Your Weekly Update for Monday, June 27, 2022.
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Mike Elerath
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM
CERTIFIED IN LONG-TERM CARE
[email protected]
Bill Roller
NMLS #107972
CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM
CHARTERED MARKET TECHNICIAN
[email protected]
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Summary
Last week was a rally week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.39%. to 31,500.68 while the S&P500 ended up 6.30% to 3,911.74. The Nasdaq Composite rose 7.49% to 11,607.52. The annual yield on the 30-year Treasury fell rose 3.7 basis point(s) to 3.257%.
Economic data for the week included a drop in existing home sales offset by stronger sales for new homes. Consumer sentiment fell to an all-time low, although long-term inflation expectations improved (declined) from an earlier report.
Global equity markets recovered sharply last week with sentiment improving, as inflation may be showing signs of slowing. Bonds also fared positively, with yields falling and corporate spreads tightening. Commodities also fell back in a variety of segments, including grains, metals, and natural gas.
Economic Notes
(0/-) Existing home sales for May fell by -3.4% to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 5.41 mil. unitsâslightly better than the -3.7% median forecast. Single-family activity fell a bit further, down -4%, with a lesser change in the smaller condo/co-op group. Regionally, the Northeast was the only area to experience a gain in sales, while all others fell by the mid-single digit range for the month. The year-over-year result showed a decline in existing sales of nearly -9% nationally. The median sales price rose 1.2% in May to $407,600, which represented a 14.8% gain on a year-over-year basis, and in fact was the first over-$400k reading in the history of the series. The monthsâ supply of homes ticked up by 0.2 to 2.3, but remains well below pre-pandemic readings (by almost half).
(+) New home sales rose by 10.7% in May to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 696k, surpassing the -0.2% decline expected. Additionally, March and April sales were revised up by 54k. Regionally, May sales were led by the West and South, while they declined in the Northeast and Midwest. The new home sales figure was -6% below the levels a year ago. The median price came in at $449,000, down a percent from the prior month, but 15% higher on a trailing 12-month basis. The monthsâ supply of new homes fell by -0.6 to 7.7.
Supply and demand continue to show a high degree of imbalance in housing markets. However, mortgage rates nearly doubling over the past several months have already started to slow activity, particularly in more expensive markets. As with vehicles, but to a more extreme degree, home purchases have tended to be evaluated on âmonthly paymentâ. Thus, changes in financing costs necessitate (eventual) adjustments in pricing downward to get the math where it needs to be for buyers. This has started to happen a bit faster in more expensive housing markets, such as Canada, but could take longer in the U.S. due to the shortage in inventory.
(-) The final Univ. of Michigan index of consumer sentiment for June saw a revision downward by -0.2 of a point to 50.0, below the consensus forecast of no change at 50.2, and reaching a new record low. Compared to the preliminary result, assessments of current conditions fell by nearly two points, while expectations for the future improved by almost a point. However, anecdotal commentary noted that over three-quarters of respondents expect âbad timesâ in the coming year, which is the poorest sentiment expressed since the latter stages of the financial crisis in 2009. Nearly half of those respondents blame inflation for the deterioration in conditions, which is not surprising, especially considering the recent rise in retail gasoline prices. Inflation expectations for the coming year ticked down by -0.1% to 5.3%, while the closely-watched 5-10 year expectations were revised down by -0.2% to 3.1%. The latter number, the preliminary reading of which at 3.3% was specifically noted by the Federal Reserve as problematic, was a bit of a surprise. The âfinalâ sentiment report features about 500 survey respondents, which is an expansion on the 300 used in the preliminary readingâso the survey in general isnât overly broad.
Why does the Fed care so much about inflation expectations? Specifically, as noted in a 2016 Fed staff memo, it allows them the flexibility to be more âpassiveâ on the inflation side, ignoring small short-term fluctuations, and instead, focus on employment. However, when inflation expectations snap out of a normal range (either higher or lower), side effects can drift into other segments of the economy, such as changes in consumer behavior and adverse movements in the dreaded wage-price spiral. For this reason, in almost a reversal from comments made a few years ago (particularly under Chair Yellen), the Fed is de-emphasizing employment in favor of the inflation mandate. This is one of the challenges in having two potentially competing mandates; the Fed is one of only a few central banks to be subject to an additional mandate (maximum employment) going beyond inflation/financial stability.
