 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
2nd Quarter 2006 Newsletter
After posting strong returns across the board in the first quarter of the year, the markets bounced around quite a bit during the
second quarter. Several factors contributed to an increase in volatility, including a new Fed chairman, higher oil prices, and
continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
These choppy markets occurred against a backdrop of a growing domestic economy. GDP growth in the 1st Quarter (the most
recent reported period) was a robust 5.6%1, with a portion of this growth due to increased economic activity related to the
rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. While this increased activity is not expected to continue, consensus projections indicate that overall
economic growth is expected to remain in a healthy 3%2 range for the balance of the year.
Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, increased during the second quarter, with the May year-over-year figures
coming in at 4.2%3 overall, and 2.4%4 excluding food and energy. The main drivers for the overall increase were transportation
and energy costs, both of which factor into a myriad of price increases throughout the economy. In response to the threat of
continued inflation, the Fed continued to raise short term interest rates, boosting the Fed Funds rate by .25% at both their May
and June meetings to a current level of 5.25%5.
The S&P 500 Index reached a year-to-date high in May before sliding sharply, then recovering at the end of June to finish the
quarter down 1.44%. Developed international markets, represented by the MSCI-EAFE Index, finished up slightly for the quarter,
while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined by over 4%, reversing what had been strong performance over the past several
quarters.
Within the U.S. markets, small and mid cap growth stocks had a tough quarter, with the technology heavy NASDAQ Composite
declining by 7.01%. Growth stocks in general have struggled throughout the first half of the year, due in part to concerns that
the Federal Reserve will tighten too much and constrict growth in the economy during the balance of the year. Large cap value
stocks, represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index, were the only positive US equity asset class during the quarter with a return
of 0.59%.
Bond investors continue to fight the headwind of continued tightening of 17 consecutive rate increases by the Federal Reserve.
The benchmark for US bond investors, the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, was essentially flat for the quarter at -.08%. Global
bond returns were more attractive, as the Lehman Global Bond Index returned 2.39%.
As we look forward to the second half of 2006, we see several signs of potential opportunity ahead. As noted above, the U.S.
economy is expected to continue to grow at a reasonable rate. In addition, the Federal Reserve may be close to ending their
tightening cycle, which would remove a level of uncertainty from the market. Finally, while ongoing geopolitical events can always
have an unexpected impact on the financial markets, the world’s capital markets have shown remarkable resiliency in the face of
past events and appear to have now “priced” these risk factors into current valuation levels.
Regards,
Robert Valentine
Endnotes:
1 Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce: Gross Domestic Product 1th Quarter 200 Final Release,
June 29, 2006
2 Average of responses for each quarter of 2006 from Bloomberg Monthly U.S. GDP Forecast of the 60 top economists surveyed
by Bloomberg from May 30th – June
7th, 2006.
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Summary Release for the month of May 2006 released on June 14, 2006
4 Ibid
5 Federal Reserve Press Release June 29, 2006 on the actions of Federal Open Market Committee
second quarter. Several factors contributed to an increase in volatility, including a new Fed chairman, higher oil prices, and
continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
These choppy markets occurred against a backdrop of a growing domestic economy. GDP growth in the 1st Quarter (the most
recent reported period) was a robust 5.6%1, with a portion of this growth due to increased economic activity related to the
rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. While this increased activity is not expected to continue, consensus projections indicate that overall
economic growth is expected to remain in a healthy 3%2 range for the balance of the year.
Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, increased during the second quarter, with the May year-over-year figures
coming in at 4.2%3 overall, and 2.4%4 excluding food and energy. The main drivers for the overall increase were transportation
and energy costs, both of which factor into a myriad of price increases throughout the economy. In response to the threat of
continued inflation, the Fed continued to raise short term interest rates, boosting the Fed Funds rate by .25% at both their May
and June meetings to a current level of 5.25%5.
The S&P 500 Index reached a year-to-date high in May before sliding sharply, then recovering at the end of June to finish the
quarter down 1.44%. Developed international markets, represented by the MSCI-EAFE Index, finished up slightly for the quarter,
while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined by over 4%, reversing what had been strong performance over the past several
quarters.
Within the U.S. markets, small and mid cap growth stocks had a tough quarter, with the technology heavy NASDAQ Composite
declining by 7.01%. Growth stocks in general have struggled throughout the first half of the year, due in part to concerns that
the Federal Reserve will tighten too much and constrict growth in the economy during the balance of the year. Large cap value
stocks, represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index, were the only positive US equity asset class during the quarter with a return
of 0.59%.
Bond investors continue to fight the headwind of continued tightening of 17 consecutive rate increases by the Federal Reserve.
The benchmark for US bond investors, the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, was essentially flat for the quarter at -.08%. Global
bond returns were more attractive, as the Lehman Global Bond Index returned 2.39%.
As we look forward to the second half of 2006, we see several signs of potential opportunity ahead. As noted above, the U.S.
economy is expected to continue to grow at a reasonable rate. In addition, the Federal Reserve may be close to ending their
tightening cycle, which would remove a level of uncertainty from the market. Finally, while ongoing geopolitical events can always
have an unexpected impact on the financial markets, the world’s capital markets have shown remarkable resiliency in the face of
past events and appear to have now “priced” these risk factors into current valuation levels.
Regards,
Robert Valentine
Endnotes:
1 Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce: Gross Domestic Product 1th Quarter 200 Final Release,
June 29, 2006
2 Average of responses for each quarter of 2006 from Bloomberg Monthly U.S. GDP Forecast of the 60 top economists surveyed
by Bloomberg from May 30th – June
7th, 2006.
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Summary Release for the month of May 2006 released on June 14, 2006
4 Ibid
5 Federal Reserve Press Release June 29, 2006 on the actions of Federal Open Market Committee
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Robert Valentine, Ca. Insurance License# 0C23496, is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative with Financial and Retirement Management, a Registered Investment Advisor and a
registered representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Financial and Retirement
Management and Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for
informational purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Financial
and Retirement Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any
unaffiliated third party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only.
Financial and Retirement Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither
Financial and Retirement Management or Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
registered representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Financial and Retirement
Management and Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for
informational purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Financial
and Retirement Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any
unaffiliated third party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only.
Financial and Retirement Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither
Financial and Retirement Management or Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
Copyright © 2006 The Money Alert.com. All rights reserved.
An index is a portfolio of specific securities, the performance of which is often used as a benchmark in judging the relative performance of
certain asset classes. Indexes are unmanaged portfolios and investors cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance is no guarantee of
future results. The index returns are all “Total return” with dividends re-invested, which means the return includes not only the change in price
for the securities in the index, but any income generated by those securities. Source: Wilshire Associates.
certain asset classes. Indexes are unmanaged portfolios and investors cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance is no guarantee of
future results. The index returns are all “Total return” with dividends re-invested, which means the return includes not only the change in price
for the securities in the index, but any income generated by those securities. Source: Wilshire Associates.
