* * *
Since Christmas Eve, SPX is up 19%, NDX 20% and RUT 25%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 9 weeks in a row (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: NDX, RUT and DJIA have all risen 9 weeks in a row. Long win streaks like these have a very strong propensity to continue higher over the next several months, although an interim period of consolidation and retracement is frequent. That SPX is now back at the top of its trading range from October to early December perhaps makes that outcome likely now as well. But years that start as strongly as 2019 have almost always (more than 90% of the time) added sizable gains the rest of the year.
Since Christmas Eve, SPX is up 19%, NDX 20% and RUT 25%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 9 weeks in a row (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Since Christmas Eve, SPX is up 19%, NDX 20% and RUT 25%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 9 weeks in a row (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
4Q Corporate Results: Margins Fall. A Watch Out for 2019
Summary: Overall, corporate results in the fourth quarter of 2018 were good, but not great. S&P sales grew 6% and earnings rose 32%, but profit margins fell to 10.9% from a high of 12.1% in the third quarter. This was the first substantial fall in margins since the "profit recession" in 2015.
Fundamentals have been driving the stock market higher, not valuations: earnings during the past 1 year and 2 years have risen faster than the S&P index itself (meaning, valuations contracted). The strong growth in company profits is not due to a net share reduction (e.g., buybacks) either.
Looking ahead, expectations for 10% earnings growth in 2019 have already been revised down to 5%. This still looks too optimistic: if margins in 2019 remain at the same level as in 4Q18, then earnings growth will be 0%. Dollar appreciation and declining oil prices are additional headwinds that could cause earnings to fall this year.
Valuations are now back to their 25-year average. They are not cheap, but the excesses from early 2018 have been worked off: if investors once again become ebullient, there is room for valuations to expand. However, with earnings growth likely to negligible, the key for share price appreciation in 2019 is likely to hinge entirely on valuations expanding.
85% of the companies in the S&P 500 have released their fourth quarter (4Q18) financial reports. The headline numbers were good, but not great. Here are the details:
Sales
Quarterly sales reached a new all-time high, growing 6% over the past year. On a trailing 12-month basis (TTM), sales are 9% higher yoy, among the best growth in 12 years (all financial data in this post is from S&P). Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Fundamentals have been driving the stock market higher, not valuations: earnings during the past 1 year and 2 years have risen faster than the S&P index itself (meaning, valuations contracted). The strong growth in company profits is not due to a net share reduction (e.g., buybacks) either.
Looking ahead, expectations for 10% earnings growth in 2019 have already been revised down to 5%. This still looks too optimistic: if margins in 2019 remain at the same level as in 4Q18, then earnings growth will be 0%. Dollar appreciation and declining oil prices are additional headwinds that could cause earnings to fall this year.
Valuations are now back to their 25-year average. They are not cheap, but the excesses from early 2018 have been worked off: if investors once again become ebullient, there is room for valuations to expand. However, with earnings growth likely to negligible, the key for share price appreciation in 2019 is likely to hinge entirely on valuations expanding.
* * *
85% of the companies in the S&P 500 have released their fourth quarter (4Q18) financial reports. The headline numbers were good, but not great. Here are the details:
Sales
Quarterly sales reached a new all-time high, growing 6% over the past year. On a trailing 12-month basis (TTM), sales are 9% higher yoy, among the best growth in 12 years (all financial data in this post is from S&P). Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: SPX has now gained 19% since Christmas Eve, while the Nasdaq is up 20% and RUT is up 23%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have all risen 8 weeks in a row.
SPX is now back to within 1% of the top of its trading range from October to early December. It would be very surprising if SPX did not encounter some resistance as it nears 2790-2810. That is made more likely by the fact that consecutive weeks of gains, while bullish longer term, have most often been followed by a period of consolidation and retracement.
The longer term outlook continues improve. Equal weighted indices, which remove the influence of a few, large companies, are outperforming their traditional market capitalization weighted peers. The Nasdaq index, normalized to reduce the influence of FAANG, is just 1.5% from a new all time high (ATH). If those big companies kick into gear, the traditional indices will likewise move back to their ATHs.
The primary characteristic of this rally has been broad participation. This week, the cumulative advance/decline line for the very broad NYSE made a new ATH . This did not happen during any bear market rally over the past 40 years.
