Don’t Fight the Fed - a Good Stepping off Point

Summary:

·         The Federal Reserve continues to tighten monetary conditions by raising the Federal Funds Rate,

·         The Federal Reserve continues to remove liquidity from the system, and

·         The recent increase in stock prices is a rally within an overall bear trend in my opinion.

The following chart (www.stockcharts.com) illustrates the point, the S&P 500 Index is in a bear trend and rallies in 2022 have eventually failed.  Don’t fight the Fed, given that the Fed continues to raise rates and there are recession drumbeats in the distance we expect that this rally will likely fail and in hindsight be an opportunity for investors to reduce risk.

When looking at the S&P 500 Index over three years we can see that the index revisited 2020 levels a few weeks ago, some could say that the index looks like it has a chance to lose all of 2021’s gains and possibly head towards losing all or part of 2020’s gains.  In my opinion that is likely if there is a recession in 2023. The following chart (www.stockcharts.com) illustrates my point.

For investors who are concerned about capital preservation they can consider reviewing their exposure stocks at this point.  In my opinion caution is warranted.

LPL 1-05349846

DEFINITIONS

S&P 500 Index - The modern design of the S&P 500 stock index was first launched in 1957. Performance back to 1950 incorporates the performance of predecessor index, the S&P 90.  The index is a capitalization weighted index of the 500 large companies listed on various stock exchanges (such as the NYSE or NASDAQ).  The S&P 500 was developed and continues to be maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, a joint venture majority-owned by S&P Global.  The S&P 500 differs from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite index, because of its diverse constituency and weighting methodology. It is one of the most followed equity indices, and many consider it one of the best representations of the U.S. stock market.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

This correspondence expresses the opinions and views of the author as of the date indicated and are based on the author's interpretation of the concepts therein and may be subject to change without notice.  Neither Highcroft Investment Advisors, Gerald Asplund, nor LPL Financial, has no duty or obligation to update the information contained herein. 

The information contained herein does not constitute and should not be construed as representation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or related financial instruments in any jurisdiction.  To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security.  This memorandum is being made available for educational purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose.

Some of the statements may be regarded as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to uncertainty.  Forward-looking statements may include assumptions relating to future investment and economic scenarios.  When used herein, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “going forward”, “intend”, “may”, “ought to”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect an opinion relating to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance or developments. Reliance on any forward-looking statements involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and events may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors.   Accordingly, you should be prudent with your reliance on any forward-looking information or statements.

Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Any investment or investment strategy outlined herein are not suitable for all investors, readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment prior to investing.  Wherever there is the potential for profit there is also the possibility of loss.  No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.  International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.  The fast price swings in commodities and currencies can result in significant volatility within an investor's holdings.

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Certain information contained herein concerning economic trends, fundamentals, and/or technical analysis, and performance is based on or derived from information provided by independent third-party sources.  The economic forecasts set forth in this material may not develop as predicted. 

Technical analysis is generally based on the study of price movement, volume, sentiment, and trading flows in an attempt to identify and project price trends. Technical analysis does not consider the fundamentals of the underlying corporate issuer.  

The sources from which information has been obtained is assumed to be reliable; the accuracy of such information is not guaranteed and the accuracy and completeness of such information has not been independently verified.

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Don’t Fight The Fed, Bear Market Rally is an Opportunity to Reduce Risk