(0/+) Initial jobless claims for the Jun. 18 ending week declined by -2k to 229k, which was just above the 226k consensus estimate. Continuing claims for the Jun. 11 week rose by 5k to 1.315 mil., but fell below the 1.320 mil. expected. Claims by state were uneventful, with minimal change. Overall, when looked at as a percentage of total insured, levels remain near all-time lows.
Market Notes
| Period ending 6/24/2022 | 1 Week (%) | YTD (%) |
| DJIA | 5.39 | -12.43 |
| S&P 500 | 6.46 | -17.31 |
| NASDAQ | 7.51 | -25.52 |
| Russell 2000 | 6.02 | -20.88 |
| MSCI-EAFE | 2.83 | -18.39 |
| MSCI-EM | 0.80 | -16.95 |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate | 0.61 | -10.94 |
| U.S. Treasury Yields | 3 Mo. | 2 Yr. | 5 Yr. | 10 Yr. | 30 Yr. |
| 12/31/2021 | 0.06 | 0.73 | 1.26 | 1.52 | 1.90 |
| 6/17/2022 | 1.63 | 3.17 | 3.34 | 3.25 | 3.30 |
| 6/24/2022 | 1.73 | 3.04 | 3.18 | 3.13 | 3.26 |
U.S. stocks recovered last week, reversing a recent losing streak, as markets sensed additional stability in inflation and a slowing in economic growth (leading to lower inflation). After starting the week up sharply, perhaps with President Bidenâs comments that a recession wasnât inevitable, after consulting with economist and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, which implied possible policy adjustments, sentiment improved further. Friday featured the annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes, which often results in one of the highest-volume trading days of the year, due to $12 tril. in assets tracking these indexes (per Blackrock). The largest shifts tend to occur between âgrowthâ style boxes of the Russell 1000 and 2000 (which often receive the stocks with more recent higher earnings growth scores, such as energy) and âvalueâ (where weightings are raised for stocks recently underperforming, including some technology stocks interestingly).
Comments from Fed chair Powell, in semi-annual Senate Banking Committee testimony, alluded to further hopes for a âsoft landingâ, although giving the impression that fighting inflation continues to take precedence over avoiding a recession. Itâs been reiterated again and again that it is âabsolutely essentialâ for the Fed the achieve price stability, albeit a soft landing being potentially âvery challengingâ to accomplish. This is a view markets have seemed to embrace, likely realizing that the negative long-term consequences of inflation are far more damaging than a possibly-weak recession, given the few financial excesses in the current business cycle (compared to cycles in the recent past).
Nearly every sector gained ground last week, led by consumer discretionary, health care, and technology up over 7% along with broad market strength. Real estate also gained nearly 8%, as interest rates fell back from recent highs.
Foreign stocks also performed positively last week, albeit to a lesser degree than in the U.S., despite the help from a weaker U.S. dollar. Slowing economic growth pared back expectations for a more aggressive central bank response in coming meetings. Returns were relatively similar across geographies, although China outperformed in emerging markets, in keeping with a continued recovery theme and announcements of additional government stimulus measures.
U.S. bonds gained ground last week, as interest rates pulled back from recent peaks. Treasuries outperformed investment-grade corporates a bit, although high yield corporates were the best-performing of all sectors, following the lead of equity markets higher. Foreign bonds also gained, due to lower rates and the positive influence of a weaker dollar. Russian stocks experienced a technical default over the weekend, as certain grace periods expired, but payment mechanisms to U.S. banks remain closed (although more than enough funds currently exist to make the interest payment, rendering the default symbolic at this point).
Commodities fell back, again moving in a contrary direction to stocks and bonds. While the price of crude oil was minimally changed last week, remaining at just under $108/barrel, agriculture (wheat), industrial metals (due to nickel but also copper), and natural gas all fell back sharply upwards of 5-10%. President Biden put forth a plan for a 3-month gas tax holiday, which would represent about 4% of the current national gas retail price, as well as encouraging states to implement the same with state gas taxes. However, Congressional approval does not appear to be a slam dunk. Regardless, the minimal actions may not be substantial enough to really move the needle on easing energy price pressures on households. Regardless, from highs earlier this month, oil prices have stealthily corrected by -14%, before recovering a bit later in the week. This price erosion has been due to concerns over slowing demand have outweighed those about lower supply as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to grind away with little movement in either direction, pointing to a protracted conflict. Itâs also predicted that OPEC+ members will be upping production, further enhancing available supply. However, crude availability is unable to do much to aid a lack of gasoline refining capacity in the near-term, which offers fewer solutions for current high prices going into the peak travel period.
