Quarter In Review
In the second quarter of 2024, markets were in a state of flux, reacting to evolving monetary policies and major election results throughout developed and emerging economies. Equity markets experienced a downturn in April, a significant rebound in May, and moderate fluctuations in June.
Nonetheless, equities generally saw a rise over the quarter. Both governmental and corporate long-term bonds faced challenges, while oil retreated slightly following a robust performance in the first quarter.
The S&P 500 finished the quarter with a dazzling performance in June, hitting seven new closing highs. These new records brought its Year-To-Date (YTD) total to 31, contributing to an overall increase of 3.59% for the month, a three-month gain of 4.28% for Q2, and a 15.29% gain YTD.[1]
This marks the most successful first half of an election year since 1976. Historical data suggests that when the S&P 500 sees such substantial growth in the first half of the year, the latter half often yields more modest advances. [2]
Fixed-income markets experienced a bumpy ride for the quarter, finishing slightly higher at the end. There was a noticeable rise in the U.S. two-year and 10-year yields, with an increase of 10 and 15 basis points over the quarter, respectively. Year to date, the Bloomberg US Aggregate bond index, a widely tracked measure of total returns on U.S. fixed income, is down –0.71%, while the Bloomberg Global Aggregate bond index is down 3.16%. [3]
The U.S. commodities market finished the quarter with prices rising over 10% compared to the previous year. Particularly noticeable is the increase in non-ferrous metals and rubber prices by 13% and 25%, respectively.
Cocoa’s remarkable price surge has continued due to unfavorable weather conditions in primary production regions and political instability. Conversely, cereals have seen a price dip despite the global rise in rice prices due to weather-related concerns and export restrictions in India.[4]
The oil market echoes the upward trend, riding near a two-month high at quarter end due to increasing tensions in the Middle East and hurricane activity in the Atlantic. Interestingly, the upward trend in Brent crude futures, spurred on by fears of supply disruptions and potential U.S. interest rate cuts, hasn’t translated into profits for refiners, indicating a weak gasoline demand and rising inventories.[5]
What's Been Driving Markets
The Economy, Inflation & the Fed
The U.S. economic performance in Q1 was slightly less than initially observed, with a downward revision of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1.6% to 1.4%. This, combined with lower inflation readings in April and May, has given the Federal Reserve a bit of runway to contemplate pulling back on interest rates. This decision appears tied to determining whether the economy is moving toward a path of sustainable disinflation. The Fed will hold its next policy meeting July 30 through 31, though the timing of any future rate cuts will depend heavily on upcoming employment and inflation data.
There was a positive boost on the employment front, with nonfarm payrolls exceeding expectations, adding 272,000 jobs. Average hourly earnings climbed 0.4% from April and 4.1% year-on-year. Despite this, the unemployment rate slightly increased to 4%, representing the first rise over 4% in two years.
The job market appears to be moderating in the face of these mixed signals.[6] On the consumer side, sentiment dropped less than predicted, leading some to believe that inflation pressures can be managed without causing extensive harm to consumer spending.[7]
In manufacturing, May saw a modest increase in new orders for durable goods, driven primarily by a 0.6% rise in transportation equipment. Despite this, the ISM Manufacturing reading signaled contraction, coming in under economists’ expectations. Big consumer products companies are also dealing with pricing challenges, moving away from “shrinkflation”— raising prices while reducing package sizes—toward “upflation,” creating new product uses and charging more for them.[8]
Final Thoughts - Risk Tolerance
Risk tolerance is a critical but often misunderstood aspect of investing. It represents your psychological comfort level with participating in uncertain situations where both success and failure are possible outcomes. However, risk tolerance isn’t just tied to numbers but also carries an emotional component, often being influenced by individual predispositions. It’s akin to food preferences—some relish the thrill of trying new exotic delicacies while others find comfort in their favorite tried-and-tested meals.
In investing, those with high risk tolerance generally lean toward potentially high-reward situations despite the risk of potential losses. Conversely, those with lower risk tolerance prefer to avoid such perceived threats, focusing more on preserving their initial capital. Remember, neither high- nor low-risk tolerance is necessarily good or bad. Each can lead to positive or negative outcomes—or sometimes a bit of both.
Furthermore, your risk tolerance isn’t constant, but can change depending on the scenario or over time, so coupling long-term investment decisions with an understanding of your comfort level with risk helps you make informed decisions.
But it doesn’t end there. The chart below shows the daily returns of the S&P 500 over the past 40 years. Watching markets daily looks like this. The herky-jerky nature of the ups and downs can test your risk tolerance.
However, if we look at the same 40 years through a different lens, we start to see another story emerge—one that rewards patience and matches the time horizon for long-term investors much better. It is the same ride, with daily ups and downs. Still, shifting perspective helps to validate the rewards of investing and lower the potential signals that negatively trigger risk tolerance.
Key takeaway: keep your eyes on the long run!
1. Silverblatt, H., “U.S. Equities Market Attributes June 2024,” S&P Dow Jones Indices, July 2, 2024. https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/commentary/article/us-equities-market-attributes/
2. Nazareth, R., Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P Live Updates for June 28, 2024, Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-27/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates
3. Morningstar Direct as of June 30, 2024
4. Siwat Nakmai, S., Liutyi, D., and Karatella, “U.S Air Travel and Cocoa Prices Hit New Highs While Inflation Surges Across Germany,” (n.d.), Macrobond, https://www.macrobond.com/insights/charts-of-the-week/us-air-travel-and-cocoa-prices-hit-new-highs-while-inflation-surges-across-germany#chart-3
5. Fitzgerald, J. and Longley, A., Latest Oil Market News and Analysis for July 2. 2024, Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-01/latest-oil-market-news-and-analysis-for-july-2
6 Condon, C., “U.S. Payroll Gains and Unemployment Rate Both Pick Up At Same Time,” June 7, 2024 Bloomberg.com https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-07/us-payroll-gains-and-unemployment-rate-both-pick-up-at-same-time
7 Golle, V., “U.S. Economy Shows Further Signs of Slowing Under High Fed Rates, Inflation,” June 27, 2024, Bloomberg.com https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-27/us-economy-shows-further-signs-of-slowing-under-high-rates
8 Patton, L. and Shanker, D. “To Hike Prices, Companies Are Refreshing Old Products for New Uses,” July 1, 2024, Bloomberg.com https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-07-01/what-s-upflation-new-retail-trend-is-driving-up-prices-for-us-consumers
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