Since Christmas Eve, SPX is up 19%, NDX 20% and RUT 23%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 8 weeks in a row (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
SPX is now back to within 1% of the top of its trading range from October to early December. It would be very surprising if SPX did not encounter some resistance as it nears 2790-2810. That is made more likely by the fact that consecutive weeks of gains, while bullish longer term, have most often been followed by a period of consolidation and retracement.
The longer term outlook continues improve. Equal weighted indices, which remove the influence of a few, large companies, are outperforming their traditional market capitalization weighted peers. The Nasdaq index, normalized to reduce the influence of FAANG, is just 1.5% from a new all time high (ATH). If those big companies kick into gear, the traditional indices will likewise move back to their ATHs.
The primary characteristic of this rally has been broad participation. This week, the cumulative advance/decline line for the very broad NYSE made a new ATH . This did not happen during any bear market rally over the past 40 years.
* * *
Since Christmas Eve, SPX is up 19%, NDX 20% and RUT 23%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 8 weeks in a row (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Fund Managers' Current Asset Allocation - February
Summary: Fund managers came into 2018 very bullish, with cash levels at 4-year lows and allocations to global equities at 3-year highs. Global equities ended the year 15% lower.
Since Christmas, global equities have rebounded 10%. How have fund managers responded?
In most respects, fund managers remain very bearish:
Among the various ways of measuring investor sentiment, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) survey of global fund managers is one of the best as the results reflect how managers are allocated in various asset classes. These managers oversee a combined $600b in assets.
Our sincere gratitude to BAML for the use of this data.
The data should be viewed mostly from a contrarian perspective; that is, when equities fall in price, allocations to cash go higher and allocations to equities go lower as investors become bearish, setting up a buy signal. When prices rise, the opposite occurs, setting up a sell signal. We did a recap of this pattern in December 2014 (post).
Let's review the highlights from the past month.
Overall: Relative to history, fund managers are very overweight cash and very underweight equities. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Since Christmas, global equities have rebounded 10%. How have fund managers responded?
In most respects, fund managers remain very bearish:
They are overweight cash by the highest amount since January 2009, the month before the bear market low.
Their global equity allocations are now the lowest in 2-1/2 years. This is a bearish extreme, similar to 2010 and 2016.
Their profit expectations are the most bearish in 10 years, and below levels which marked equity lows in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016.
Their global macro growth expectations are the most pessimistic in 10 years, more than at the major equity bottoms in 2011 and 2016.
They view the US dollar as the most overvalued in 16 years, which has a very good track record of marking a turn to dollar weakness, a tailwind for US multi-nationals as well as ex-US equities.
Their global bond allocations are the highest since the Brexit vote in June 2016,US equity allocations are at a 9 month low. European equity allocations are coming off a 6-1/2 year low in January. Emerging markets have become the consensus long.
* * *
Among the various ways of measuring investor sentiment, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) survey of global fund managers is one of the best as the results reflect how managers are allocated in various asset classes. These managers oversee a combined $600b in assets.
Our sincere gratitude to BAML for the use of this data.
The data should be viewed mostly from a contrarian perspective; that is, when equities fall in price, allocations to cash go higher and allocations to equities go lower as investors become bearish, setting up a buy signal. When prices rise, the opposite occurs, setting up a sell signal. We did a recap of this pattern in December 2014 (post).
Let's review the highlights from the past month.
Overall: Relative to history, fund managers are very overweight cash and very underweight equities. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Within equities, the emerging markets are overweight while Europe, in particular, is underweight. The US is neutral.
A pure contrarian would overweight equities relative to cash, and European equities relative to emerging markets.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: SPX has now gained 16% since Christmas Eve, while the Nasdaq is up 19%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have all risen 7 weeks in a row. Large, uncorrected gains like these are typically near the outer limit before a period of consolidation/retracement. That period may have started this week.
The persistence of trend like this is typically followed by higher highs ahead. Breadth reached another milestone this week, a condition which in the past 20 years has not occurred during a bear market and has not occurred until after the correction low was already in. This adds further evidence that Christmas probably marked the low for the recent swoon.
