Weekly Market Commentary: Nov 20-26
This will be a brief note since last week was a short one.
We hope everyone had a happy, safe, pleasant, and relaxing Thanksgiving — the markets sure did.
While people were on the move in one of the busiest travel seasons in recent memory, Wall Street was pretty quiet (in a good way). Volumes are typically thinner during these short trading weeks, and Thanksgiving week is notoriously the slowest of weeks, rivaled only by the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
At least Christmas week has the urgency of year-end hanging over it, plus it’s the tail end of the holiday season and people are gearing up for a fresh start in the New Year.
Thanksgiving week doesn’t have any of those constraints or concerns; instead, it has all the relaxed tendencies of a pair of oversized sweatpants. This holiday season comes on the heels of a brutal summer and fall, so any source of enthusiasm is welcomed. Last week’s bright spot was the release of the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting. The minutes (already weeks old) showed that most Fed officials favored slowing rate increases sooner. Never mind that numerous officials have delivered hawkish and aggressive remarks regarding their commitment to fighting inflation since the last meeting.
So what was really driving markets week: the stale minutes or the most recent comments? It seems the holiday spirit and lack of higher-ups in the office allowed the elves to drive markets upward on thin volumes and little “new” news. Given the type of year we’ve had, it’s good they are happy elves focused on pushing markets upward, rather than nasty little gremlins who would choose to add to an already miserable year.
As we head into the holiday season, consumers will make or break the fourth quarter. If Americans get out and spend, we may well continue to rally into year-end. If consumers falter (and there are signs they may be nearing exhaustion), we could have a challenging end to a year we would already like to forget.
Coming this week
This week will open quietly with some housing data, including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index and FHFA House Price Index on Monday.
The latest consumer confidence numbers will be released Tuesday.
The real action this week starts Wednesday, with the ADP jobs report, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), and a restatement of third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP). We’re looking for fewer new jobs and for existing job openings to decrease, which is what the Fed is trying to do with its rate increases.
Wednesday will also bring additional housing data via mortgage applications and pending home sales as well as reports on inventories. Mortgage markets have pretty much collapsed because rates have more than doubled since March, hovering around 7%. If we see inventories creep up, those may be further signs of an economic slowdown.
Finally, Wednesday will be capped off with a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose remarks could move markets one way or the other.
On Thursday, we’ll see personal spending numbers. Is the consumer showing signs of slowing down as we head into the holiday season?
Finally, the big news to end the week will be the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment situation, also scheduled for Thursday. The BLS non-farm payroll number last month was +261,000, still too hot for the Fed. A decrease in this key reading and the slowing inflation readings we had earlier this month might be just enough for the Fed to slow down at its final meeting of the year in December.
We are always available to revisit your financial holdings to make sure they are in line with your timeline goals and risk tolerance. To discuss your situation with our team please contact our office.
All the best,
Your Sears Wealth Management Team
AE Wealth Management, LLC (“AEWM”) is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) located in Topeka, Kansas. Registration does not denote any level of skill or qualification. The advisory firm providing you this report is an independent financial services firm and is not an affiliate company of AE Wealth Management, LLC. AEWM works with a variety of independent advisors. Some of the advisors are Investment Adviser Representatives (IAR) who provide investment advisory services through AEWM. Some of the advisors are Registered Investment Advisers providing investment advisory services that incorporate some of the products available through AEWM. Information regarding the RIA offering the investment advisory services can be found on https://brokercheck.finra.org/. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.The information and opinions contained herein, provided by third parties, have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by AE Wealth Management. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. None of the information contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy a security or insurance product.11/22-2578521-4