Thursday, December 18, 2014

At The Year End

From the December 5th peak for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 17,982 major U.S. stock indices dropped 5% through Dec 16th. Additionally, the world was stunned by the 50% drop in oil prices in a matter of months.

Spillover effects from this swift and precipitous plunge in oil prices have crushed energy stocks as well as other investvestment categories such as High Yield bonds and Master Limited partnerships. These MLP’s, popular for their high yield and tax advantages earn money on the volume they move not on the underlying price of the oil and gas. In a panic babies are thrown out with the bath water.

Emerging market bonds and global stocks joined the retreat. Russia has became the poster child for what too much dependence on one commodity can do to your economy. Sanctions from Mr. Putin’s military actions in the Ukraine have reduced Russia’s capital flows and capital raising capacity. The Ruble plunged 50% and Russia’s troubles became a problem for the world of investments.

Many diversified bond funds lost net asset value as their portfolios have significant exposure to high yield energy companies which comprise about 20% of that market niche. At year end prices of losing assets tend to go even lower than seems rational as taxable investors lock in 2014 losses to offset earlier gains.

December which is typically one of the strongest months in the calendar year, up 1.7% on average, has so far proven to be just the opposite. The volatility of the past few weeks reminds us of October with wild swings in both directions. Yesterday the Fed came to the rescue again saying it would be patient before “normalizing “policy.

Long dated Government notes and bonds have soared in price this year as a flight to safety has prevailed. Rates of high quality debtors like Germany 0.58 %, U.K. 1.87% and Japan 0.35 % yield even less than U.S. 10 year notes. 10 year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities - TIPS have a nominal yield of 0.55 %. Bill Gross thinks they are a good buy here.

Our 10 year rates have dropped by more than a third since January from 3% to below 2% in mid-October. As you know the U.S. has seen rising employment and rising GDP in 2014. Not one of 67 Economists in a Bloomberg survey forecasted lower U.S. rates in 2014 this time last year.

Today you get paid 2.2% to loan the government your money for 10 years. This is attractive to many foreign buyers who get more yield than they do at home and benefit from a rising U.S. dollar exchange rate. In addition U.S. banks hold huge amounts of Treasuries as capital on their balance sheets encouraged to do so by bank regulations.

Diversification away from the highest quality US assets has be wrong footed in 2014 as other investments are nearly all lower in U.S. dollar terms.

Stocks in hard asset countries such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Russia are down 4.5%,16%, 22%, 12% and 45% respectively.

In Europe; France, Germany and the UK stocks are down about 14%. Japan and South Korea markets are down 7% & 14%. Only China +5% and India +19 % along with the US show gains.

The question is can US stock markets continue to rise with most markets abroad signaling recession? Additionally, will rates rise in the US next year or remain abnormally low due to international concerns?

Oil prices at these low levels benefit consumers worldwide. U.S. inflation numbers will be temporarily below the Fed's 2% target and cheaper energy costs should boost our GDP growth now projected at 2.6% to 3.0% by FED economists. A recession here looks highly unlikely as we have the world’s most diversified economy. The Fed is on hold for at least a few more meetings as of yesterday. While Ms.Yellen would like to “normalize” rates the FED seem fearful of doing so in this climate.

Continued US dollar strength will be a headwind against multinational profit growth. The 4th Q 2014 EPS growth was 3%. Full year 2014 SPX earnings according to Factset will be $119.09, up 7% year over year and at $128.38 up 7.8% for 2015 .

Central bank money printing has helped owners of financial assets far more than the average American or the retired saver. Now these tactics are being embraced in Japan and to a lesser extent in Europe with little economic effect except record low interest rates.

Every forecast we have seen from Wall Street now sees higher stock prices ahead for 2015 .

A Santa Claus rally should lie ahead over these final 8 trading days of the year. There is an old saying, if Santa Claus should fail to call Bears may come to Broad and Wall.

The 67 “wrong way eeconomists” who took the Bloomberg survey noted this past year that market direction and interest rates are no easy call.

In the long run it pays to remember that 11.5% returns from stocks and the 5.21% returns from 10 year bonds are the historical norm from 1928-2013.

These returns are indeed earned by investors who are capable of staying the course. Volatility can be our friend but as it ramps emotions it is often our enemy.

Douglas Coppola
John Coppola
December 18, 2014


CFA is a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where CFA and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No representation is being made that the information presented is accurate, current, or complete, and such information

Thursday, December 4, 2014

December 2014

November ended another historic month for US stocks with all-time highs in the S&P 500 and DJIA, up 11.9% and 7.6% year to date without dividends respectively.

West Texas Intermediate oil prices dropped 31% from their June highs dragging down energy stocks as well as energy related MLP's. This is a boon to retailers and consumers.

In recent weeks, 2nd and 3rd Quarter GDP were revised up and now GDP is expected to grow over 3% trough 2015. We lead developed countries in growth, albeit the slowest since the 1940’s. Ebola and a global growth scare were quickly forgotten after the nearly 10% SPX correction ended mid-October.

30 year US Treasuries now yield 2.99%. The Treasury yield curve flattened somewhat with 2 year notes at 0.55%, 5 years at 1.61% and the 10 year note at 2.25%, down from 3% in January.

Long maturity U.S. government bonds are outperforming this levitating stock market against all predictions here and elsewhere.

We are experiencing a very strange world; global oil price tanks 30%, long bonds soar, and U.S. stock indices rise simultaneously. This new paradigm is based on rising earnings, low inflation, an abundant new energy supply sprinkled over with low global interest rates. U.S stocks and Government bonds have become assets of choice, here and abroad, despite our $18 trillion U.S. debt and continuing huge deficits.

Europe and Japan are either back in or teetering on recession. The U.S. dollar has appreciated about 10% on a trade weighted basis as our interest rates are significantly higher than nearly all developed counties. Comparatively speaking the U.S is a growth engine. China, Japan, and Europe are all trying to stimulate growth with more QE or lower rates.

Gold closed November down for the year after a horrible 2013 and a 15% rally in the first quarter. The yellow metal is -40% from Sept 2011 highs.

A majority of Hedge funds and Equity mutual fund managers continue to underperform the U.S. broad based stock market indices. Central banks rule the roost and can turn markets on command with words and printed money.

Tax considerations in December will likely exacerbate existing trends until the New Year has begun.

Douglas Coppola 
John Coppola
December 4, 2014


CFA is a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where CFA and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No representation is being made that the information presented is accurate, current, or complete, and such information is at all times subject to change without notice. CFA does not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Any statement regarding legal, accounting or tax matters was written in connection with the explanation of the matters described herein and was not intended or written to be relied upon by any person as definitive advice. Each person should seek advice based on its particular circumstances from independent legal, accounting, and tax advisors regarding the matters discussed in this e-mail.

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