I hope April finds you and yours doing well!
As we move into the second quarter of 2021, I wanted to share an update on the market and provide you with the latest developments and trends.
Blue Chips Lead the Way
U.S. Equity markets steadily rose in mostly low-volatility trade throughout March. The broad-based S&P 500 added 4.2% in March and finished the month just shy of its all-time closing high of 3974.55. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw even better performance, tacking on 6.6% in March to finish at 32981.60–right behind its all-time high of 33171.40. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index has continued to lag compared to its counterparts, adding 1.4% in March, which is distant from its all-time high set in mid-February.
The rotation away from tech and into large-cap, dividend-paying names also continued throughout last month; however, on the final day of first-quarter trade, the Nasdaq 100 surged 1.5%, entrenching itself into the green for the month and far outperforming the other major averages. End-of-quarter bargain hunting, book squaring, and short covering may have been on display for the final trading day of Q1 2021.
April with bang! The S&P 500 recently topped 4,000 for the first time ever and continues to reach new highs. It took sixty-four years to get there – the index as we know it today began on March 4, 1957 – and we’ve had to weather market bubbles, bear markets, and recessions to see it. Frankly, it’s astonishing that it happened this soon. After all, it was just over a year ago that the markets crashed due to the onset of the pandemic.
$2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
On the final day of March, the Biden administration released some details surrounding their proposed $2 trillion infrastructure plan. Corporations will foot some of this bill, with a proposed corporate tax hike from the current 21% level to 28%. The plan aims to support electric vehicles, clean energy, continued building of broadband, and updating the country’s roads, bridges, and rails.
The plan has been met with a hefty dose of skepticism from fiscal conservatives as spending with colossal price tags continues. Combined with recent inflation and rising interest rates, the significant spending is drawing ire from many proponents of free markets. That said, the infrastructure spending plan should create opportunities for investors.
Interest Rates Continue Rising
The theme of higher rates continues, with the benchmark 10-Year note yield surpassing 1.74% at the end of March. Equities have remained mostly resilient in light of these higher rates. Technology stocks seem to have the largest negative correlation to rising interest rates.
April is historically a strong month for the S&P 500, with the index gaining in 14 of the past 15 years. Will 2021 follow the pattern? Stay tuned.
How Is Everything Going?
Have your investment objectives remained the same? If there are any current market themes that you are looking to discuss or are seeking to make any adjustments based on the new administration or spending plans, please feel free to reach out to me. As always, I am here when you need me 631-393-2888.