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Market Commentary – February 2021

February began on a high note as investors drew encouragement from strong fourth-quarter earnings reports and encouraging employment data. However, news was not all positive. The COVID-related death toll in the United States reached 500,000. Nevertheless, two vaccines were rolled out last month, with a third one on tap for release in March. While rhetoric surrounding additional fiscal stimulus continued throughout the month, February saw no congressional deal reached. However, the Federal Reserve continued to offer assurances that continued accommodative measures would remain in place for the foreseeable future.

February saw crude oil and gasoline prices surge. COVID-19 hit economies hard and restricted travel, which limited the demand for oil and gas. In response, several oil-producing countries slashed oil production. However, despite economies gradually recovering and travel picking up, oil-producing nations have been slow to increase production, causing crude oil and gas prices to climb. Last month also offered more evidence that the economy is slowly regaining some positive momentum. The employment report included the addition of about 50,000 new jobs. The number of unemployed continues to drop, but remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels. The fourth-quarter GDP advanced 4.1%. Industrial production advanced for a second consecutive month, and the housing sector maintained impressive strength.

Despite closing the month on a downturn, stocks ended February in the black. The small caps of the Russell 2000 added 6.1%, followed by the Global Dow, the Dow, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 remains well ahead of its 2020 closing value, followed by the Global Dow, the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Dow. The market sectors ended the month mixed, with energy advancing 16.1%, followed by financials (8.4%), real estate (3.2%), industrials (3.2%), and communication services (2.6%). Both consumer discretionary and utilities lost 5.9%. Health care dropped 3.6%, followed by information technology (-2.5%), consumer staples (-1.4%), and materials (-0.2%).

The yield on 10-year Treasuries gained 37 basis points. The dollar inched ahead, and crude oil prices surged past $60.00 per barrel after climbing over 18.0% in February. Gold fell for the second consecutive month.

Market/Index* 2020 Close Prior Month Monthly Change YTD Change
DIJA 30,606.48 29,982.62 3.17% 1.06%
NASDAQ 12,888.28 13,070.69 0.93% 2.36%
S & P 500 3,756.07 3,714.24 2.61% 1.47%
Russell 2000 1,974.86 2,201.05 6.14% 11.45%
Global Dow 3,487.52 3,667.77 6.13% 5.17%
Federal Funds 0.00% – 0.25% 0.00% – 0.25% 0 bps 0 bps
10-yr Treasury 0.91% 1.09% 37 bps 55 bps

