Show Me The Money: Markets Shrug Off Political Violence
Nervous about today’s political turmoil? Wall Street isn’t. That’s because there’s really only one party in America: the business party.
As President Calvin Coolidge famously said in 1927: “The chief business of the American people is business.”
Sure, as I survey the horrific state of contemporary politics in America, I harbor grave concerns about the social fabric of our country. But those concerns don’t extend to my portfolio. It requires emotional self-discipline, but you need to maintain the same dichotomy. Forget red and blue. The preponderant ideology in the USA is green.
Relying on political developments for investment decisions is a misguided approach. Political climates shift and poll numbers fluctuate, but the true determinants of market performance are the underlying fundamental and technical indicators.
There’s essentially one dominant force in America: the pursuit of profit. I offer no value judgments. I’m just stating the facts. The cost to our souls, communities and environment is another topic for another day.
Investors should not be swayed by political headlines, even those as shocking as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
For those who yearn for greater civility (and I am one of those people), it’s worth remembering that political violence is, regrettably, endemic to America (see the following graphic):
Over the weekend, the nation was shaken by the violent events at a presidential rally, but the financial markets maintained their composure. All four major equity indices posted strong gains on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, the NASDAQ, and the Russell 2000 all ending the trading session in positive territory.
Investors’ risk appetite has remained robust, reflected by a stable U.S. dollar and a notable rise in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC). In addition to being a growth investment, crypto also is seen as a hedge during crises.
Trump’s announcement of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential candidate did little to disrupt the markets. Vance, a rising star in the Republican party, is seen as a strategic choice. (Never mind the fact that Vance once referred to Trump as “America’s Hitler.”) Betting markets have responded, showing increased odds of a Trump victory now nearing 69%.
If you’re a Democrat, you’re reaching for the Prozac right now. But Wall Street doesn’t care who occupies the White House. In both Republican and Democratic regimes, top advisors are invariably culled from corporate suites.
Alumni from investment banking powerhouse Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) typically exert outsized influence in any administration. Wags in Washington refer to the firm as “Government Sachs.”
Trump’s economic policies, focused on tax cuts, deregulation, and potential tariff hikes, are generally seen as pro-growth. However, these policies also carry the risk of inflation.
The bond market has reacted to the heightened probability of Trump’s re-election with a steepening yield curve. Longer-dated Treasury yields have risen more than short-dated ones, indicating potential reflationary pressures.
Yet, policy changes require time and can be delayed by political gridlock. What’s more, recent U.S. inflation data has been lower than expected, prompting markets to anticipate two to three Federal Reserve rate cuts by the end of the year. Historically, this trend also has led to a steepening yield curve.
Despite continuing political strife and the forthcoming conventions and primaries, market fundamentals remain the key drivers of financial markets. The macroeconomic environment, characterized by cooling but positive economic growth, easing inflation, and an anticipated rate-cutting cycle by the Fed, continues to support the markets. The S&P 500 has already risen nearly 18% this year, reaching 37 new all-time highs.
A major tailwind is corporate earnings growth. The projected second quarter year-over-year earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 is a robust 8.8%, according to the latest data from research firm FactSet.
In this context, while market volatility is inevitable, the equity markets appear well-supported. As I’ve written in previous columns, I expect market leadership to diversify, with corporate earnings growth driving performance across sectors.
As rates and inflation fall amid economic expansion, cyclical sectors (e.g., industrials and consumer discretionary) are poised to come to the fore.
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This article previously appeared on Investing Daily.