Subjective Data Dependency

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Subjective Data Dependency

The Federal Open Market Committee decided last week to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged at the current level of 0.00% – 0.25%. Despite the economic improvements that have taken place, this was widely expected on Wall Street and estimates for the first rate hike, according to the FOMC’s projections, now appear balanced between September and December. What sometimes is lost in discussions about the timing of the Fed Funds Rate increase is what changes in this benchmark are designed to accomplish. Through cause and effect relationships, increases and decreases in the Fed Funds Rate are meant to accomplish the Feds’ “dual mandate” of trying to help promote maximum employment and stable inflation. In evaluating the status of these two objectives, FOMC members analyze both the current economic readings as well as their projections for PCE (inflation) and the long term unemployment rate. According to information released Wednesday, in 2015 the U-3 unemployment rate is expected to average between 5.0% – 5.2% and inflation is expected to average 0.6% – 0.8%. Over the long term (i.e. 2018 and beyond), projections for the unemployment rate are expected to average between the same 5.0% – 5.2% range while inflation is expected to be 2.0%. In the FOMC statement, also released Wednesday, Fed Chair Janet Yellen stated that:

“On balance, a range of labor market indicators suggests that underutilization of labor resources diminished somewhat… Inflation continued to run below the Committee’s longer-run objective, partly reflecting earlier declines in energy prices and decreasing prices of non-energy imports… Survey-based measures of longer term inflation expectations have remained stable.”

Based on this statement it appears that all of the pieces have fallen, or at least are falling, into place for an upcoming Fed Funds Rate hike. The message of data dependency as it relates to the timing of the first rate hike has been consistent but as data continues to be released that supports a hike we are getting a glimpse at the amount of subjectivity that’s been built into this message. Surely the concerns Yellen has expressed regarding the lack of wage growth and overall level of inflation are well founded, but we continue to believe that the timing of this first rate hike, whether in September or December, will not have material effects on achieving the Fed’s dual mandate.   On the other hand, what we view as more important, is the pace and duration of the tightening cycle.

In the face of this release, U.S. markets posted gains across the board with the S&P 500 Index gaining 0.8%, the NASDAQ Index gaining 1.3%, and the Russell 2000 Index advancing 1.6% last week. Internationally, markets priced in additional concerns over the future of Greece with the MSCI EAFE Index falling 0.4%. With the many uncertainties surrounding the global capital markets, we continue to strongly encourage investors to have their portfolio strategies reviewed.

Sources: Equity Market, Fixed Income and REIT returns from JP Morgan as of 6/19/15. Rates and Economic Calendar Data from Bloomberg as of 6/22/15.

Important Information and Disclaimers

Disclosures: Past performance does not guarantee future results. We have taken this information from sources that we believe to be reliable and accurate. Hennion and Walsh cannot guarantee the accuracy of said information and cannot be held liable.

Investing in foreign securities presents certain risks not associated with domestic investments, such as currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, and different accounting standards. This may result in greater share price volatility. These risks are heightened in emerging markets.

There are special risks associated with an investment in real estate, including credit risk, interest rate fluctuations and the impact of varied economic conditions. Distributions from REIT investments are taxed at the owner’s tax bracket.

The prices of small company and mid cap stocks are generally more volatile than large company stocks. They often involve higher risks because smaller companies may lack the management expertise, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths to endure adverse economic conditions.

Investing in commodities is not suitable for all investors. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject an investment to greater share price volatility than an investment in traditional equity or debt securities. Investments in commodities may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Products that invest in commodities may employ more complex strategies which may expose investors to additional risks.

Investing in fixed income securities involves certain risks such as market risk if sold prior to maturity and credit risk especially if investing in high yield bonds, which have lower ratings and are subject to greater volatility. All fixed income investments may be worth less than original cost upon redemption or maturity. Bond Prices fluctuate inversely to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a general rise in interest rates can result in the decline of the value of your investment.

Definitions

MSCI- EAFE: The Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index, a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed-market equity performance, excluding the United States and Canada.

MSCI-Emerging Markets: The Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Market Index, is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the performance of global emerging markets of about 25 emerging economies.

Russell 3000: The Russell 3000 measures the performance of the 3000 largest US companies based on total market capitalization and represents about 98% of the investible US Equity market.

ML BOFA US Corp Mstr [Merill Lynch US Corporate Master]: The Merrill Lynch Corporate Master Market Index is a statistical composite tracking the performance of the entire US corporate bond market over time.

ML Muni Master [Merill Lynch US Corporate Master]: The Merrill Lynch Municipal Bond Master Index is a broad measure of the municipal fixed income market.

Investors cannot directly purchase any index.

LIBOR, London Interbank Offered Rate, is the rate of interest at which banks offer to lend money to one another in the wholesale money markets in London.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unweighted index of 30 “blue-chip” industrial U.S. stocks.

The S&P Midcap 400 Index is a capitalization-weighted index measuring the performance of the mid-range sector of the U.S. stock market, and represents approximately 7% of the total market value of U.S. equities. Companies in the Index fall between S&P 500 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index in size: between $1-4 billion.

DJ Equity REIT Index represents all publicly traded real estate investment trusts in the Dow Jones U.S. stock universe classified as Equity REITs according to the S&P Dow Jones Indices REIT Industry Classification Hierarchy. These companies are REITSs that primarily own and operate income-producing real estate