the unexpected”.  The leaders of the German Industry Association (BDI), the Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) and the Employers’ Association all expressed fears about uncertainties, especially surrounding elections in Germany and France, and protectionist trends in other countries.  In addition, BDI President Ulrich Grillo stated "The level of global uncertainty has increased as has the unpredictability. Unfortunately I fear that won't change very much in 2017." 

In Italy, the world’s oldest and very troubled bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) said that the European Central Bank (ECB) has called for it to receive a bailout of $9.2 billion.  The BMPS’ reported need for recapitalization was over 3 billion euro more than previously thought necessary.  BMPS cited letters from the ECB to the Italian Ministry of Finance and Economy indicating that the results of 2016 stress tests showed the capital needs of BMPS at €8.8 billion.  The ECB also noted that the bank's liquidity had deteriorated between November 30th and December 21st.  According to the Italian economic newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, the Italian government will need to invest some six billion euros in the lender and the rest would be raised through the forced conversion of bonds into equity.  "With these figures, the bank will in effect be nationalised, given that the state will own more than 67 percent," the newspaper calculated.

China’s state news agency Xinhua reported China will meet its growth target of +6.5 to +7% this year, adding that the country’s stable growth will be reassuring to a “weak and vulnerable” global economy.  Xinhua noted that unlike other countries, China has the flexibility to defend against sharp economic decline as it restructures its economy toward consumption and services.  Chinese officials are confident in the country’s economy, says Xinhua, saying the positive trends of this year will continue into next year.

In Japan, the stagnant economy may finally be showing some tangible signs of life.  Factory output data released by Japan’s trade ministry shows signs of economic recovery.  Industrial production grew by +1.5% this month over November.  That followed a +0.6% gain in September and a flat reading in October.  In addition retail sales increased, while inventories dropped for three straight months.  The data supports the Bank of Japan’s view that growing global demand will support a steady improvement in the economy.  Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute stated, “While domestic demand still lacks strength, a pick-up in exports is driving up production.  Output will likely continue recovering moderately ahead.”

(sources: all index return data from Yahoo Finance; Reuters, Barron’s, Wall St Journal, Bloomberg.com, ft.com, guggenheimpartners.com, ritholtz.com, markit.com, financialpost.com, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, Yahoo! Finance, stocksandnews.com,  marketwatch.com,  wantchinatimes.com, BBC, 361capital.com, pensionpartners.com, cnbc.com, FactSet; W E Sherman & Co, LLC)