Consumer Confidence
It’s A Confidence Game
U.S. stock funds have seen heavy outflows despite the market’s YTD gains of 15-20%, once again reviving the tired characterization of this bull market as the “most hated in history.”
A Confidence Game
Several consumer confidence gauges plunged in the wake of the Q4 market decline (as expected), and then rebounded in a lagged response to the stock market recovery (again, as expected). But March saw the largest one-month drop in consumers’ assessment of their “Present Situation” since 2008.
The Cycle Is Over If Confidence Fades Further
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The “Expectations” component of the Consumer Confidence survey has been wobbly in the last few months, but the latest report, released on Tuesday, showed the first meaningful hit to consumers’ “Present Situation” since the stock market first began to struggle 14 months ago (Chart 1).
You Call That A Panic?
Christmas Eve came not with snowfall but a market freefall which was the worst-ever recorded for that date.
Tilt Toward Beta
Stock market valuations certainly show no lack of investor confidence: each of our “Big Six” valuation measures now resides in either its ninth or tenth historical decile.
Plenty Of Love For The Rally
The less-well-known Stock Market Confidence survey from the Conference Board has poked into “excessively optimistic” territory for the first time since 2003
Safety In Numbers?
The S&P 500 closed the first week of January at a new cycle high, up 9.2% from the pre-election low made on November 4th.
“Changes In Attitudes, Changes In Latitudes”
The above caption—and Jimmy Buffett song title—comes from the “View From The North Country” section in the first-ever Green Book published in November 1981. Not much has changed in 35 years.
Lack Of Confidence Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
While this 7 1/2-year bull market has failed to give rise to anything resembling the equity culture of the late 1990s, we think it’s a stretch to claim—as dozens of commentators over the past five years have—that this bull is “the most hated” in history.
Confidence & Stock Prices
Consumer Confidence shot to new cycle highs in March, closing within 6-7 points of the peak made shortly before the Great Recession.
Confidence & Stock Prices
We’re still bullish, but nonetheless feel a duty to take issue with some of the popular story-lines that have attended the past two years’ rising prices.
Stocks And The Economy
We’ve written before about retail investors’ tendency to “conflate” stock market action with movements in the underlying economy. Misunderstanding this interrelationship generally causes the public to liquidate stocks when the economy is weak, only to ultimately buy them back when the economic recovery is obvious to all.
Risk Aversion Edged Up - Stay Defensive And Be Patient
The Risk Aversion Index edged up during November. It is still on a “higher risk” signal. We will stay defensive and be patient. Higher quality assets within the fixed income space are favored.
Morose On Main Street… So Why Isn’t The Smart Money Worried?
Consumer confidence levels have sunk to five year lows. Could this be a bullish omen for the markets?
Jobs/Consumer Data Flashing Recessionary Signals
Optimists have continuously cited low unemployment and the ever resilient U.S. consumer as two “pillars of strength” that will help keep the economy afloat. It has become considerably more difficult to make this case in recent months, as jobs and spending data have weakened to levels associated with recessions.
Consumer Watch– Economic Data Weakening, Consumer Stocks Already Discounting A Slowdown
Our view that the consumer is due for a pullback has been bolstered in recent months, as Consumer Discretionary groups have continued to slip in our Group Selection (GS) Score rankings.
The Demise Of The Consumer
“Of Special Interest” section examines the likely demise of consumer spending power. Taking a lead from the GS Scores and other economic data, we believe that a significant underweight in areas that are particularly sensitive to consumer spending is a prudent strategy for now.
The Consumer: Still Chugging Along
Consumer spending may have finally peaked in this cycle, but a consumer collapse is far from imminent. Consumers can be expected to remain supportive of economic growth.
Market Sentiment: Currently A Mixed Bag
An in depth discussion of market sentiment...At present, it is a real mixed bag, there is no clear cut consensus.
Still Can't Count Out The Consumer
American consumer spending is still in an uptrend, helping to drive economic growth, although to a lesser extent. In the meantime, CapEx spending has been accelerating, which should serve to pick up any economic slack.
View From The North Country
Does consumer confidence offers any insight into future spending patterns? Also, the case for shorting T-Bonds.
View From The North Country
Consumer confidence now dismal. Historical analysis however indicates that good buying opportunities are typically found during periods of extreme pessimism. Currently view Conference Board measure as a stock market positive!
Consumer Confidence & The NASDAQ…..Who Leads Who?
A closer look at the relationship between Consumer Confidence and the NASDAQ over the last three years.
Eye On The Consumer
Important pillars of economic bridge until Capex kicks in and business confidence improves. Interest only mortgages-the ticking time bomb debt. U.S. Consumer debt OK compared with other countries but, what happens when interest rates rise?
This Was No Summer Of Love
In August, the bloodletting finally slowed: Majority of indices actually managed to eke out small gains.
Who's Afraid of the Fed?
The public certainly is not afraid of Mr Greenspan…..Strong public confidence now a key stock market support factor.
May Mutual Fund Flows
Market volatility was the likely culprit for equity fund disenchantment in May, as net inflows into U.S. focus equity funds for the month were less than half of April’s record breaking $26.1 billion. Main Street Confidence: The critical market factor…..what are some potential confidence destroyers?
Main Street Confidence: The Critical Market Factor
What might threaten Main Street equity confidence???
Public Confidence Measures
The driving force behind today’s stock market is the public. Never before had they had such clout.
Public Confidence Again Rising
After noting last month’s declines in public confidence measures we wrote that, in order to sustain a rising stock market, these measures needed to improve in the next month. All of the confidence measures did improve.
Public Conficence Measures
Numerous measures experienced sharp drops corresponding closely to the stock market sell off. Without a bounce in the next two months, the outlook for the economy and the stock market may look quite bleak.
Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives
Steve’s personal judgements and opinions incorporating observations, experience and gut feelings, going beyond the quantitative aspects of the Major Trend Index disciplines.
Major Trend Back to Negative
Major Trend back to Negative...Both Asset Allocation Portfolios shifted to their most defensive posture ever. Steve's judgements and opinions on major stock market positives and negatives.
Should We Believe It This Time?
On June 22, clients received an Interim Memo noting that our composite Major Trend Index had slipped to Negative status. The subsequent calculation lost a few more points and remains marginally negative.
Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives
A review of the significant stock market positives and negatives as I currently see them.
March Madness
The market finished the first quarter of1998 strong, with the S&P 500 up 13.5% and the Dow Jones flirting with the 9000 milestone. Expectations for April? More of the same. Nothing on horizon to shake individual investors’ confidence.
Building a New Position: Housing
Buying 10% position in Housing. Moved up to Attractive last month, and currently the fourth highest ranked per our SS Scores. Expect current economic environment to be favorable for Housing.
The February Sweet Spot
Major Trend Index turned Positive in early February...Expect market to move higher over next few months as long as Main Street keeps fueling Wall Street.
Yes, Virginia, Consumers, Investors and Retailing Stocks Are Aligned. It’s Time for a “Retailing Resurgence”!
Consumer confidence is high, the economy is solid. We do not think Christmas 1994 is yet reflected in many retailing stocks. Look at this like a retailing “bounce" opportunity.
A Most Dangerous Game
Portfolio managers themselves are increasingly cautious towards the stock market, with the great majority very concerned about the Clinton economic program and very recently shaken by the Phillip Morris debacle.