The pullback this week started from a backtest of the 200-day MA, the 4th attempt to regain the 200-d since early October. Importantly, the slope of the 200-d is flat, a condition which is unlike those during bear markets; this is typically when SPX is best able to break higher.
From Christmas Eve to its high this week, SPX gained more than 16% while NDX is up 19%. They have since given back about 2%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 7 weeks in a row. Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
The persistence of trend like this is typically followed by higher highs ahead. Breadth reached another milestone this week, a condition which in the past 20 years has not occurred during a bear market and has not occurred until after the correction low was already in. This adds further evidence that Christmas probably marked the low for the recent swoon.
The pullback this week started from a backtest of the 200-day MA, the 4th attempt to regain the 200-d since early October. Importantly, the slope of the 200-d is flat, a condition which is unlike those during bear markets; this is typically when SPX is best able to break higher.
* * *
From Christmas Eve to its high this week, SPX gained more than 16% while NDX is up 19%. They have since given back about 2%. NDX, RUT and DJIA have each risen the past 7 weeks in a row. Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: SPX has now gained 13% since Christmas Eve, while the Nasdaq is up 16%. After the recent plunge, it would be normal for the indices to give up most of their gains and retest the lows again. That's been a consistent pattern over the past 40 years. But when a plunge is followed by exceptional breadth like we have witnessed in the past month, a low retest has been unlikely.
Rapid plunges when the economy is still expanding - like now - are typically followed by strong forward returns. Moreover, it is encouraging that emerging markets, which have been the hardest hit by the threat of a trade war, reached a 4 month high this week. Those markets originally bottomed in October and retested those lows in December (a possible basing pattern).
It's certainly possible that some of the rapid gains since Christmas will be given back before SPX moves materially higher. A period of consolidation and retrenchment in the weeks ahead would not be surprising. The trade war isn't the only thing driving the market, but it has clearly been important and further deescalation will likely drive SPX to the top of its October-December range, just as reescalation could plunge it back towards its Christmas low.
The bounce that started on Christmas Eve took a small pause this week. Still, SPX has gained 13% since the low while the Nasdaq is up 16%. According the Ryan Detrick, this is the market's best January in at least 30 years (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Rapid plunges when the economy is still expanding - like now - are typically followed by strong forward returns. Moreover, it is encouraging that emerging markets, which have been the hardest hit by the threat of a trade war, reached a 4 month high this week. Those markets originally bottomed in October and retested those lows in December (a possible basing pattern).
It's certainly possible that some of the rapid gains since Christmas will be given back before SPX moves materially higher. A period of consolidation and retrenchment in the weeks ahead would not be surprising. The trade war isn't the only thing driving the market, but it has clearly been important and further deescalation will likely drive SPX to the top of its October-December range, just as reescalation could plunge it back towards its Christmas low.
* * *
The bounce that started on Christmas Eve took a small pause this week. Still, SPX has gained 13% since the low while the Nasdaq is up 16%. According the Ryan Detrick, this is the market's best January in at least 30 years (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: Since the 20% fall in equities into Christmas Eve, equities have rallied 3 weeks in a row, gaining over 10%. So is the correction over?
Sharp falls of at least 15% have a strong tendency to have their original low retested in the weeks/months ahead. That is true even, as now, a sharp 10% bounce occurs. But what is notable this time is the persistence of the gains each week, and the exceptional breadth (participation) that has driven the indices higher.
This is important because, in the past 70 years, this has never taken place within the context of a bear market. In fact, breadth momentum like this is often associated with the start of new bull markets. Net: the Christmas low may still get retested, but it seems likely to hold and new highs are probably ahead. Nothing in the stock market is ever guaranteed, but this has been the consistent, historical pattern.
The bounce that started on Christmas Eve continued this week. SPX gained for a third week in a row, adding 2.6%. NDX was up 3% and small caps were up nearly 5%. Volatility fell 10% (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Sharp falls of at least 15% have a strong tendency to have their original low retested in the weeks/months ahead. That is true even, as now, a sharp 10% bounce occurs. But what is notable this time is the persistence of the gains each week, and the exceptional breadth (participation) that has driven the indices higher.
This is important because, in the past 70 years, this has never taken place within the context of a bear market. In fact, breadth momentum like this is often associated with the start of new bull markets. Net: the Christmas low may still get retested, but it seems likely to hold and new highs are probably ahead. Nothing in the stock market is ever guaranteed, but this has been the consistent, historical pattern.