Mortgage Rates
âFixed mortgage rates have increased by more than two full percentage points since the beginning of the year,â said Sam Khater, Freddie Macâs Chief Economist. âThe combination of rising rates and high home prices is the likely driver of recent declines in existing home sales. However, in reality many potential homebuyers are still interested in purchasing a home, keeping the market competitive but leveling off the last two years of red-hot activity.â
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.81% with an average 0.8 point as of June 23, 2022, up from last week when it averaged 5.78%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.02%.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.92% with an average 0.9 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.81%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.34%.
The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.41% with an average 0.3 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.33%. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.53%.
Freddie Macâs Primary Mortgage Market SurveyÂŽ is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit. Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.
Through our relationship with Prestige Mortgage Services Inc. dba Prestige Home Mortgage (NMLS#14216) in Vancouver, Washington we originate residential and reverse mortgages.
Selected Cryptocurrencies
| Symbol | Name | Price | 24h % | 7d % | Market Cap |
| BTC | Bitcoin | 21258.54 | -1.84% | 3.25% | $405,641,274,857 |
| ETH | Ethereum | 1218.85 | -3.66% | 7.35% | $147,878,046,098 |
| BNB | BNB | 237.57 | -2.14% | 11.45% | $38,813,318,153 |
| XRP | XRP | 0.3614 | -2.75% | 11.81% | $17,484,052,954 |
| ADA | Cardano | 0.5006 | -3.63% | 0.86% | $16,916,372,407 |
| SOL | Solana | 40.1 | -4.37% | 12.24% | $13,742,035,620 |
| DOGE | Dogecoin | 0.07594 | 4.82% | 26.59% | $10,077,414,245 |
| DOT | Polkadot | 8.09 | -3.20% | 3.31% | $7,979,380,618 |
| TRX | TRON | 0.0692 | 6.07% | 13.25% | $6,402,680,678 |
| SHIB | Shiba Inu | 0.00001127 | -5.15% | 37.77% | $6,192,198,047 |
| AVAX | Avalanche | 20.73 | -2.73% | 20.32% | $5,860,199,792 |
| WBTC | Wrapped Bitcoin | 21265.07 | -1.80% | 3.27% | $5,639,755,009 |
| LEO | UNUS SED LEO | 5.87 | -0.66% | 8.87% | $5,606,988,500 |
| MATIC | Polygon | 0.5741 | -6.74% | 44.30% | $4,633,795,677 |
Information current as of 5:25 AM PDT, Monday, June 27, 2022. Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/
Check us out at https://beaconrwa.com and our affiliated websites at https://reverse-mortgages.us and https://socialsecurityquestionsanswered4u.com.
Sources: Ryan Long, CFA, FocusPoint Solutions, American Association for Individual Investors (AAII), Associated Press, Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, FactSet, Financial Times, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Asset Management, Marketfield Asset Management, Morgan Stanley, MSCI, Morningstar, Northern Trust, Oppenheimer Funds, PIMCO, Standard & Poorâs, StockCharts.com, The Conference Board, Thomson Reuters, T. Rowe Price, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Federal Reserve, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post. Index performance is shown as total return, which includes dividends, with the exception of MSCI-EM, which is quoted as price return/excluding dividends. Performance for the MSCI-EAFE and MSCI-EM indexes is quoted in U.S. Dollar investor terms.
The information above has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but no representation is made as to its completeness, accuracy or timeliness. All information and opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. Information provided in this report is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, investment, legal or tax advice; and does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of any offer, to buy or sell any security, investment or other product. FocusPoint Solutions, Inc. is a registered investment advisor.
Notes key: (+) positive/encouraging development, (0) neutral/inconclusive/no net effect, (-) negative/discouraging development.