U.S. Markets
Renewed fears of higher rates and economic weakening, coupled with a tough talk by Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials, sent stocks lower in August.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4.06% whereas the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 4.24%. The Nasdaq Composite lost 4.64%.1
A Strong Start
August started off well enough, building on the summer rally over the course of the month’s first two weeks.
Investor sentiment was lifted by a surprisingly strong employment report that saw the economy add 528,000 jobs in July and later by a better-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) report that saw inflation decelerate slightly.2,3
Earnings Update
A fresh batch of positive earnings surprises provided an additional boost for stocks.
Overall, the earnings season turned out to be better than what many investors had expected.
With 97% of the companies comprising the S&P 500 reporting, 78% reported earnings that exceeded Wall Street analysts estimates.4
The fuel for the stock market’s rebound since the mid-June low was, in part, the belief that the Fed may ease up on the pace and magnitude of interest rate hikes owing to early signs that inflation may be cooling.
Powell’s Hammer
But Fed Chair Powell’s much-anticipated speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium rattled investors.
By the time Powell finished his speech on the morning of August 26th, the market was in full-on retreat.
Powell’s comments did not include anything investors hadn’t already heard, but the forcefulness with which he communicated the Fed’s commitment to lowering inflation struck many investors as especially hawkish.
The market’s month-to-date gains disappeared following the speech as Powell appeared to end any investor hope of a pivot by the Fed.
Stocks added to their losses in the month’s final days as investors confronted a monetary policy landscape that potentially offered little relief from further Fed interest rate hikes.
Sector Scorecard
Most industry sectors ended lower for the month, including Communications Services (-3.5%), Consumer Discretionary (-4.5%), Consumer Staples (-1.8%), Financials (-1.96%), Health Care (-5.77%), Industrials (-2.83%), Materials (-3.48%), Real Estate (-5.62%), and Technology (-6.21%).
The Energy (+2.65%) and Utilities sectors (+0.53%) registered a monthly gain.5
What Investors May Be Talking About in September
In the month ahead, all eyes will be on the Fed again when it meets in late September.
After two consecutive 75 basis point hikes in June and July, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will once again be meeting to consider what’s next for short-term rates.
The outcome of this meeting, scheduled for September 20–21, appears more certain following Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech.
But the Fed has indicated that any potential rate hike will depend upon the economic data leading up to the meeting.
Some see the second consecutive quarter of GDP contraction and declining energy, metals, and food input costs influencing the Fed’s decision.
Others believe that comments in August by Powell and other Fed officials that the inflation fight is not over may have thrown cold water on that hope.
World Markets
Weakening economies in Western Europe and China rippled through overseas markets, with the MSCI-EAFE Index falling 4.61% last month.6
Losses were posted across European markets, including France (-5.02%), Germany (-4.81%), and the U.K. (-1.88%).7
Pacific Rim markets fared%, but still ended the month mixed. Hong Kong lost 1.0% while Australia picked up 0.60%.8
Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.6% in the second quarter, an improvement from the initial estimate of a 0.9% contraction.9
Employment
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 528,000 in July, which was double the consensus estimate. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%, while average worker wages rose 5.2% from a year ago.10
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.6% in the second quarter, an improvement from the initial estimate of a 0.9% contraction.9
Employment
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 528,000 in July, which was double the consensus estimate. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%, while average worker wages rose 5.2% from a year ago.10
Housing
Housing starts declined 9.6% in July, as higher costs and mortgage rates pinched new construction activity.13
Existing home sales fell 5.9% from the sales in June, as higher interest rates weighed on buyer affordability. It was the sixth consecutive month that existing home sales have declined. Despite the softness, the median sales price rose 10.8% from 12 months ago.14
New home sales dropped to their lowest level since 2016, falling 12.6% in July. Compared with those a year ago, sales are down by 29.6%.15
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Consumer prices eased in July but remained near record highs as the CPI rose 8.5% year-over-year.16
Durable Goods Orders
Durable goods orders were unchanged from the previous month, though were higher by 1.2% when excluding% orders.17
The Fed
Minutes from July’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting reflected a broad consensus among Fed officials that additional rate hikes were still required to combat elevated inflation, though acknowledging economic weakness may temper the size and pacing of such hikes.18
“Regarding developments abroad, central banks in advanced foreign economies had quickened the pace of policy tightening in order to address above-target inflation,” according to the July meeting minutes. “Eight advanced-economy central banks raised their policy rates over the period.”1
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1. WSJ.com, August 31, 2022
2. WSJ.com, August 5, 2022
3. CNBC.com, August 10, 2022
4. LipperAlpha.refinitiv.com, August 26, 2022
5. SectorSPDR.com, August 31, 2022
6. MSCI.com, August 31, 2022
7. MSCI.com, August 31, 2022
8. MSCI.com, August 31, 2022
9. FoxBusiness.com, August 25, 2022
10. CNBC.com, August 5, 2022
11. WSJ.com, August 17, 2022
12. MarketWatch.com, August 16, 2022
13. WSJ.com, August 16, 2022
14. WSJ.com, August 18, 2022
15. FoxBusiness.com, August 23, 2022
16. CNBC.com, August 10, 2022
17. WSJ.com, August 24, 2022
18. WSJ.com, August 17, 2022
19. Federal.Reserve.gov, August 17, 2022
20. Constitutioncenter.org, March 29, 2022
21. Venturacollege.edu, March 29, 2022
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