* * *
The bounce that started on Christmas Eve continued this week. SPX gained for a third week in a row, adding 2.6%. NDX was up 3% and small caps were up nearly 5%. Volatility fell 10% (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: Equities fell 20% from their September high into Christmas Eve. Since then, they have rallied almost 8%. While this is encouraging, there were two similar rallies, at the start of November and December, that both fizzled out. What is different this time?
For one, there have been two massive accumulation days in the past week. Second, outflows from risk-seeking equity and credit funds and into safe assets has become the most extreme, by far, in the past 10 years. Third, the volatility index spike on Christmas Eve matches those near the lows in SPX following every major sell off since 2010. Fourth, the valuation de-rating is now the largest outside of a recession since 1994.
Nonetheless, when SPX drops 15-20% or more, it has a strong tendency to retest those lows in the weeks/months ahead.
2018 ended with a thump. NDX lost 1%, SPX lost 6%, small caps lost 12% and financials (the consensus favorite a year ago) lost 15%. Treasury bonds also dropped for the year, as did commodities. The only winner in 2018 was volatility (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
For one, there have been two massive accumulation days in the past week. Second, outflows from risk-seeking equity and credit funds and into safe assets has become the most extreme, by far, in the past 10 years. Third, the volatility index spike on Christmas Eve matches those near the lows in SPX following every major sell off since 2010. Fourth, the valuation de-rating is now the largest outside of a recession since 1994.
Nonetheless, when SPX drops 15-20% or more, it has a strong tendency to retest those lows in the weeks/months ahead.
* * *
2018 ended with a thump. NDX lost 1%, SPX lost 6%, small caps lost 12% and financials (the consensus favorite a year ago) lost 15%. Treasury bonds also dropped for the year, as did commodities. The only winner in 2018 was volatility (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Friday, January 4, 2019
January Macro Update: 2018 Employment Was The Second Best Since 2000
Summary: The macro economic story has started to change. The data from the past month continues to mostly point to positive growth, but there is a very important exception: weakness in housing is apparent. If this persists and other measures, especially employment, start to also weaken, a recession in 2019 is possible.
For now, the bond market sees continued growth. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
For now, the bond market sees continued growth. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Market Watch: Top 50 Finance Twitter Accounts for Investors to Follow in 2019
Many thanks to the people at MarketWatch for including us on their list of the Top 50 Finance Twitter Accounts for Investors to Follow in 2019. The full list is here.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: Emerging markets are in a bear market. Europe and the Nasdaq are getting close. After falling 10% in October, SPX has been unable to sustain a rally. Even bearish sentiment, washed out breadth and the prospect of Santa Claus can't seem to rally stocks.
In real time, corrections always feel like they are the end of the bull market: the price pattern is bearish and the news emphasizes stories about a likely recession, poor forward earnings and geopolitical risks. Yet corrections usually happen every 18 months, and the current one has so far not been especially long or deep.
That is not to suggest that investors be complacent or dismissive of mounting risk. SPX had formed a topping pattern in August, and events since then have only strengthened this pattern. But there is little evidence of the underlying stress that is normally associated with big problems. For all the recent volatility, it is worth noting that the low in SPX was in October, 6 weeks ago. Everything since then has been a hot mess.
This is not a market trying to efficiently discount next year's growth; it's a market mostly driven by fear and emotion.
The correction from the September all-time high (ATH) is now in its 11th week. Aside from the NDX, all the US indices are now negative for the year. So are treasuries (TLT). What's worked well so far in 2018? Volatility, which is up more than 40% (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
In real time, corrections always feel like they are the end of the bull market: the price pattern is bearish and the news emphasizes stories about a likely recession, poor forward earnings and geopolitical risks. Yet corrections usually happen every 18 months, and the current one has so far not been especially long or deep.
That is not to suggest that investors be complacent or dismissive of mounting risk. SPX had formed a topping pattern in August, and events since then have only strengthened this pattern. But there is little evidence of the underlying stress that is normally associated with big problems. For all the recent volatility, it is worth noting that the low in SPX was in October, 6 weeks ago. Everything since then has been a hot mess.
