3rd Quarter 2020

This year, the U.S. federal government’s debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to be at the highest level since World War II. This rise is due to the major fiscal response by the Administration and Congress to the COVID pandemic coupled with deficit spending trends in recent years. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis projects this year’s level will be well over 100%. Only a handful of economies such as Greece, Italy and Japan have debt loads that exceed their economies. The last year U.S. debt exceeded GDP was in 1946, when it was at 106% after four years of war. 

The novel coronavirus that swept the globe in early 2020 also compelled the Federal Reserve to intervene in an unprecedented fashion. Its aggressive and swift action calmed financial markets, which led to a rebound in many asset prices. The Fed lowered its main interest rate back to near zero in March. It has ramped up its bond buying programs – known as quantitative easing – to pull down long-term rates. Between mid-March and mid-June, the Fed’s portfolio of securities held outright grew from $3.9 trillion to $6.1 trillion. The Fed introduced multiple temporary lending and funding facilities to help institutions with borrowing needs. It has indicated its easy money policy, with low interest rates, will continue for the indefinite future.

4th Quarter 2018

Concerns of increasing debt levels, tightening monetary policy, technology stock valuations, potential trade wars and slowing eurozone growth coalesced in the 4th quarter to fuel a higher level of volatility. At nine-and-three-quarter years, the bull market is the longest on record and one of the best performing. The S&P 500 has risen 333% from its bottom in 2009 to its most recent peak before the 4th quarter turbulence.

Some market pundits question whether the bull market will make it to its 10^th birthday in March 2019.  Investors seem nervous about its longevity. A bull market doesn't technically end until there’s a bear market resulting from a 20% drop from its peak. This particular bull market is unusual in that it followed the 2008 financial crisis, which was so severe in that it was second only to the Great Depression in US history.

Extended volatility can offer a window to buy solid companies at reduced prices since the herd behavior of bear markets often depresses prices below their long-term economic value.

The good news is that the global economy still shows signs of robust health. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth topped 4% in the second quarter, the best expansion since 2014, and unemployment at 3.7% is at a 49-year low. Rising interest rates also indicate an increasing demand for funds. Rates tend to climb when the economy is humming. A recent bank study found that companies’ price/earnings multiples expanded during half of recent rising interest rate cycles and contracted during the other half, indicating that the market is agnostic about a gradual change in rates.