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Oil Prices Fuel Market Jitters: 3 Points on the Latest Market Moves

By: Craig Fehr, CFA March 09, 2020

"the economy entered this situation with a clean bill of health. Labor market conditions were the best in decades, housing activity was on the rise, and financial conditions for consumers and businesses were favorable. The recent plunge in interest rates has positive implications for consumer and business financing costs as well as housing conditions. Refinance activity has surged, which will help put more money in consumers’ pockets."

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Oil prices dropped more than 20% Monday (March 9) following a breakdown in OPEC production talks over the weekend, adding to the coronavirus anxiety in the markets. Equities are down sharply Monday, extending the pullback that began in mid-February, with the rush into lower-risk investments (Treasury bonds, gold) pushing interest rates to all-time lows.

Oil prices and virus containment measures pose credible headwinds that will impact near-term growth, but in our view, markets are trading much more on fear and emotion (as they tend to do periodically), which raises the importance for investors to take a more rational, disciplined approach.

Markets may feel like a roller coaster: The ups and downs are likely to continue as the situation evolves. But history and experience have shown us that tightening your seatbelt and keeping your eye on the horizon are generally more effective than trying to exit mid-ride. Here are a few points to consider about the latest market moves:

1. Big moves are producing big moves.

The latest wrinkle in the stock market correction has come from the oil market, with crude prices experiencing their largest daily drop in nearly 30 years. With Russia failing to agree to proposed OPEC production cuts (reducing supply to support prices), Saudi Arabia announced retaliatory price cuts and production increases, which pose significant challenges for other global producers, including the U.S.

Monday’s historic drop in oil prices threatens investment, employment and financial stability in the energy industry, which is adding to the virus-related uncertainties for the economy. This is further weighing on stock prices, with the S&P 500 off more than 17% from the mid-February highs.1 In turn, stock market worries are prompting significant demand for lower-risk Treasury bonds, pushing the 10-year rate to an all-time low below 0.40%. The sight of 10-year yields at these levels is adding to the feedback loop of higher volatility driving lower stock prices, which drives lower rates, which then drives higher volatility.

Investors can take comfort in the fact that:

a) These types of episodes don’t as a rule last indefinitely, and
b) The fundamental underpinnings of the economy are not declining in a manner or rate that stock price and interest rate movements seem to suggest.

2. There are two sides to this story.

We think the economy will take a meaningful hit in the near term. Efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus – such as adjusted work schedules, school closings, delayed business investments and altered consumer spending habits – are likely to produce a temporary contraction in GDP. Given the increased role of energy production within the U.S. economy in recent years, the news of a budding oil price war will add to the near-term headwinds as investment and employment in the energy industry are impacted.

However, some of these factors have beneficial effects as well. First, the economy entered this situation with a clean bill of health. Labor market conditions were the best in decades, housing activity was on the rise, and financial conditions for consumers and businesses were favorable. The recent plunge in interest rates has positive implications for consumer and business financing costs as well as housing conditions. Refinance activity has surged, which will help put more money in consumers’ pockets.

The drop in oil prices offers another boost to consumers’ disposable income via lower prices at pump, as well as lowering some input costs that can help keep inflation low. To that end, the Federal Reserve has responded with rate cuts and is likely to lower rates even further from here. While none of these will halt the virus impacts in the coming weeks, we believe they do set the stage for the economy to rebound smartly as the temporary effects of the coronavirus ultimately pass.

3. We’ve been here before.

This pullback shouldn’t be dismissed, but times like these require perspective:

  • The stock market was here as recently as the beginning of 2019, and this is the fourth pullback of more than 15% over the past decade. Market corrections always feel unsettling, but recognizing they are a normal part of long-term investing can help with rational decisions amid irrational market moves.
  • This volatility may feel like 2008-2009; however, conditions are notably different today. The uncertainty is playing out in real time in the markets, but economic conditions won’t move as fast or as severely, in our view.
  • Oil prices fell 76% (as low as $26) from 2014 to 2016. This decline was a catalyst for a stock market correction but was followed by a strong rebound over the next few years. Oil prices also fell more than 50% in 1990-1991. The stock market fell into correction as well but began its rebound well before oil prices bottomed.2

In our view, diversification and a long-term approach show their greatest value in times like these. Balanced portfolios are not mirroring the daily swings in the stock market.ᵌ While the headlines and the market seem to be changing rapidly, your financial goals likely aren’t. Ensure your goals are the guide as you make decisions. Times of fear and volatility in the markets have historically presented opportunities for investors who leverage the advantage of time and a longer-term perspective.

 

Important Information:

 

1 As of Monday morning, March 9.

2 Past performance is not an indication of what will happen in the future.

3 Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets.

https://www.edwardjones.com/market-news-guidance/guidance/oil-prices.html