
Originally Posted by
user34615145
Further food for thought......
In 2014, there were four periods in which the S&P 500 experienced a pull-back of between 5 and 10%. Before last week, in 2015 there had been none.
Prior to recent volatility, the S&P 500 had been fairly predictable this year. Before last week, the S&P 500’s low for the year was on January 15th when it was down 3.2% year-to-date; at its best, it was up 3.5% on May 21st. Most of the year, the market has resided within one percentage point either-side of +2.0%.
Last year, in 2014, the S&P 500 had four periods in which it suffered a pull-back of between 5.0% and 10% (February-Russia’s involvement in Ukraine; late July/early August-European growth concerns; October–Ebola; and December-dollar strength/energy weakness). Despite each crisis, the S&P 500 ended 2014 with a price-only return of +11.4% (+13.4% with dividends). S&P 500 corporate profits were 7.2% higher and the U.S. economy grew by 4.1% on a nominal basis. The world economy, meanwhile, grew by 3.4% on a Real basis, according to the IMF.
Actually this year, things not that much different. We’ve had our share of growth fears (Greece, China, anticipated Fed interest rate hikes) but the U.S. economy, as well as the global economy, looks likely to see growth generally similar to that of 2014. And while corporate earnings have been weaker than they were last year, this has been primarily due to just two factors - sharply lower oil prices and the strong dollar. So what will it take to get markets moving in the second half? The same old answer: Earnings.
On this front, I believe the landscape should improve in the second half. Energy companies should begin to see easier comparisons in the second half of the year, and the strong dollar’s impact on corporate earnings should also begin to fade amid stabilizing values.