Week-In-Review: A Tight Bullish Pattern Is Forming On Wall Street
A Tight Bullish Pattern Is Forming On Wall Street
Stocks rallied last week after nearly every major Central Bank in the world continued to err on the side of caution. The big news came from the U.S. Fed when it raised rates by a quarter point for the second time in three months. For the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, the it appears that the Fed is back in the Driver’s Seat. Stocks rallied nicely after the Fed raised rates and that hasn’t happened since before the 2008 financial crisis. Confidence, a huge part of the investing equation, is slowly being restored in global central banks and the global economy. So, stepping back, monetary policy remains accommodative for investors and so does fiscal policy. When Trump won the historical election back in November 2016, stocks soared because so-called animal spirits were released. The famous economist John Maynard Keynes referred to animal spirits as spontaneous optimism. That said, as long as stocks continue to rally we could be (not there just yet) entering into a climax run. The two biggest climax runs happened in 1929 and 1999 and tend to occur in the latter stages of a bull market. This bull market just turned 8 and is the second longest bull market in history and at some point it will end. That doesn’t mean we can’t shoot higher for here and rally for a few more years but that we want to stay grounded and keep everything in perspective.
Mon-Wed Action:
Thur & Fri Action:
Stocks closed mixed to slightly lower on Thursday as investors digested a busy week of data. Overnight, The Bank of Japan held monetary policy steady and maintained a positive view on the economy. The BOJ said it did not expect to expand monetary stimulus in the near future. Separately, The Bank of England did not raise rates as Brexit approaches. In the U.S. housing starts came in at 1.288 million, beating estimates for 1.270 million. Stocks were relatively quiet on Friday as investors digested a busy week and looked ahead to the G-20 meeting.
Market Outlook: Strong Action Continues
The market remains strong as the major indices continue to hit fresh record highs. The bulls have a very strong fundamental backdrop of monetary and now fiscal policy. All the major central banks are still relatively “dovish” which is bullish for stocks. The U.S. Fed only raised rates by a quarter point to 0.75%, which, historically, is still very low. On the fiscal side, Trump’s pro-growth policies are received well. As always, keep your losses small and never argue with the tape. Want Adam To Be Your Personal Portfolio Consultant? You Don’t Have To Feel Alone In The Market, There Is A Better Way: Learn More
