Market Commentary & Viewpoints

January 2024 PDS Planning Market Commentary

January 10, 2024


Sifting through the noise to find the things that really matter will always be difficult. It’s hard to know, especially in the moment, what’s important and what can be ignored. As we reflect on the stock market over the last few years and think about what may impact 2024, we don’t have a crystal ball to see what will be in focus. In hindsight, it’s plain as day to see what was important and how investors should have reacted. “We cannot predict what theme will dominate the markets in 2024, but we can control how we react to positive and negative surprises by having a measured approach to portfolios.”

A ‘measured approach to portfolios’ is a statement we strongly and firmly stand behind. Time in the market beats trying to time the market and long-term investors are typically rewarded. Meera Pandit, Global Market Strategist with JPMorgan writes, “In 2020, it was the pandemic. In 2021 supply chain issues plagued companies and consumers. By 2022, inflation hit a fever pitch. In 2023, markets were abuzz with enthusiasm about artificial intelligence (AI). Some of these market and economic drivers are positive, others are negative, but one thing is consistent: they usually fade and give way to the next big thing, reminding investors not to allow distractions to derail them from their investment plans.”

Chart visualizing key themes in the stock market since 2020.


“We cannot predict what theme will dominate the markets in 2024 (although “election” is a strong contender), but we can control how we react to positive and negative surprises by having a measured approach to portfolios.”


 

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