By: Sean Schmid, Chief Operating Officer – Penn Investment Advisors
Weekly Update – March 16, 2020
The Week on Wall Street
Markets remained exceptionally volatile, buffeted by the spreading impact of coronavirus, uncertain responses from federal policymakers, and the sudden drop in oil prices.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 10.36%, while the S&P 500 declined 8.79%. The Nasdaq Composite index slid 8.18% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, dropped 17.75%.[1],(2)
Markets Grapple with Uncertainty
A dispute between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil production cuts, mounting fears of the coronavirus, the declaration of the COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, and the news of a travel ban from Europe unsettled markets throughout the week.
Stock trading was halted twice by circuit breakers, which are designed to briefly stop trading when losses in the S&P 500 reach 7%. Stocks sold off sharply Thursday before ending a tumultuous week with a strong rebound on Friday.[3]
Troubles in the Oil Patch
The failure of Russia to join Saudi Arabia in supporting lower oil production targets left Saudi Arabia fuming. In response, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to raise oil output.
Oil prices plummeted on the news, contributing to the stock market’s drop on Monday. While lower oil prices may represent a boon to consumers in the form of lower gasoline prices and relief to companies with high energy consumption (e.g., airlines, chemical), they also pose a risk to the American energy industry. If low oil prices persist, it may lead to lower capital expenditures and potential issues in the credit markets, as less-well-capitalized companies struggle to manage their debt obligations.[4]
Final Thought
The world’s central bankers have already taken several steps to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus, including lowering short-term interest rates. The financial markets are now looking for a response from the U.S. government. In evaluating any actions from the federal government, investors may focus on the size and timing of policy proposals to determine if they can reduce current levels of economic uncertainty.
The Week Ahead – Key Economic Data:
Tuesday: Retail Sales, JOLTS Report (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey), Industrial Production
Wednesday: Housing Starts, FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) Announcement
Thursday: Leading Economic Indicators
Friday: Existing Home Sales
Source: Econoday / Federal Reserve, March 13, 2020. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons, including the shutdown of the government agency or change at the private institution that handles the material
The Week Ahead – Companies Reporting Earnings:
Monday: Coupa Software (Coup)
Tuesday: FedEx Corp. (FDX), MongoDB (MDB)
Wednesday: General Mills (GIS), Ctrip.com (TCOM)
Thursday: Tencent Holdings (TCEHY), Lennar (LEN)
Friday: Tiffany & Co. (TIF), BMW (BAMXF)
Source: Zacks, March 13, 2020, Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Tax Tips
Missed the Tax Deadline? Here’s What to Do
April 15 was the tax filing deadline for most people in 2020. If you didn’t file a tax return or an extension to file, it’s not too late to take action. Here’s what you can do:
File and pay soon. If you owe taxes, you should file and pay as soon as you can to minimize the interest and penalties that you will owe on any taxes due.
Pay as much as you can. If you owe taxes but can’t pay in full, you should pay as much as you can when you file your tax return.
Remember your refund. If you are owed a refund, you should file as soon as possible to get it. If you don’t file your return within three years, you could lose your right to the refund.
For more information on filing late taxes, speak to a qualified tax professional.
* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional. Tip adapted from IRS.gov[5]
Investment advisory services are provided through Penn Investment Advisors, Inc. (PIA), a Registered Investment Adviser. PIA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn Community Bank (Bank). Investment products, securities and services offered by PIA are not a deposit of, or obligation of, or guaranteed by the Bank, or an affiliate of the Bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any agency of the United States, the Bank, or any affiliate of the bank and involve investment risk, including the possibility of loss of principal.
Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.
International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
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[1] https://www.wsj.com/market-data
[2] https://quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices
[5] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-opens-2020-filing-season-for-individual-filers-on-jan-27