We hope that your summers are off to an amazing start, traveling and spending time with those you love. It’s hard to believe that we’re closing out the first half of 2021. Here’s a recap of what’s been happening in the markets and our view of the landscape.
2020 was the year of the pandemic and recovery. As the pandemic spread, the world entered a near-complete lockdown, and economies and investment markets plunged. Of course, you know the rest of the story. Governments provided massive liquidity to prevent a complete seizure of world economies. Those actions, together with the surprising strength of people and technologies, softened the blow, and markets recovered. With the development and distribution of vaccines, commerce rebounded, and markets surged higher.
2021: So Far, So Good; The Advance Continues
Stocks finished the first half of 2021 with a strong advance, closing out June with a new record high. The gains off the lows of March 2020 have been both powerful and sustained. This marks the fifth consecutive quarterly advance. There are several reasons for the continued strength, including accelerated vaccination rates and higher than expected corporate earnings.
Investing and Speculating
The surging markets over the past 15 months have caused some interesting behaviors. Emboldened by strong returns in traditional investments, some have sought even riskier strategies. Many have poured into so-called “meme stocks” promoted on social media. Interest has also grown in cryptocurrencies as well as blank check companies, also known as SPACs. Many of these are sponsored by sports and entertainment figures.
While these stories make for interesting reading, this is not a new phenomenon. Some will be tempted to speculate during periods of strong recoveries. Some will make money and others will not. But at the end of the day, we know investing isn’t about the next big thing. It is about finding the right thing for you.
What to Watch: Inflation and Interest Rates
You may have seen that many inflation measures have increased dramatically in 2021. The Commerce Department recently reported one measurement increased the most since the 1990s.
Of course, there is another side to this. Remember, the pandemic effects on the economy were event-driven. Demand suddenly dropped but restarted quickly, which can lead to supply chain and other issues that can dramatically affect prices. Perhaps some of this is already beginning to abate. At one point, lumber prices soared over 60% this year.
Recently, as supply normalized, lumber gave up all the gains and recently was down 18% for the calendar year. This is another sign that the sudden reopening of the economy has created inflation distortions that may not be lasting. Either way, we will be closely monitoring the data for some time to come.
Interest rates have also been on the minds of investors. It was feared that the Fed might raise interest rates sooner than previously expected due to the strong recovery. This would cause rates to rise, potentially pushing stocks and bond prices down. During the second quarter, the Fed announced that they had moved up their inflation expectations and therefore expected to begin raising rates sooner than later.
So far, the market reaction was the opposite of what conventional wisdom expected. Stocks jumped to new highs, and interest rates dropped significantly. You can’t make this stuff up.
Domestic Equities: As vaccination rates rose and the world began to transition to normal, the S&P 500 gained 8.5% for the second quarter and returned 15.3% for the first half of the year. Smaller U.S. stocks were also strong, up 4.3% and 17.5% for the quarter and first half.
International Equities: Foreign stocks also turned in strong results. The MSCI EAFE, an index of large-company stocks in developed countries, rose 5.2% for the quarter and has increased 8.8% year-to-date. Emerging markets also joined in the gains, increasing 5.0% for the quarter and 7.4% for the first half.
Fixed-Income: Unlike stocks, bond returns have not been a straight-up story in 2021. Bond prices slumped in the first quarter as interest rates rose. As rates fell in the second quarter, prices rose again. The Barclays Aggregate Index edged up 1.8% in the second quarter but is down 1.6% for the calendar year.
Vigilant Optimism
Our optimism is not inherited. It is acquired through experience and is mathematically based. According to Warren Buffett, Winston Churchill, and many others, optimists generally do better than pessimists. Plus, they are more fun to be around.
The pandemic and recovery were difficult for people and markets. One had to show restraint, discipline, and optimism that the world and portfolios would survive and prosper. This was no easy task, but together, we did it.
As we move forward, we will face different challenges. The world will not be the same after COVID, and businesses will have to continue to adapt. Perhaps most importantly, economies around the world will have to transition from being supported by stimulus and low-interest rates to standing on their power. As investors, we will need to be vigilant and adapt to these changes. We are here and ready.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in us.
H. Nicole Mullinix and Mindy M. Zatta are Registered Representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker/dealer, and registered investment advisor. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. It is not our position to offer legal or tax advice. Mosaic Wealth Consulting is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. 370 Southpointe Blvd., Suite 200, Canonsburg, PA 15317 Toll-Free: 844-863-9843. CRN-2961955-022120
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