Stocks fell slightly in April.
The main culprit behind the fall is inflation, which refuses to go down. Inflation is running at 3-4%, above central banks’ 2% targets.
www.clevelandfed.org/indicators-and-data/inflation-nowcasting
Because of persistent inflation, interest rates increased last month, putting pressure on stock valuations.
tradingeconomics.com/united-states/government-bond-yield
Why is inflation running above the target? The answer is the strong economy in the US.
www.apolloacademy.com/why-is-the-economy-still-so-strong-2/
The US is doing well because:
1. In the US, many people and companies borrow at fixed rates, so higher interest rates have had little impact on them. Many have even benefited, by earning more interest income on their savings.
2. The US government is stimulating the economy.
3. The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, has not spoiled the party by trying to aggressively cool down the economy.
I believe the economy will continue to do well for a few more months. Leading indicators show the economy is still strengthening, while the US political calendar means the Federal Reserve will want to retain a stimulative bias until the November presidential elections.
www.oecd.org/sdd/leading-indicators/short-term-indicators-dashboard.htm
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/01/business/economy/federal-reserve-presidential-election.html
Thus, I stay long stocks which benefit from an improving economy.
2024 performance
@triangulacapital +24.5%
$SWDA.L +6.7%
Portfolio changes
Shell and HSBC were sold, Standard Chartered and Prudential bought.