Click HERE for the entire newsletter
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Stocks and bonds rose in the first quarter of 2022. Commodity prices fell. In stocks, there was a reversal, as industries that fell last year did well this year and vice versa.
- The US economy is showing mixed signs with employment still strong but manufacturing, services and the real estate sectors are coming under pressure.
- The Fed has said that curbing inflation is a priority. It has used other tools than interest rates to stabilize the banking sector that came under pressure when a few banks became insolvent.
- The operating earnings of companies in the S&P 500 fell by 5% last year but are expected to increase by 11% in 2023. The forward Price Earnings multiple of the S&P 500 is higher than its 25-year average but historically it has produced a positive return when trading at this multiple.
- The recent collapse of the Silicon Valley bank has many direct and indirect lessons for investors.