This Data Does Not Portend A Bear Market In Stocks

Bob Carey
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This Data Does Not Portend A Bear Market In Stocks

Posted Under: Conceptual Investing

View from the Observation Deck

Today's blog post is intended to provide some historical perspective as to where three key benchmark interest rates/yields stood prior to U.S. equities, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, succumbing to bear markets.
A bear market in stocks is defined as a decline of 20% or more in the price level of a benchmark index, such as the S&P 500 Index, from its recent peak.
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist at First Trust Advisors L.P., has noted through the years that bear markets tend to occur when the Federal Reserve ("Fed") becomes too tight with its monetary policy.
As indicated in the chart, the upper bound of the federal funds target rate is currently 2.50%. While up from 0.25% in late 2015, it is still well below its 30-year average of 3.14%, according to Bloomberg.
Wesbury believes that even if the Fed raises rates a couple of times in 2019, it would simply make its policy less loose, not tight. The lack of any serious inflationary pressure (see CPI column in table) in the current climate could allow the Fed to delay its next increase for some time, in our opinion.
A March 22, 2012, article in Businessweek stated that data from Standard & Poor's revealed that, since 1953, U.S. stocks posted their best returns when the yield on the 10-Year Treasury Note (T-Note) rose to around 4.00%.
As of 2/28/19, the 10-Year T-Note yielded just 2.72%, or 128 basis points below that 4.00% mark.

This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results and there can be no assurance that any of the projections cited will occur. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index comprised of 500 stocks (currently 505) used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance. The CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures the prices paid for a market basket of consumer goods and services.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 @ 2:20 PM • Post Link

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These posts were prepared by First Trust Advisors L.P., and reflect the current opinion of the authors. They are based upon sources and data believed to be accurate and reliable. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed are subject to change without notice. This information does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security.

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