Market Commentary – June 2021
The second quarter began with stocks making solid gains in April. COVID vaccines became available to more Americans. The federal government and several states pushed forward with reopening after relaxing many of pandemic-related constraints. Economic data was favorable and encouraging. The first-quarter gross domestic product accelerated at an annualized rate of 6.4%, claims for unemployment slowed, 266,000 new jobs were added, and manufacturing expanded. Price inflation expanded, although the Federal Reserve asserted that it would continue stimulus measures, even if inflation reached and exceeded the Fed's 2.0% target. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid monthly gains, led by the Nasdaq (5.4%), followed by the S&P 500 (5.2%), the Global Dow (2.9%), the Dow (2.7%), and the Russell 2000 (2.1%). Bond prices increased, pulling yields lower. Crude oil prices ended April at $63.50 per barrel after increasing by more than 7.0% from March. The dollar slipped 2.1%, while gold prices rose 3.5%, closing April at $1,788.20 per troy ounce.
Stocks ended May with mixed returns, with the Global Dow (3.59%) and the Dow (1.93%) posting solid gains, while the Nasdaq fell 1.53%. Sector returns varied, with financials, energy, and materials gaining more than 3.0%, while consumer discretionary and information technology dipped more than 2.5%. Long-term Treasury yields decreased marginally, the dollar dropped 1.3%, while crude oil prices continued to climb, gaining nearly 5.0%. Overall, economic data was positive and confirmed that economic growth was accelerating, but not at the pace some may have anticipated. Labor added 266,000 new jobs, well below the nearly 1,000,000 figure some economists predicted. The number of job openings reached its highest level since 2000, which appears to point to a shortage of available workers rather than a slowdown in labor demand. Inflation was the buzzword throughout the month as consumer prices continued to climb, stoking fears that the Federal Reserve would cut back on stimulus measures in place. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.6%, the Consumer Price Index climbed 0.8%, and producer prices increased 0.6%. Nevertheless, Fed officials repeated assurances that the price hikes were temporary due to "transitory supply chain bottlenecks."
Economic recovery continued in June. Stocks closed the month generally higher, with only the Dow and the Global Dow lagging. Tech shares rebounded from a moderate dip in May to push the Nasdaq to a series of record highs in June. Bond prices rose, dragging yields lower. Yields on 10-year Treasuries declined nearly 10 basis points last month. Crude oil prices climbed nearly $7.00 per barrel. Information technology led the sectors, advancing nearly 7.0%, while materials, financials, and consumer staples lost value. The dollar rose, while gold prices dropped. June saw 559,000 new jobs added, with notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing. Inflationary pressures may be peaking as supply-chain pressures that had driven commodity prices higher over the past several months may be easing. Lumber prices fell from record highs and retail vehicle prices may have crested as wholesale auto prices slid. Investor confidence may have been boosted in June with the announcement by President Joe Biden of a bipartisan infrastructure spending package.
Overall, the second quarter was a good one for equities. The Nasdaq gained 9.5%, followed closely by the S&P 500 (8.2%), the Global Dow (4.9%), the Dow (4.6%), and the Russell 2000 (4.1%). Real estate, information technology, energy, and communication services all posted quarterly gains of more than 10.0% to lead the market sectors. Year to date, the Russell 2000 is well ahead of its 2020 year-end closing value, followed by the Global Dow, the S&P 500, the Dow, and the Nasdaq.
