2016 in the Rearview Mirror

Every year brings its share of surprises. But how many of us could have imagined that 2016 would see the Chicago Cubs win the World Series, Bob Dylan receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, Donald Trump elected president, Brexit, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing out the year with record highs and only a whisker away from 20,000?

The answer is very few, if any—a lesson you will be wise to remember, as evidenced when looking back at last year.

At year-end 2015, financial optimists seemed in short supply. Not one of the nine investment strategists participating in the January 2016 Barron's Roundtable expected an above-average year for stocks. Six expected US market returns to be flat or negative, while the remaining three predicted returns in single digits at best. Prospects for global markets appeared no better, according to this group, and two panelists were sufficiently gloomy to recommend shorting exchange-traded emerging markets index funds.¹

Results in early January 2016 appeared to confirm the pessimists' viewpoint as markets fell sharply around the world; the S&P 500 Index fell 8% over the first 10 trading sessions alone. The 8.25% loss for the Dow Jones Industrial Average over this period was the biggest such drop throughout the 120-year history of that index.² For fans of the so-called January Indicator, the outlook was grim.

Then things seemingly got worse.

Oil prices fell sharply. Worries about an economic debacle in China re-entered the news cycle. Stock markets in France, Japan, and the UK registered losses of more than 20% from their previous peaks, one customary measure of a bear market.³ Plunging share prices for leading banks had many observers worried that another financial crisis was brewing. As US stock prices fell for a fifth consecutive day on February 11, shares of the five largest US banks slumped nearly 5%, down 23% for 2016.

The Wall Street Journal reported the following day that "bank stocks led an intensifying rout in financial markets."⁴ A USA Today journalist observed that "The persistent pounding global stock markets are taking seems to be taking on a more sinister tone and more dangerous phase, with emotions and fear taking on a bigger role in the rout, investors questioning the ability of the world's central bankers to calm the market's frayed nerves, and a volatile environment in which selling begets more selling."⁵

February 11 marked the low for the year for the US stock market. While prices eventually recovered, as late as June 28 the S&P 500 was still showing a loss for the year. Meanwhile, a number of well-regarded professional investors argued that the next downturn was fast approaching. One prominent activist in May predicted a "day of reckoning" for the US stock market, while another reportedly urged his fellow hedge fund managers at a conference to "get out of the stock market." A third disclosed in August a doubling of his bearish bet on the S&P 500.⁶

Throughout the year, some observers fretted over the pace of the economic recovery. The New York Times reported in July that "Weighed down by anemic business spending, overstocked factories and warehouses, and a surprisingly weak housing sector, the American economy barely improved this spring after its usual winter doldrums."⁷

Despite all of this noise, the S&P 500 returned 11.9% for the year and international stocks⁸ returned 4.4% for US dollar investors (6.9% in local currency⁹), helping to illustrate just how difficult it is to predict, and outguess market prices.

I trust this serves as a sober reminder why embracing sensible, global asset allocation and broad diversification, as guided by your personal financial goals and financial plan, remains the wisest way toward achieving financial security. And, by doing so, you will be able to ignore all of the speculative, most often inaccurate, so-called financial "experts" who will continually fight for your attention in the media.

As we move forward in 2017, let me again remind you to focus on staying committed to your own personal financial plan, assuming you have one, built upon your well-thought-out goals and tolerance for risk. This is what ultimately may allow you to sleep well at night, regardless of the unexpected events that most surely lie ahead.

 

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Sources

1. Lauren Rublin, "Peering into the Future," Barron's, January, 25, 2016.
2. www.djaverages.com, accessed January 6, 2017.
3. Michael Mackenzie, Robin Wigglesworth, and Leo Lewis, "Stock Exchanges across the World Plunge into Bear Market Territory," Financial Times, January 21, 2016.
4. Tommy Stubbington and Margot Patrick, "Banks Drop as Global Rout Deepens," Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2016.
5. Adam Shell, "Market Tumult Charts New Waters," USA Today, February 12, 2016.
6. Dan McCrum and Nicole Bullock, "Growling Bears Provide Soundtrack for Investors," Financial Times, May 21, 2016.
7. Nelson D. Schwartz, "US Economy Stays Stuck in Low Gear," New York Times, July 29, 2016.
8. Source: MSCI. International stocks represented by the MSCI All Country World ex US IMI (net div.).
9. Local currency return calculation represents the price appreciation or depreciation of index constituents and does not account for the performance of currencies relative to a base currency such as the US Dollar. Local currency return is theoretical and cannot be replicated in the real world.

Derived from information provided by Weston Wellington, V.P. Dimensional Fund Advisors

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This content is based upon information believed to be accurate by ISI Financial Group, Inc. However, it should not be relied upon for legal or accounting purposes. You should always use the custodian's brokerage statements as an accurate reflection of your portfolio. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Always seek professional advice before making any financial or legal decisions.