Just Wait Until You See Your Next Monthly Statement…

 | Nov 29, 2016 12:03AM ET

There will be surprises on both sides of the return spectrum—as equity and alternative assets will post solid gains, while bonds will get punched. And, any lean toward active management should put a smile on your face, as those managers who moved quickly into riskier, U.S.-focused assets had an even better month. While stocks will have put a big ‘hurt’ on bonds for November, don’t expect a big tactical balance to hurt stocks into December.

As Jeff DeGraff will remind you, December returns are typically very good after a strong November. Junk bond spreads continue to be very favorable for risk sentiment, as does consumer credit quality. And with a fiscal government tailwind ramping up to hurricane-like speeds, it is tough to place bets against this market. No doubt that we could have violent, short-term pullbacks over the war of words in Washington, but I would expect the big pools of active capital to be buyers on the dips of U.S. risk assets, while they lighten their weighting of risk-free bonds.

J.P. Morgan has the major market calendar outlined for you through year end…

Big macro events to watch for over the balance of 2016 (aside from unscheduled Trump-related announcements):

  1. 1) OPEC meeting Wed 11/30
    2) US Nov jobs report Fri 12/2
    3) Italy referendum and Austrian election both scheduled for Dec 4
    4) UK Supreme Court to hear Brexit appeal Dec 5-8 (although ruling not expected until ’17)
    5) ECB meeting Thurs 12/8 (this is the last major scheduled macro event of the year as the ECB has important decisions to make w/regards to the APP)
    6) 2017 outlooks from industrial firms (GE Wed 12/14, DHR Thurs 12/15, and HON Fri 12/16)
    7) FOMC decision Wed 12/14
    8) China Central Economic Work Conference (expected in Dec)
    9) Deutsche Bank US RMBS settlement (investors assume the final settlement amount will be in the ~$4-5B range)

The long-term chart of stocks vs. bonds show you how outstanding November 2016 was for equities…

One month does not make a trend, but the real question will be if the most recent performance will have a long-term impact on flows…

And portfolio managers in the active equity space will also wonder if their tide will turn…

@todd_harrison: This mean will revert, if not completely reverse, by the end of the next cycle.