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Spring Quarterly Investment Newsletter

April 28, 2016
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Review of Q1 and Start of Q2 2016      
After a rocky start to the year, most stocks ended the first quarter slightly higher, which is remarkable considering the negative sentiment that caused stocks to selloff in the early weeks of 2016. For the quarter, the S&P 500 gained 0.77%, the Dow grew 1.49%, and the NASDAQ fell 2.75%.[1] 
 
Markets faced serious headwinds last quarter due to slowing economic growth around the world. Combined with rising interest rates, a strong dollar, and falling commodities prices, we faced a perfect storm of factors that ticked off a stock market correction. However, after falling by as much as 10.5% earlier in the quarter, the S&P 500 gained 6.8% in March. That's the best performance since October 2015.[2] Given the roller coaster ride we've had this year, the recent gains are a testament to the resilience of investors.

What affected markets in Q1 2016? 
 
Slowing global economic growth. Concerns about overseas growth were responsible for a lot of market activity. China's ongoing economic woes caused major turmoil in markets around the world as investors digested the news that the world's second-largest economy is slowing.[3]

Though China is grappling with a transition away from a manufacturing-centered economy, experts fear that the move won't come without pain.[4] Europe also faced its share of concerns. China's slowing demand for foreign goods will hit European firms harder as many worry about terrorism and the migration crisis currently facing the borderless Schengen region. 
 
Volatile oil prices.  Oil producers faced falling demand and stubbornly high oil supplies, which caused oil prices to plunge.[5] At the end of the quarter, prices appear to have stabilized somewhat as oil-rich nations like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia seek to stabilize prices through cooperation between producers.[6] 
 
The volatility and prolonged lows will likely be felt in energy sector earnings for the first quarter; however, low prices were a boon to consumers. Though gasoline prices will likely rise as refineries switch to summer blends ahead of the peak summer driving season, the average cost per gallon hit a 12-year low in the first quarter. The national average for the quarter was $1.86 per gallon-saving Americans nearly $10 billion, or about $45 per licensed driver. Did Americans plow those gas savings back into the economy through spending? We'll see when spending data for the quarter is released.[7] 
 
Recession worries.  At the beginning of the year, investors became increasingly concerned that global issues could come home to roost in the form of a recession. Though fears of a slowdown are serious, some domestic economic data suggests that a recession may not be nigh.[8] The labor market added 628,000 jobs in the first three months of the year. Other employment factors also improved; the labor force participation rate increased and the number of discouraged workers decreased.[9] Wages also increased 2.25% in March from a year earlier.[10] Consumer spending, which is a significant contributor to U.S. economic growth, also increased, albeit sluggishly.[11] 
 
Central bank actions. Markets also responded to decisions by the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan. While the Fed is working to bring interest rates closer to historic averages, the BOJ and ECB are struggling to stoke economic growth by lowering rates into negative territory and buying up assets.[12] The big questions remain: When will the Fed raise rates again? Do central banks have enough bullets left to fight a global slowdown?
What's in store for Q2 2016? 
After the first quarter's wild ride, we can hope for a smoother second quarter. Current estimates peg U.S. economic growth at 0.7% in the first three months of 2016. That's a big comedown from the 1.4% growth in the fourth quarter, but it's in line with the slow start the economy has experienced in several of the past few years.[13]  Is the economy still at risk of a slowdown? That's very possible, and may depend on how much consumers open their wallets this year.
Gross domestic product (GDP) is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period, though GDP is usually calculated on an annual basis. It includes all of private and public consumption, government outlays, investments, and exports less imports that occur within a defined territory.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis and Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Our view
What can we look forward to in the second quarter? Well, more uncertainty is certain. Though some fears have abated, most of the headwinds are still with us as we head into the second quarter. However, a lot of the potential pain facing the economy may already be priced into markets, and analysts are considerably more optimistic than they were during the rocky ride in January and February.[14] 

If first-quarter results show a rosier picture, then investors could react with a resumption of the rally. A lot depends on what the Federal Reserve has in store for interest rates; currently, the odds favor a June hike.[15] Fed Chair Janet Yellen has struck a dovish tone in recent remarks, indicating that she plans to "proceed cautiously." However, the rosy March jobs report could increase the odds of an April rate hike. We'll know more in the coming weeks.[16] 


David Hanson & Carl Hanson 

IIS Financial Services

Managing Partners 

Financial Advisors

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. 
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 indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. 
 
The S&P U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index contains U.S.- and foreign-issued investment-grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars. 
 
The SPUSCIG launched on April 09, 2013. All information for an index prior to its Launch Date is back-tested, based on the methodology that was in effect on the Launch Date. Back-tested performance, which is hypothetical and not actual performance, is subject to inherent limitations because it reflects application of an Index methodology and selection of index constituents in hindsight. No theoretical approach can take into account all of the factors in the markets in general and the impact of decisions that might have been made during the actual operation of an index. Actual returns may differ from, and be lower than, back-tested returns.
 
The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are the leading measures of U.S. residential real estate prices, tracking changes in the value of residential real estate. The index is made up of measures of real estate prices in 20 cities and weighted to produce the index. 
 
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. 
  
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