“Success begets more success” as the saying goes. This sentiment can also be applied to the financial markets during the Fourth Quarter of 2003 following two consecutive quarters of positive returns. Equity markets, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, rose 12.18% for the Fourth Quarter and closed out the year with a strong 28.69% return. Fixed income returned 0.32% for the quarter but gained 4.10% for the year as measured by the Lehman Bros. Aggregate Bond Index. The MSCI-EAFE Index climbed 16.80% for the quarter and 35.28% for all of 2003 – an indication that the global economy is also finally recovering or expected to recover. These figures seem to suggest that the economic horizon is indeed brighter today than in the recent past.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Source:Frank Russell, S&P and 3rd party websites
And what about that brighter economic horizon? Real GDP growth in the U.S. grew 8.2% in Q3 2003 compared with a 3.1% gain in Q2 – surprising even some of the most optimistic forecasters.1 Corporate profits jumped 9.9% with a $101.4 billion gain on top of last quarter’s 10.3% gain.2 Industrial production recorded a 0.9% gain in November, the largest monthly increase since October 1999.3 The consumer showed strong signs of life in the Fourth Quarter as The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rebounded from a low of 77.0 in September to 91.3 for December.4 Housing starts rose in November 2003 at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1,874,000 units, up 5.4% from the previous month. In large part, this was due to the unprecedented decline in mortgage rates with the 30 year fixed rate sitting at a low 5.67% average in December.5
Despite the stronger aggregate demand for goods and services, the Federal Reserve maintained the Federal Funds rate at 1.0%, citing “slack resource use and quite low inflation” as reasons to maintain their accommodative monetary stance.6 The most recent November unemployment rate stood at 5.9% – slightly below the 6.1% figure in August and September of 2003.7
After 2003 delivered strong returns across the major asset classes, most market forecasters are preparing the investment community to expect more modest returns in 2004. The following is a look at several factors likely to influence market direction in 2004, and the potential market impact of each:
Factor: / Potential Market Impact
Depreciating dollar and its impact on corporate profits /Positive
U.S. trade deficit /Positive
Continued low interest rates/borrowing costs / Positive
Consumer confidence / modestly improving labor markets / Positive
U.S. presidential election year / Generally Positive
OPEC’s intentions for world energy prices / Uncertain/ Negative
Terrorism/homeland security issues / Uncertain/ Negative
Only time will tell how these and other factors will influence the direction of the investment markets in 2004. Regardless of the inevitable short-term volatility of the markets, it remains critical for long-term investors to focus on maintaining a disciplined asset allocation strategy and securing highly capable investment firms to implement the on-going portfolio management decisions.
Endnotes:
1 Bureau of Economic Analysis, 12/23/2003 Press Release.
2 Ibid.
3 Federal Reserve Statistical Release, 12/16/20034The Conference Board, 12/30/2003 Press Release.
5 FHLMC Conventional Home Loan publication, 12/16/2003.
6 The Federal Reserve Press Release, 12/9/2003.
7 U.S. Commerce Dept. Census Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Devpt. Joint Release, 12/16/2003.
