Why Did Stocks Drop?
Weekly Update – October 29, 2018
Last week did nothing to dispel October’s reputation as a tough month for the markets. The S&P 500 lost 3.94%, the Dow declined 2.97%, and the NASDAQ dropped 3.78% during what was one of 2018’s most volatile weeks so far. All three indexes are down significantly for the month, and both the S&P 500 and Dow have entered negative territory for 2018. [1]International stocks in the MSCI EAFE also struggled, posting a 3.87% drop for the week, and a 13.31% decline for the year. [2]
Why did stocks drop? Will they continue to do so?
Currently, many topics are on investors’ minds, from inflation to tariffs to valuations and beyond, but analysts are not pointing to one single culprit for last week’s performance. Instead, a mixture of concerns, with a large dose of emotion, seemed to drive the markets.[3]
Emotional reactions are understandable when volatility emerges, but they have no place in long-term investment strategies. Instead, we need to focus on the fundamentals.
What did we learn last week?
Trying to find simple explanations for market behavior can feel impossible, in part because the markets aren’t a machine – they’re a reflection of many human actions. Investors make choices based on their interpretations of current conditions, and the effects of these decisions become “market performance.”
Amidst the volatility, we received several updates on the economy, including:
- 3rd Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) beat expectations: The initial GDP reading for the 3rd quarter came in at a strong 3.5%, helped in large part by consumer spending.[4]
- Corporate earnings have been strong, but imperfect: So far, this corporate earnings season is showing 22% growth, but fewer S&P 500 companies are exceeding analysts’ predictions than in the 1st quarter of 2018. In particular, some major tech companies’ results disappointed investors.[5]
- Housing continued to struggle: New home sales were lower than expected in September, which followed disappointing results from existing-home sales data, as well.[6]
- Inflation growth eased: The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, which shows inflation, increased by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter, much lower than projected.[7]
Examined together, this data indicates that while the economy has potential challenges, it also demonstrates solid growth, reasonable inflation, and strong corporate performance. That story feels different than the sharp drop we experienced last week.
However, when you look at the bigger picture, our current circumstances provide another reminder that volatility is normal, and examining economic fundamentals is critical.
Still, risks exist, and in the coming weeks we will pay very close attention to data and performance. In particular, we will follow the Federal Reserve’s comments and actions to see what may lie ahead for interest rates. In the meantime, please let us help answer your questions and address your concerns. We are here to help you pursue your goals, in every market environment.
Monday: Personal Income and Outlays
Tuesday: Consumer Confidence
Wednesday: ADP Employment Report
Thursday: PMI Manufacturing Index, ISM Manufacturing Index, Construction Spending, Jobless Claims
Friday: Employment Situation, Factory Orders
- 1 tablespoon minced shallots
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 cups baby arugula leaves
- 2 Bosc pears, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- Mix the first six ingredients in a large bowl.
- Stir the mix with a whisk.
- Add arugula and pears to the bowl.
- Toss to coat salad.
- Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon walnuts.
But along the way, you encounter water hazards, roughs, and sand bunkers that seem to attract far too many of your balls on the way across the fairway to the green.
- Maintain your angles: Try to keep your spine angle consistent throughout your swing.
- Backhand it: If you slice the ball, use the back of your glove or the back of your weaker hand to get a greater sense of control over your clubface. Hold the club with your glove (weaker) hand so that you can see the logo on the back of the glove. This establishes a stronger grip position.
- Attempt to point the logo on your glove toward the target as you swing the club. This will help straighten the slice.
Tip adapted from GolfDigest [11]
Taking a Look at Good Eye Care
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably come to the conclusion at some point how important your eye health is.
Seeing your health-care practitioner regularly will help you detect potential eye problems early, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism.
Here are some common eye problems:
- Watery eyes: Your eyes attempt to wash out specks, such as dirt or dust. Once your eyes are able to remove the irritants, your eyes should stop watering.
- Dry eyes: Your eyes don’t make enough tears. Windy weather or other underlying health issues may cause dry eyes. Normally, your eyes try to produce more tears to correct this.
- Pinkeye: One or both eyes look pink and may feel itchy. Infections or viruses often cause pinkeye. You may want to use antibiotic eye drops.
- Blocked tear ducts: Tear ducts can get clogged, which produce watery eyes. This can be caused by infections or injuries.
- Eye scratches: Dirt, sand, or contact lenses can scratch your eyes, which may make your eyes hurt, get red and watery, or overly sensitive to light. Scratches usually heal within a couple days. You should seek medical help if you believe your cornea is torn.
- Styes: Swollen, red, painful lumps are the most obvious symptoms of a stye, which are caused by bacteria. Styes usually subside after a few days. The best treatment: Leave it alone. Don’t touch it.
Regular eye exams can help prevent problems. You may need glasses, contact lenses, or other treatment to maintain good eye health.
Tips adapted from WebMD[12]
The Retirement Wealth Management Group
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zack.alkhamis@lpl.com
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