*Chart reflects price changes, not total return

Last Month's Economic News

  • Employment: Employers added 49,999 new jobs in January after decreasing by 140,000 in December. In December, the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 6.3%, and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 600,000 to 10.1 million. Although both measures are much lower than their April highs, they remain well above their pre-pandemic levels in February 2020 (3.5% and 5.7 million, respectively). Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff decreased in January to 2.7 million. This measure is down considerably from the recent high of 18.0 million in April but is 2.0 million higher than its February 2020 level. In January, the number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job, at 7.0 million, was little changed over the month (7.3 million in December) but is 2.3 million higher than in February 2020. In January, the number of employed persons who teleworked because of the coronavirus pandemic edged down to 23.2%, 0.5 percentage point lower than December. In January, 14.8 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because their employer closed or lost business due to the pandemic. This measure is 1.1 million lower than in December. Average hourly earnings increased by $0.06 to $29.96 in January and are up 5.4% from a year ago. The average work week increased by 0.3 hour to 35.0 hours in January.
  • GDP/budget: The gross domestic product advanced at an annual rate of 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The GDP increased 33.4% in the third quarter after contracting 31.4% in the second quarter. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, increased 2.4% in the fourth quarter after surging 41.0% in the third quarter. Nonresidential (business) fixed investment climbed 14.0% following a 22.9% increase in the third quarter; residential fixed investment continued to advance, increasing 35.8% in the fourth quarter after soaring 63.0% in the prior quarter. Exports advanced 21.8% in the fourth quarter (59.6% in the third quarter), and imports increased 29.6% in the fourth quarter (93.1% in the third quarter). Federal nondefense government expenditures decreased 8.9% in the fourth quarter following a third-quarter decline of 18.3% as federal stimulus payments and aid lessened. The GDP fell 3.5% in 2020 after increasing 2.2% in 2019. Personal consumption expenditures dropped 2.63%; nonresidential fixed investment declined 0.53%; residential fixed investment rose 0.23%; exports dropped 1.47%; imports rose 1.33%; and nondefense government spending advanced 0.14%.
  • Inflation/consumer spending: Inflationary pressures showed definite signs of increasing in January. According to the latest Personal Income and Outlays report, personal income climbed 10.0% in January, and disposable personal income advanced 11.4% after each index increased 0.6% in December. Consumer spending increased 2.4% in January after falling 0.4% the previous month. Consumer prices edged up 0.3% in January after climbing 0.4% in December. Over the last 12 months, consumer prices increased 1.5%, personal income advanced 6.1%, while personal consumption expenditures (consumer spending) dipped 2.7%.
  • Prices that producers receive for goods and services advanced 1.3% in January — the largest monthly increase in the history of the index. Producer prices increased 1.7% for the 12 months ended in January 2021, which is the largest yearly gain since climbing 2.0% for the 12 months ended in January 2020. Producer prices less foods, energy, and trade services rose for the ninth consecutive month after advancing 1.2% in January. Food prices increased 0.2% in January, while energy prices climbed 5.1%.
  • Housing: The housing sector continued to advance in January. Sales of existing homes rose 0.6% in January after climbing 0.7% in December. Over the past 12 months, existing home sales increased 23.7%. The median existing-home price was $303,900 in January ($309,800 in December), up 14.1% from January 2020. Unsold inventory of existing homes fell 25.7% from January 2020 and represents a 1.9-month supply at the current sales pace, a record low. Sales of existing single-family homes also increased, climbing 0.2% in January after advancing 1.4% in December. Year over year, sales of existing single-family homes rose 23.0%. The median existing single-family home price was $308,300 in January, up from $272,200 in December.
  • For the ninth consecutive month, new orders for durable goods increased in January, soaring 3.4% following a 1.2% jump in December. Transportation, up eight of the last nine months, led the increase, advancing 7.8%. New orders for aircraft drove the transportation sector. New orders for nondefense aircraft and parts vaulted 389.9% in January, while new orders for defense aircraft and parts climbed 63.5%. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.3% in January (1.4% in December). New orders for capital goods increased 8.5% in January after falling 1.2% in December.
  • Imports and exports: Both import and export prices rose higher in January for the second consecutive month. Import prices climbed 1.4% in January following a 1.0% increase the prior month. The January increase was the largest monthly advance since March 2012. Import fuel prices rose 7.4% in January following an 8.1% increase in December. The price index for exports rose 2.3% for the year ended in January, the largest 12-month increase since the index advanced 3.1% in October 2018. Agricultural export prices increased 6.0% in January following a 0.9% advance in December. Nonagricultural exports rose 2.2% in January, the largest one-month increase since the index was first published monthly in December 1988.
  • International markets: Economic recovery from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been slow to ramp up. The gross domestic product for the Eurozone was at an annualized rate of -0.6% for the fourth quarter and -5.0% for 2020. Within this group, the fourth-quarter GDP for France fell 1.3%, Italy dipped 2.0%, and Austria plunged 4.3%. On the other hand, the fourth-quarter GDP for Germany and Spain advanced 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. In China, the Consumer Price Index increased 1.0% in January, but fell 0.3% year over year. In the markets, the EURO STOXX gained about 3.6% in January; the United Kingdom's FTSE inched up 1.2%; Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 4.7%; and China's Shanghai Composite Index added about 1.0%.

Eye on the Year Ahead

The economy continues to show signs of recovery. Decreasing numbers of COVID cases and increasing distribution of vaccines provide some measure of optimism that some semblance of normalcy is approaching. Focus will be on the FOMC, which meets in March for the first time since January. The Committee could project a timeline for scaling back the quantitative easing that has been in place for more than a year.


The information and opinions in this report were prepared by the ANB Financial Services Division of ANB Bank. Information and opinions have been obtained or derived from sources we consider reliable, but we cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Opinions represent ANB Financial Services opinion as of the date of this article and are for general information purposes only. ANB Financial Services does not undertake to advise you of any change in its opinions or the information contained in this article. Past performance does not indicate future results. The value or income associated may fluctuate. There is always potential for loss, as well as gain. Trust and Investment Services are not insured by the FDIC, Not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the depository institution subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.