Pullback & Job Growth

Quote of the Week

“Make the most of yourself…for that is all there is of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tech Corner

Last week the S&P 500 was up +0.84%, the Dow was up +1.85%, the Nasdaq was down -2.05%, and the MSCI EAFE was down -0.45%. For the year, the S&P 500 is up + 2.56%, the Dow is up +3.29%, the Nasdaq is up +0.37%, and the MSCI EAFE is up +0.37%. The markets have pulled back from their all-time historical highs.

What I really find interesting is the pullback of the Nasdaq index. The “story” and the “stay at home” stocks have been hammered over the last few weeks. The Nasdaq is down today (Monday) -15.8% from its all-time high on February 12, including FANG, which has been a key driver in the S&P being up.

We are still in Quad II and we are still bullish on the markets.

Larry’s Thoughts

Monthly Job Growth and the New Stimulus Bill

The good news is that the US economy is coming back. We had a pleasant surprise last month as fewer new COVID cases and loosening restrictions increased labor demand. Restaurants and bars accounted for more than half of the net gains with 286,000 jobs being added. That sector had been hit the hardest by the virus.

US manufacturing increased for the ninth straight month and reached a post-COVID high contributing to the demand for labor. The ISM Manufacturing Index rose to over 60 on a scale of 0-100. Anything above 50 is considered expansion and anything below 50 is considered contraction. The score of 60 is exceptionally high. Add to that the US Senate passed $1.9 trillion in new stimulus which will certainty increase demand. Plus, add to that the $1.85 trillion sitting in consumer’s savings accounts. The success of the vaccines is making it possible to have a huge wave of spending coming soon.

The one negative in investors’ eyes is that all this demand will increase inflation. We agree that we will have increased inflation. Since June of last year, we have positioned the portfolio to take advantage of that inflation. We are not concerned about increased inflation because the Fed doesn’t seem to see it as a problem because they are more concerned about getting the economy back to normal. They can deal with inflation later by raising short term interest rates.

So, we are going to stay bullish until we aren’t. We trust in the math.

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It would be the honor of Laurence Lof Financial Advisors to assist them.

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These are Larry Lof’s opinions and not necessarily those of Cambridge, are for informational purposes only and should not be construed or acted upon as individualized investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Due to our compliance review process, delayed dissemination of this commentary occurs.

The S&P 500 index of stocks compiled by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Index includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. Indices mentioned are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

Technical analysis represents an observation of past performance and trend, and past performance and trend are no guarantee of future performance, price, or trend. The price movements within capital markets cannot be guaranteed and always remain uncertain. The allocation discussed herein is not designed based on the individual needs of any one specific client or investor. In other words, it is not a customized strategy designed on the specific financial circumstances of the client. Please consult an advisor to discuss your individual situation before making any investments decision. Investing in securities involves risk of loss. Further, depending on the different types of investments, there may be varying degrees of risk including loss of original principal.

Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Laurence Lof Financial Advisors, LLC are not affiliated. Laurence Lof Financial Advisors 4757 E Camp Lowell Drive Tucson AZ 85712 info@lofadvisors.com

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