Couple days does not make a trend...
My sense is that the adjustment in expectations to Uncle Ben's comments and the fear around Chinese credit is winding down and we should therefore begin to see a return to lower volatility.
Should we trend up from here and look back in a couple weeks, the S&P 3 year chart will reflect this recent activity as a pretty healthy correction and not dissimilar to the smaller of the two in 2011 (November) and the two in 2012 (April and October). In fact, of these 4, this latest is the smallest in % terms (if complete). Although looking at the chart, we could see further downward pressure all the way to the 200sma is possible.
Macroeconomically, the US is picking up steam, though not enough for rapid withdrawal of QE.
Japan is pumping huge liquidity in to the market.
Europe's monetary policy will remain loose until a proper turn around is apparant, and that is well off.
Africa (ex-SA) is growing solidly.
The BRIC countries are slowing but still growing at a very healthy clip.
Domestically is where we have some problems. Worse case we could drift into a recession, best case we continue to muddle along. Unsecured lending will continue to drag on domestic consumption for awhile. Who knows what the Mandela factor will produce. Labour unrest could spark at a moment's notice.
If I take all these factors into consideration I'm still bullish but am sticking to companies generating good quality earnings and ideally from a diversified geography, with a fair % ex-SA.
SP500 3yr June13.PNG 53.14KB
39 downloads