The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
O c to b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 3 Russ Koesterich
Overview
- It’s moving to the brink, but we still believe a deal to raise the debt ceiling will be forthcoming.
- Any agreement is likely to be short term and piecemeal, meaning political drama isn’t ending any time soon.
- This backdrop will dampen economic growth and contribute to additional market volatility in the months ahead.
In the near-term, any budget agreement would be viewed as a positive, but if the best Washington can do is a series of short-term extensions, there will be an economic price to be paid.
- Washington Drama Continues to Drive Volatility
- Markets last week were knocked around by the news and rumors coming from Washington, D.C. regarding when and whether there would be a resolution to the government shutdown and an extension of the debt ceiling. Early in the week, pessimism reigned and stocks experienced a sharp downturn, but by the end of the week, when it appeared the outlines of a potential deal were forming, markets rallied. For the week as a whole, stocks advanced, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 1.1% to 15,237 and the S&P 500 Index climbing 0.8% to 1,703. The Nasdaq Composite, however, lost ground and was off 0.4% to 3,791. In fixed income markets, Treasury yields rose slightly (as prices correspondingly fell), with the yield on the 10-year Treasury rising from 2.64% to 2.69%.
- A Short-Term Resolution Still Looks Possible
- By the end of last week, it was starting to look like a deal was coming into focus that would have consisted of a temporary extension of the debt ceiling and potentially a short-term continuing resolution that would have reopened the government. Over the weekend and into Monday morning, however, that deal failed to gain much traction and Congress and the Obama administration were still clashing over a variety of proposals and counter-proposals.
- At this point, we are still reasonably optimistic that some sort of patchwork deal will go through that will at least temporarily extend the debt ceiling on or around the October 17 deadline that has been cited by the Treasury Department. Any such deal, however, is likely to be limited and piecemeal. In the near-term, any budget agreement would be viewed as a positive, but if the best Washington can do is a series of short-term extensions, there will be an economic price to be paid. Ongoing and elevated levels of political uncertainty will spark higher levels of market volatility, act as a drag on business and consumer confidence and will act as a drag on economic growth.
- We are already seeing some signs that lower levels of confidence are impacting spending levels for the worse. Last Friday, the University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment was released, with the index falling to 75.2, its lowest level since January. The survey indicated that the government shutdown is causing consumers to be more pessimistic about the state of the economy, and in general, lower confidence leads to lower spending—a negative for economic growth.
- Additionally, the ongoing uncertainty is having an effect on investor sentiment toward U.S. stocks. Although equities did rebound late last week, mutual fund flows continue to show that investors are moving away from the U.S. In a trend that now has existed for a few weeks, investors are pulling money out of U.S. funds and moving into Europe and other regions. This stands in marked contrast to the dominant trend that existed for the first half of the year when the United States was the preferred (and often the only) destination for investors. Clearly, in light of rising political uncertainty, investors are rethinking their strategies.
- From an economic and markets perspective, we would highlight three implications for investors. First, while the United States is unlikely to slip back into a recession, growth will be slower than it otherwise would be. Were it not for all of the political turmoil, we would expect the U.S. would be able to grow by somewhere between 2.5% and 3% in the fourth quarter. Given the drama in Washington, we would peg 2% as a more likely number.
- Second, in what may be a silver lining, the Federal Reserve will probably adopt a slower pace to tapering (plans to ease off on its asset-purchase programs).The economic uncertainty caused by the political rancor, combined with the delays in economic data releases due to the government shutdown, is likely to push back the Fed’s policy-making decisions.
- Finally, we believe the prevailing environment should be a reason for investors (particularly those who are overweight in U.S. stocks) to move more of their assets into international equities. International stocks are less expensive than U.S. markets (and thus offer more value), and it is becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. is no longer the only safe haven in the global markets
· Negative Budget Battle Effects are Already Being Felt
· Economic and Market Implications: Slower Growth, Delayed Tapering and a Focus on International Stocks
BlackRock – weekly investment commentary O c to b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 3
a little about me and my expertise – video
LAND SPECIALIST – LAND EXPERT – INVESTMENT BROKER – ARIZONA
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Phoenix,_Arizona_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona
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Walter Unger CCIM, CCSS, CCLS
I am a successful Commercial Investment Real Estate Broker in Arizona now for 15 years and I worked with banks and their commercial REO properties for 3 years. I am also a commercial landspecialist in Phoenix and a Landspecialist in Arizona.
WHETHER YOU LEASE OR OWN
NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO EXPAND, UPGRADE OR INVEST.
we are at on the a rise of the cycle in Commercial Real Estate. so there is only one way and it’s called we are going up and now is the time for you to expand, upgrade or invest in Commercial Properties in Phoenix. The prices on deals I may get you will not be around forever.
WAITING TO SELL YOUR LAND ? TIMES CHANGE / IT’S TIME
We barely could give land away the last few years, but times are changing. Even in those meager years, I sold more land across the state than most other brokers. Before the real estate crash I was a land specialist in Arizona with millions of dollars of transactions, but then I had to change and also sell other commercial investment properties, which was fun, but I am a Commercial Landspecialist in Arizonal, a Commercial Land Specialist in Phoenix and love to sell land, one acre to thousands of acres.
If you have any questions about Commercial Investment Properties in Phoenix or Commercial Investment Properties in Arizona, I will gladly sit down with you and share my expertise and my professional opinion in Commercial Properties in Phoenix or Commercial Properties in Arizona with you.Obviously I am also in this to make money, but it could be a win-win situation for all of us.
Please reply by e-mail walterunger@ccim.net or call me 520-975-5207 (cell) 602-778-5110 (office direct).
Thank You
Walter
Walter Unger CCIM
Associate Broker
Kasten Long Commercial
2821 E. Camelback Road, Suite 600
Phoenix, AZ 85016
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