"…But lest we get overly optimistic and confident about 2014, we expect the run-up we enjoyed in 2013 will regress some in 2014... And be prepared for some more volatility in 2014. This is normal and would likely be related to financial or political issues in Washington, Europe, China, and the Middle East…"
Well, in the three-month stretch of the first quarter of 2014 we experienced extreme winter weather, unexpected geopolitical unrest, a Federal Reserve chairmanship transition, and a continuing sluggish global economy. But despite that, the S&P 500 eked out a 1% gain.
Even without a lot of overly good news during the quarter, the financial markets proved resilient enough to fend off anything that looked like a threat to the stock market.
For a change we had some positive news out of Washington. There was lack of drama on the budget and the debt ceiling, and the Fed Chairmanship transition went smoothly. The stock market likes “certainty” and Washington seemed to comply.
Unexpected global events are always wild cards. In January no one would have predicted the “crisis” generated by Russia-Ukraine-Crimea. Many believe it had an outsized impact on the markets and we would have had a pretty decent quarter otherwise.
Here in the U.S., the economy continues a slow slog forward. Employment numbers are improving, inflation remains in check and corporate earnings steady. With short term interest rates expected to stay low into 2015, more investors are venturing into the stock market because it is the only place to get a decent return on their investment. But with a lot of money still in cash and on the sidelines, the potential for further growth is significant.
So what to expect? With Congressional elections in October, Washington will posture to put their respective political parties in the best light. That means we do not expect any initiatives which would roil the economy or the stock market. Now that we have put that nasty winter weather behind us, we should expect to see continued improvement in the overall economy. The Polar Vortex affected almost every aspect of the economy from construction, to employment, auto sales, and consumer spending which slowed but did not de-rail the on-going recovery. For the stock market, the consensus is it will bounce up and down in a range. We may rally upwards or correct downwards from time to time but should gravitate back. No one expects a repeat of last year’s blazing run so we plan to sit on those gains and move forward a lot more slowly.
Lastly, let us take a moment to address recent headlines about the stock market being "rigged". For starters, such behind-the-scenes trading has been going on since stock markets first opened their doors to investors. What everyone seems to overlook is that for an individual investor–not a trader–this is a great time to be in the market. You can decide at what price you want to buy a stock, place your order and get filled quickly. And as long as you plan to buy and hold, you don’t need to worry about the shenanigans of the high-frequency traders. And if you’re trying to trade, well, unless that’s your full-time job, just don’t. Here at D2 Capital Management, we invest your monies, we don’t trade with them. Out philosophy is to make you lots of dollars for the future rather than fractions of pennies today.
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The views expressed here are that of myself or the cited individual or firm and do not constitute a recommendation, solicitation, or offer by myself, D2 Capital Management, LLC or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service. D2, its clients, and its employees may or may not own any of the securities (or their derivatives) mentioned in this article.
The Jacksonville Business Journal has ranked D2 Capital Management in the top 25 of Certified Financial Planners in Jacksonville. The Firm is also a member of the Financial Planning Association of Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Southside Businessmen's Club, and the Beaches Business Association.
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