Market/Index* | 2020 Close | As of June 30 th | Monthly Change | Quarterly Change | YTD Change |
DIJA | 30,606.48 | 34,502.51 | -0.08% | 4.61% | 12.73% |
NASDAQ | 12,888.28 | 14,503.95 | 3.88% | 9.49% | 12.54% |
S & P 500 | 3,756.07 | 4,297.50 | 2.22% | 8.17% | 14.41% |
Russell 2000 | 1,974.86 | 2,310.55 | 1.82% | 4.05% | 17.00% |
Global Dow | 3,487.52 | 4,001.68 | -1.55% | 4.93% | 14.74% |
Federal Funds | 0.00% – 0.25% | 0.00% – 0.25% | 0 bps | 0 bps | 0 bps |
10-yr Treasury | 0.91% | 1.44% | -14 bps | -30 bps | 53 bps |
*Chart reflects price changes, not total return
Last Month's Economic News
- Employment: Job growth, while positive, is not meeting expectations. There were 559,000 new jobs added in May, below the level predicted by some economists (approximately 650,000). The April figure was revised up from 266,000 to 278,000 — still not quite as robust as had been estimated. Notable job growth in May occurred in leisure and hospitality (+292,000), in public and private education (+87,000), and in health care and social assistance (+45,800). In May, the unemployment rate declined 0.3 percentage point to 5.8% and the number of unemployed persons fell by 496,000 to 9.3 million. These measures are down considerably from their recent highs in April 2020 but remain well above their levels prior to the pandemic (3.5% and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020). Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff declined by 291,000 to 1.8 million. This measure is down considerably from the recent high of 18.0 million in April 2020 but is 1.1 million higher than in February 2020. In May, the number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job was essentially unchanged at 6.6 million but is up by 1.6 million since February 2020. In May, the labor force participation rate inched down 0.1 percentage point to 61.6%, and the employment-population ratio rose 0.1 percentage point to 58.0%. Average hourly earnings increased by $0.15 to $30.33 in May after increasing $0.21 in April. Average hourly earnings are up 2.0% from May 2020. In May, the average work week was 34.9 hours for the third month in a row.
- FOMC/interest rates: The Federal Open Market Committee met in June. The FOMC offered no significant policy changes following that meeting, maintaining the federal funds target rate range at 0.00%-0.25%, while continuing the current quantitative easing monetary policies. There was a change in the Committee's quarterly projections, led by a projected increase in the federal funds rate in 2023. The FOMC continued to stress that current inflationary pressures are transitory and are likely to moderate.
- GDP/budget: According to the third and final estimate, the economy accelerated at an annual rate of 6.4% in the first quarter of 2021 after advancing 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, increased 11.4% in the first quarter after rising 2.3% in the prior quarter. Nonresidential (business) fixed investment climbed 11.7% following a 13.1% increase in the fourth quarter; residential fixed investment continued to advance, increasing 13.1% in the first quarter after climbing 36.6% in the previous quarter. Federal nondefense government expenditures climbed 45.0% following a fourth-quarter decline of 8.9% primarily due to added federal stimulus payments and aid.
- According to the third and final estimate, the economy accelerated at an annual rate of 6.4% in the first quarter of 2021 after advancing 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, increased 11.4% in the first quarter after rising 2.3% in the prior quarter. Nonresidential (business) fixed investment climbed 11.7% following a 13.1% increase in the fourth quarter; residential fixed investment continued to advance, increasing 13.1% in the first quarter after climbing 36.6% in the previous quarter. Federal nondefense government expenditures climbed 45.0% following a fourth-quarter decline of 8.9% primarily due to added federal stimulus payments and aid.
- Inflation/consumer spending: Inflationary pressures continued to advance in May. According to the latest Personal Income and Outlays report, consumer prices edged up 0.4% in May after advancing 0.6% in both March and April. Prices have increased 3.9% since May 2020. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose 0.5% in May (0.7% in April) and 3.4% since May 2020. Personal income decreased 0.2% in May after falling 13.1% in April. Disposable personal income dropped 2.3% in May following a 14.6% drop in April. The drop in personal income in May generally reflected a decrease in government assistance benefits, as both economic impact payments to households and pandemic unemployment compensation payments to individuals lessened. Consumer spending was essentially unchanged in May from the previous month.
- The Consumer Price Index climbed 0.6% in May following a 0.8% increase in April. Over the 12 months ended in May, the CPI rose 5.0% — the largest 12-month increase since a 5.4% increase for the period ended in August 2008. Core prices, excluding food and energy, advanced 0.7% in May and are up 3.8% over the last 12 months. Prices for used cars and trucks continued to rise sharply, increasing 7.3% in May. This increase accounted for about one-third of the overall CPI increase. Food prices increased 0.4% in May, the same increase as in April. Energy prices were unchanged in May.
