Interest Rates, Treasuries,
and Inflation 
WEEKLY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 26, 2018
In This Issue
Last week, the Presidents' Day holiday meant markets were only open for 4 trading days, and during that time, we received comparatively few economic reports. Nonetheless, major domestic indexes showed considerable volatility and posted losses for 3 straight days. By Friday, however, stocks rebounded and ended the week in positive territory. [1]  For the week, the S&P 500 gained 0.55%, the Dow added 0.36%, and the NASDAQ was up 1.35%. [2]  International stocks in the MSCI EAFE lost ground, dropping 0.50% . [3]
What drove market performance last week?

Once again, inflation and interest rates were on many investors' minds. In particular, multiple reports from the Federal Reserve contributed to performance. 

On Wednesday, the Fed released minutes from its January meeting, which indicated that officials had concerns about inflation. [4] The minutes revealed that between rising inflation and economic growth, the Fed sees justification for continued interest-rate increases. In reaction to the news, 10-year Treasury note yields hit their highest level in 4 years. [5]  

How do treasury yields and stock prices affect each other?

To say that the interaction between treasuries and stocks is complex would be an understatement. At its most basic, prices for stocks and bonds usually move in opposite directions. When stock prices go up, bond prices drop - and vice versa. For treasuries and other bonds, yields rise when their prices drop. As a result, when the stock market jumps, treasury yields often do, too. [6]  

Last Wednesday, however, rising yields may have contributed to a drop in the markets. [7] Why?

Some investors become concerned when 10-year Treasury yields hit 3%, since that percentage level has aligned with bear markets for the past several decades. [8] On Wednesday, the yields hit 2.94% - just a sliver away from that "warning" level. [9] 

Please note that the rate-driven analysis triggering this concern is likely far too simple and may not accurately predict what's ahead. [10] With that said, the concern still has the ability to affect investor reactions. 

What happened later in the week?

Friday, the Fed shared more information with a new report on its monetary policy. The details helped allay some investors' fears of interest rates increasing too quickly. In reaction, yields on 10-year Treasury decreased to 2.87% - and the S&P 500 had its largest gain in weeks. [11] 

What's on the horizon? 

After receiving multiple perspectives from the Fed last week - but relatively few new data updates - we should gain significant economic insight this week. From a Gross Domestic Product reading to perspectives on manufacturing and consumer confidence, investors will have many fresh data points to analyze. [12] We will monitor these updates closely and continue to help you stay informed about where the economy stands and what to expect in your financial life .    


ECONOMIC CALENDAR
Monday: New Home Sales
Tuesday: Durable Goods Orders, Consumer Confidence
Wednesday: GDP
Thursday: Motor Vehicle Sales, PMI Manufacturing Index, ISM Mfg Index
Friday: Consumer Sentiment




Notes: All index returns (except S&P 500) exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. The total returns for the S&P 500 assume reinvestment of dividends on the last day of the month. This may account for differences between the index returns published on  Morningstar.com and the index returns published elsewhere. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly .
 


"Integrity is the essence of everything successful."

- R. Buckminster Fuller

Sausage and White Bean Bake

Serves 4

Ingredients:  
  • 8 small sweet Italian sausages, about 1½ pounds
  • 1½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
Directions:  
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 
  2. Heat a large, deep oven-safe skillet over medium heat. 
  3. Mix in 1 tablespoon olive oil and 8 small sweet Italian sausages.
  4. Completely brown the sausages (8 - 10 minutes) and then take them out of the skillet. 
  5. Slice the tomatoes in halves.
  6. Cut up garlic and oregano leaves.
  7. Rinse the cannellini beans.
  8. Put the sliced garlic and oregano mix in the skillet and stir for about 1 minute. 
  9. Add the beans and the dry white wine. Simmer for about a minute.
  10. Put in the low-sodium chicken broth, the tomatoes, and a ¼ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper. 
  11. Add the sausages into the mix and transfer the skillet to the oven.
  12. Cook until the sausages are done completely (8 - 10 minutes).


  Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping[13]
Throwing Your Next Shot  

The goal of the golf swing is to send the ball farther down the fairway - where you want it to go. The speed of the club at impact is arguably the single most important factor in accomplishing that. So, if you can find a way to improve your speed while at the same time maintaining accuracy, you're on your way to the big time.

One PGA Tour player, Kevin Streelman, says the key is in the feel of the swing. The swing should feel like a slinging sidearm throw, not the smash of an axe going into a tree, he says.

Here are some "feeling" tips to put the punch back in your swing:
  • Imagine you're performing an athletic throw. 
  • Do this with your arms in front of your chest during the downswing.
  • In that position, you can compress the ball as you rotate out of the way.
  • Shorten the space between your right elbow and your right hip. 
  • Keep your elbow tucked in close.
The goal is to get the right elbow in the right position so that your upper body turns aggressively enough to make it feel like you're throwing .


Tip adapted from Golf Digest [15]
Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
 
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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 indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

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.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

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[1]  wsj-us.econoday.com/byweek.asp?day=20&month=2&year=2018&cust=wsj-us&lid=0

www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/fed-sees-economy-past-full-employment-but-with-only-moderate-wage-gains.html

[3]  www.msci.com/end-of-day-data-search

[4]  www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-stock-market-investors-need-to-keep-an-eye-on-the-yield-curve-2018-02-22

[5]  www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html

[6]  finance.zacks.com/correlation-treasuries-stocks-10871.html
 
[7] www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-stock-market-investors-need-to-keep-an-eye-on-the-yield-curve-2018-02-22

[8] www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html

[9] www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield

[10] www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-stock-market-investors-need-to-keep-an-eye-on-the-yield-curve-2018-02-22

[11] www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html
 
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-22/asian-stocks-set-to-edge-higher-dollar-slides-markets-wrap

[12] wsj-us.econoday.com/byweek.asp?day=26&month=2&year=2018&cust=wsj-us&lid=0
 
[13]  www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a46936/sausage-and-white-bean-bake-recipe/

[14] www.irs.gov/newsroom/ten-tips-for-choosing-a-tax-preparer
[15] www.golfdigest.com/story/dont-hit-your-next-shot-throw-it
[16] www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-insomnia


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David P. Little & Tyler D. Little
Little & Associates Wealth Management
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