This is not a market trying to efficiently discount next year's growth; it's a market mostly driven by fear and emotion.
* * *
The correction from the September all-time high (ATH) is now in its 11th week. Aside from the NDX, all the US indices are now negative for the year. So are treasuries (TLT). What's worked well so far in 2018? Volatility, which is up more than 40% (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Friday, December 7, 2018
December Macro Update: Recession Risk Low, But Starting To Rise
Summary: The macro economic story is starting to change. The data from the past month continues to mostly point to positive growth, but there is a very important exception: weakness in housing is apparent. If this persists and other measures, especially employment, start to also weaken, a recession in 2019 is possible.
For now, the bond market sees continued growth. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
For now, the bond market sees continued growth. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Friday, November 16, 2018
3Q Corporate Results Were Great. The Outlook for 2019 Looks Far Too Optimistic
Summary: Overall, corporate results in the third quarter were excellent. S&P sales grew 11%, earnings rose 30% and profit margins expanded to a new all-time high of 12.2%.
Fundamentals have been driving the stock market higher, not valuations: earnings during the past 1 year and 2 years have risen faster than the S&P index itself (meaning, valuations contracted). The strong growth in company profits is not due to a net share reduction (e.g., buybacks) either.
Looking ahead, expectations for 10% earnings growth in 2019 looks far too optimistic and will likely be revised downward as the substantial jump in margins this year is unlikely to continue. Even maintaining these margins will be a stretch, and earnings are at risk of falling. Dollar appreciation and declining oil prices are additional headwinds.
Valuations are now slightly below their 25-year average. They are not cheap, but the excess from early 2018 has been worked off. If investors once again become ebullient, there is room for valuations to expand. With earnings growth at risk, the key for share price appreciation in 2019 is likely to hinge on valuations expanding.
90% of the companies in the S&P 500 have released their third quarter (3Q18) financial reports. The headline numbers are very good. Here are the details:
Sales
Quarterly sales reached a new all-time high, growing 11% over the past year. On a trailing 12-month basis (TTM), sales are 10% higher yoy, the best growth in 12 years (since 2006; all financial data in this post is from S&P). Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Fundamentals have been driving the stock market higher, not valuations: earnings during the past 1 year and 2 years have risen faster than the S&P index itself (meaning, valuations contracted). The strong growth in company profits is not due to a net share reduction (e.g., buybacks) either.
Looking ahead, expectations for 10% earnings growth in 2019 looks far too optimistic and will likely be revised downward as the substantial jump in margins this year is unlikely to continue. Even maintaining these margins will be a stretch, and earnings are at risk of falling. Dollar appreciation and declining oil prices are additional headwinds.
Valuations are now slightly below their 25-year average. They are not cheap, but the excess from early 2018 has been worked off. If investors once again become ebullient, there is room for valuations to expand. With earnings growth at risk, the key for share price appreciation in 2019 is likely to hinge on valuations expanding.
* * *
90% of the companies in the S&P 500 have released their third quarter (3Q18) financial reports. The headline numbers are very good. Here are the details:
Sales
Quarterly sales reached a new all-time high, growing 11% over the past year. On a trailing 12-month basis (TTM), sales are 10% higher yoy, the best growth in 12 years (since 2006; all financial data in this post is from S&P). Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Interview With Financial Sense on Macro Risks and The Market Correction
We were interviewed by Cris Sheridan of Financial Sense on November 12th. During the interview we discuss the macro-economic environment, specific risks that are unfolding and current market technicals as stocks suffer their second correction in 2018. One theme of our discussion is what to look for over the next several months.
Our thanks to Cris for the opportunity to speak with him and to his editor for making these disparate thoughts seem cogent.
Listen here.
If you find this post to be valuable, consider visiting a few of our sponsors who have offers that might be relevant to you.
Our thanks to Cris for the opportunity to speak with him and to his editor for making these disparate thoughts seem cogent.
Listen here.
If you find this post to be valuable, consider visiting a few of our sponsors who have offers that might be relevant to you.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Fund Managers' Current Asset Allocation - November
Summary: Although US equities are up about 2% in 2018, Europe is down 10% and emerging markets are down more than 15%. Part of the reason: fund managers came into 2018 very bullish, with cash levels at 4-year lows and allocations to global equities at 3-year highs.