- Prices that producers receive for goods and services continued to climb in May, increasing 0.8% after advancing 0.6% in April. Producer prices increased 6.6% for the 12 months ended in May, the largest yearly gain since November 2010 when 12-month data was first calculated. Producer prices less foods, energy, and trade services rose for the thirteenth consecutive month after advancing 0.7% in May. Food prices rose 2.6% and energy prices increased 2.2% in May.
- Housing: Over the past several months, residential sales have slowed. In May, sales of existing homes fell for the fourth consecutive month, declining 0.9% after decreasing 2.7% in April. Nevertheless, over the past 12 months, existing home sales increased 44.6%. The median existing-home price was $350,300 in May ($341,600 in April), up 23.6% from May 2020. Unsold inventory of existing homes represented a 2.5-month supply in May, slightly higher than the 2.4-month supply in April. Sales of existing single-family homes decreased 1.0% in May following a 3.2% drop in April. Year over year, sales of existing single-family homes rose 24.4%. The median existing single-family home price was $356,600 in May, up from $347,400 in April.
- New single-family home sales declined in May for the second consecutive month. New home sales fell 5.9% in May, the same decrease as in April. Sales of new single-family homes have increased 9.2% from May 2020. The median sales price of new single-family houses sold in May was $374,400 ($372,400 in April). The May average sales price was $430,600 ($435,400 in April). The inventory of new single-family homes for sale in May represents a supply of 5.1 months at the current sales pace, up from the April estimate of 4.4 months.
- Manufacturing: Industrial production increased 0.8% in May after advancing 0.7% the previous month. Manufacturing output increased 0.9% in May following a 0.4% increase in April. In May, mining increased 1.2% (0.7% in April) and utilities rose 0.2% (2.6% in April). Total industrial production in May was 16.3% higher than its year-earlier level, but it was 1.4% below its pre-pandemic (February 2020) level.
- New orders for durable goods increased 2.3% in May after falling 0.8% in April. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, climbing 7.6% in May. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.3% in May. Excluding defense, new orders rose 1.7%. New orders for capital goods advanced 4.2% in May following a 0.8% increase in April. New orders for nondefense capital goods increased 2.7% in May, while new orders for defense capital goods rose 17.4%.
- Imports and exports: Both import and export prices rose in May for the sixth consecutive month. Import prices climbed 1.1% following a 0.8% advance in April. Import prices rose 11.3% over the 12 months ended in May, the largest 12-month advance since a 12.7% increase for the 12 months ended in September 2011. Import fuel prices increased 4.0% in May following a 1.6% jump in April. Import fuel prices advanced 109.6% for the year ended in May. Nonfuel import prices climbed 0.9% in May following a 0.7% advance in April. Export prices increased 2.2% in May after climbing 1.1% in April. For the year ended in May, the price index for exports rose 17.4%, the largest 12-month increase since the index was first published in September 1983. Agricultural export prices increased 6.1% in May following a 0.6% advance in April. Nonagricultural exports rose 1.7% in May after increasing 1.2% in April.
- International markets: While the Federal Reserve continues to preach patience when it comes to rising inflationary pressures, other countries may not be waiting to respond. The Bank of Mexico increased its interbank rate 25 basis points to 4.25%, citing the jump in the U.S. Consumer Price Index. On the other hand, the Bank of England held its monetary policy stance unchanged, with the bank rate at 0.1%. Elsewhere, the Eurozone continued to reopen its economy, but at a slower pace than in the United States primarily due to the slower start of COVID-19 vaccinations. Eurozone manufacturing expanded in June. The IHS Markit Eurozone Composite PMI® increased from 57.1 in May to 59.2 in June. The Japanese economy has taken longer to recover. In the markets for June, the STOXX Europe 600 Index gained about 2.3%; the United Kingdom's FTSE rose 1.1%; Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2%; and China's Shanghai Composite Index declined nearly 1.2%.
Eye on the Year Ahead
Economic data for the second quarter in general, and for June in particular, was generally positive. Heading into the third quarter of the year, the first estimate of the second-quarter gross domestic product is available in July. The economy accelerated at an annualized rate of 6.4% in the first quarter. Employment data for June is also out this month. May saw 559,000 new jobs added and the unemployment rate dip to 5.8%.
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