Have the storm clouds passed?

August to October was undoubtedly a gloomy period for investors, who had to contend with three straight months of stock declines. But as we turn into November, the storm clouds appear to have lifted and the forecast has shifted to a sunnier outlook for investors.

So, what’s behind this shift in market conditions and is it just a temporary gap in the storm? Here’s what may be on the radar for stocks as we move into the year-end:

The August-to-October drawdown, explained

By the end of October, it was clear that investors had somewhat soured on stocks. The generally positive momentum across the stock market in the first half of 2023 — driven principally by mega-cap tech firms like Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple — had finally worn thin, with broader averages hitting five-month lows by the end of October.

This negative outlook was due to a confluence of dynamics: Inflation was moderating slowly, interest rates had climbed aggressively, recession risks loomed and earnings growth (while improving this year) faced added headwinds in the quarters ahead. Simply, the stew of risks outweighed the opportunities forming across the stock market, given investors could earn competitive yields on cash/cash-like investments. And considering the U.S. economy grew by a stunning +4.9% in Q3, driven by strong consumer spending, it had become more apparent to market participants that the Federal Reserve was unlikely to cut rates anytime soon.

Chart source: Bloomberg and American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. As of Oct. 31, 2023.

Chart source: Bloomberg and American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. Data is USDAs of Oct. 31, 2023.

These figures are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not guaranteed. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Are the storm clouds beginning to part?

The turn into November marks a more favorable window for stocks through year-end, historically. The November-through-December period typically marks the best two-month period for the S&P 500 Index over the calendar year, posting an average gain of roughly +3.0% over that stretch, according to FactSet.

Unfortunately, investors had placed a strong focus on the storm clouds gathering around the big backup in government bond yields over recent months, oversold stock conditions, concerns about elevated inflation pressures leading to a recession, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. While some of these storm clouds remain, too much investor negativity mixed with extremely oversold stock conditions can provide a great recipe for kickstarting the market higher — even if it proves to be a temporary development.

Notably, stocks started November with a bang, reversing some of the more extreme negativity built into stock prices, and despite solid year-to-date gains for the major averages. Extremely oversold stock conditions at the end of October allowed investors to change the narrative after the Federal Reserve held rates steady this month, and stable economic conditions helped keep a soft-landing scenario for the economy (i.e., no recession) on the table. Importantly, the October Consumer Price Index came in weaker than expected and below September levels. In fact, core CPI last month moved to levels last seen in September 2021. Bottom line: If inflation pressures continue to ease (which we believe they should), the upward pressure on interest rates could also subside, allowing stocks more breathing room to the upside.

As such, the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite have quickly reclaimed some of their key trading averages, with stock participation looking more inclusive than earlier in the year. As the year winds down, we see markets continuing to adjust to several mixed signals across the economy, earnings trends, policy, and geopolitical risks. But at the heart of the matter, inflation and the direction of interest rates could be the most impactful influences on directing stock traffic over the coming weeks and months.

In our view, government bond yields will likely need to see lasting stabilization for stocks to experience further upside after a strong start to November. Investors should look for how government bond yields settle after a large drop at the start of the month to gauge if equities can continue to build on recent momentum.

3 steps to weather an uncertain end to 2023

Bottom line

Whether it's forming storm clouds on the horizon or periods of sunshine in the stock forecast, we believe a sound path forward for investors is to maintain an all-weather approach heading into year-end. A well-diversified, slightly defensive, quality-biased portfolio approach continues to be a prudent way to navigate through the various uncertainties weighing on markets. In our view, that approach applies rain or shine.

Weather the year-end uncertainty with an Ameriprise financial advisor

The end of the year is a good time to connect with your Ameriprise financial advisor and take steps to help strengthen your diversified approach and help position your portfolio to weather the uncertainty, should it continue. They can help you assess your current risk tolerance and asset allocation strategy, make rebalancing recommendations and determine if strategies like tax-loss harvesting make sense for your unique situation.