Global stocks have done worse than US equities

Clint Sorenson, CFA, CMT WealthShield

"Markets will fluctuate."
- John Pierpont Morgan

This is the last time we will write to you in 2018. The year was interesting, to say the least. We had trade wars, bear markets, bull markets, a Fed tightening, and loads of entertainment out of Washington. From an asset market perspective, cash was king as most asset classes demonstrated weak returns for the year. Stocks started off the year great, climbing in January before correcting more than -10%, and bottoming in the early spring. US stocks then rallied into their September peak, leaving global stocks in the dust as they failed to recover. Since the end of September, stocks have been hit hard. The Wilshire total market index is down over -15% for the quarter and almost - 8% for the year.

Global stocks have done worse than US equities. The MSCI All Country World Ex US index is down over -15% for the year. Bitcoin has been the mother of all bear markets, declining more than 70% this year.

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Author

Clint Sorenson, CFA, CMT

WealthShield

EUR/USD weakens as US jobs data trims Fed rate cut bets

The EUR/USD pair trades in negative territory for the third consecutive day near 1.1860 during the early European session on Thursday. Traders will keep an eye on the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims data. On Friday, the attention will shift to the US Consumer Price Index inflation report.

GBP/USD bullish outlook prevails above 1.3600, UK GDP data looms

The GBP/USD pair gains ground near 1.3635, snapping the two-day losing streak during the early European session on Thursday. The preliminary reading of UK Gross Domestic Product for the fourth quarter will be closely watched later on Thursday. The UK economy is estimated to grow 0.2% QoQ in Q4, versus 0.1% in Q1.

Gold remains on the defensive below two-week top; lacks bearish conviction amid mixed cues

Gold sticks to modest intraday losses through the Asian session on Thursday, though it lacks follow-through selling and remains close to a nearly two-week high, touched the previous day. The commodity currently trades above the $5,070 level, down just over 0.20% for the day, amid mixed cues.

UK GDP set to post weak growth as markets rise bets on March rate cut

Markets will be watching closely on Thursday, when the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics will release the advance estimate of Q4 Gross Domestic Product. If the data land in line with consensus, the UK economy would have continued to grow at an annualised pace of 1.2%, compared with 1.3% recorded the previous year.

The market trades the path not the past

The payroll number did not just beat. It reset the tone. 130,000 vs. 65,000 expected, with a 35,000 whisper. 79 of 80 economists leaning the wrong way. Unemployment and underemployment are edging lower. For all the statistical fog around birth-death adjustments and seasonal quirks, the core message was unmistakable. The labour market is not cracking.

Sonic Labs’ vertical integration fuels recovery in S token

Sonic, previously Fantom (FTM), is extending its recovery trade at $0.048 at the time of writing, after rebounding by over 12% the previous day. The recovery thesis’ strengths lie in the optimism surrounding Sonic Labs’ Wednesday announcement to shift to a vertically integrated model, aimed at boosting S token utility.