How have fund managers responded to an increasingly tough environment for equities?
In one respect, they are still bullish: global equity allocations are still 31% overweight. Into the major lows in 2011, 2012 and 2016, fund managers were underweight. Allocations could easily fall much further before global equities reach a bottom.
But in most other respects, fund managers are already very bearish:
Among the various ways of measuring investor sentiment, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) survey of global fund managers is one of the best as the results reflect how managers are allocated in various asset classes. These managers oversee a combined $600b in assets.
Our sincere gratitude to BAML for the use of this data.
The data should be viewed mostly from a contrarian perspective; that is, when equities fall in price, allocations to cash go higher and allocations to equities go lower as investors become bearish, setting up a buy signal. When prices rise, the opposite occurs, setting up a sell signal. We did a recap of this pattern in December 2014 (post).
Let's review the highlights from the past month.
Overall: Relative to history, fund managers are overweight cash and neutral equities. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
How have fund managers responded to an increasingly tough environment for equities?
In one respect, they are still bullish: global equity allocations are still 31% overweight. Into the major lows in 2011, 2012 and 2016, fund managers were underweight. Allocations could easily fall much further before global equities reach a bottom.
But in most other respects, fund managers are already very bearish:
They are overweight cash (by nearly one standard deviation), which is typically a tailwind for equities.
They view the US dollar as the most overvalued in 12 years, which has a very good track record of marking a turn to dollar weakness, a tailwind for US multi-nationals as well as ex-US equities.
Their profit expectations are the most bearish in 6 years, and at a level which also marked equity lows in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016.
Their global macro growth expectations are the most pessimistic in 10 years, more than at the major equity bottoms in 2011 and 2016.
A third believe the world's largest equity benchmark, the S&P 500, has already peaked. This number holding this view has doubled in just one month.
They believe 'value' will outperform 'growth' stocks; similar peaks (in 2009, 2014, 2016 and 2017) marked excellent times to be long equities, especially growth stocks.
The US is the most favored region in the world. That's not surprising: during a global equity sell off, the US is usually regarded as the safest haven. It should underperform. Europe is the most hated region and is likely to outperform.
* * *
Among the various ways of measuring investor sentiment, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) survey of global fund managers is one of the best as the results reflect how managers are allocated in various asset classes. These managers oversee a combined $600b in assets.
Our sincere gratitude to BAML for the use of this data.
The data should be viewed mostly from a contrarian perspective; that is, when equities fall in price, allocations to cash go higher and allocations to equities go lower as investors become bearish, setting up a buy signal. When prices rise, the opposite occurs, setting up a sell signal. We did a recap of this pattern in December 2014 (post).
Let's review the highlights from the past month.
Overall: Relative to history, fund managers are overweight cash and neutral equities. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Within equities, the US is overweight while Europe, in particular, is underweight. This is a significant change from the past year.
A pure contrarian would overweight European equities relative to the US and underweight cash.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: US equities rallied more than 6% from the October 29 closing low, but have since fallen back 3%. This is likely part of the "low retest" that accompanies most market corrections; "V-bounces" are not the norm.
The trend is bearish, but it is at odds with the solid economic environment. That conflict almost always ultimately resolves in favor of the bulls. By some measures, investor sentiment is among the most bearish since March 2009; even in a bear market, equities will experience a strong rally before rolling over. Seasonality is a substantial tailwind through year-end. Risk-reward over that period is again skewed higher.
After falling 10% during October, US equities have rallied the past two weeks, with SPX gaining more than 2% each week. NDX fell 3% today but it is up the most - about 7% - so far in 2018 (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
The trend is bearish, but it is at odds with the solid economic environment. That conflict almost always ultimately resolves in favor of the bulls. By some measures, investor sentiment is among the most bearish since March 2009; even in a bear market, equities will experience a strong rally before rolling over. Seasonality is a substantial tailwind through year-end. Risk-reward over that period is again skewed higher.
* * *
After falling 10% during October, US equities have rallied the past two weeks, with SPX gaining more than 2% each week. NDX fell 3% today but it is up the most - about 7% - so far in 2018 (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Friday, November 2, 2018
November Macro Update: New Employment Among Highest Since 2000
Summary: The macro data from the past month continues to mostly point to positive growth. On balance, the evidence suggests the imminent onset of a recession is unlikely.
The bond market agrees with the macro data. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
The bond market agrees with the macro data. The yield curve has 'inverted' (10 year yields less than 2-year yields) ahead of every recession in the past 40 years (arrows). The lag between inversion and the start of the next recession has been long: at least 8 months and in several instances as long as 2-3 years. On this basis, the current expansion will likely last into mid-2019 at a minimum. Enlarge any image by clicking on it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
What Today's Trend Following Sell Signal Implies For The Months Ahead
Summary: With SPX closing below its 10-month moving average, a sell signal for a popular trend following system triggered today. This system has handily beaten the long-term performance of just holding SPX.
So what happens next? Using data from the last 38 years, there is an even chance that SPX reverses direction and moves higher from here over the months ahead. But the October low - or very close to it - appears likely to be retested in November.
After rising every month for 6 months since the end of March, and in the process gaining more than 10%, US equities fell hard in October. SPX dropped 7%, NDX 9% and small caps 11%.
This was the third worst month since the bull market started 116 months ago in March 2009; only May 2010 (flash crash) and August 2011 (European debt crisis) were worse.
The fall was enough to trigger a sell signal in a popular trend following system.
Trend following dispenses with the debate about recessions, the actions of the Fed, corporate earnings, valuations, China, investor sentiment, market breadth, and all the rest. It focuses purely on price and implicitly assumes that it reflects the most useful information available.
How does it work? As described by Meb Faber here, investors stay long when SPX is above its 10-month moving average (MMA) at month end and move to cash when it closes below. That's it. The system's long term track record is excellent (red line), handily beating the SPX (blue line) and 80-90% of professional investors (more on that here). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
So what happens next? Using data from the last 38 years, there is an even chance that SPX reverses direction and moves higher from here over the months ahead. But the October low - or very close to it - appears likely to be retested in November.
* * *
After rising every month for 6 months since the end of March, and in the process gaining more than 10%, US equities fell hard in October. SPX dropped 7%, NDX 9% and small caps 11%.
This was the third worst month since the bull market started 116 months ago in March 2009; only May 2010 (flash crash) and August 2011 (European debt crisis) were worse.
The fall was enough to trigger a sell signal in a popular trend following system.
Trend following dispenses with the debate about recessions, the actions of the Fed, corporate earnings, valuations, China, investor sentiment, market breadth, and all the rest. It focuses purely on price and implicitly assumes that it reflects the most useful information available.
How does it work? As described by Meb Faber here, investors stay long when SPX is above its 10-month moving average (MMA) at month end and move to cash when it closes below. That's it. The system's long term track record is excellent (red line), handily beating the SPX (blue line) and 80-90% of professional investors (more on that here). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: US equities are down 10% from their all-time highs just 5 weeks ago. The trend in equities has turned bearish, and that is not something that should be taken lightly. The evidence pointing to a major top being formed has further increased. But the set up for higher prices, at least before a significantly lower low, appears to be very strong. This is not a certainty, but it is a high probability.
After falling 4% two weeks ago, and then closing a bit higher last week, US equities this week again fell 4%. They are down about 10% for the month of October. The nearly 10% gain in 2018 at the end of September for SPX is now all gone. Small caps have been hit the hardest and are now down 3% for the year (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
* * *
After falling 4% two weeks ago, and then closing a bit higher last week, US equities this week again fell 4%. They are down about 10% for the month of October. The nearly 10% gain in 2018 at the end of September for SPX is now all gone. Small caps have been hit the hardest and are now down 3% for the year (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Weekly Market Summary
Summary: Equities fell 4-5% last week and have given up most of their 2018 gains so far in October. This might feel like the start of a bear market, but that is the least likely outcome.
US equities fell 4-5% last week. The nearly 10% gain in 2018 at the end of September for SPX has been reduced to just 3%. Small caps have been hit the hardest and are now barely above their level at the start of the year (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
* * *
US equities fell 4-5% last week. The nearly 10% gain in 2018 at the end of September for SPX has been reduced to just 3%. Small caps have been hit the hardest and are now barely above their level at the start of the year (table from alphatrends.net). Enlarge any chart by clicking on it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)