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What triggered Wednesday’s dramatic 800-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and what does it mean for investors? Media pundits are firing on all cylinders with various theories, from hand-wringing over tariffs to the onset of global economic recession.
While this latest Dow sell-off was significant—and followed another 767-point fall on August 5—I urge investors to resist making knee-jerk changes in their portfolios as a response. Volatile periods are an inevitable part of the ride. That’s why our financial planning with clients at Mercer Advisors explicitly takes market volatility into account.
Let’s take a closer look at the market’s behavior over the past 24 hours and some of the lessons we can take away.
After that 800-point fall, the Dow is now trading at the same level as it was on June 4. Still, it remains positive by about 11.7% for the year to date. The S&P 500 is also up 14.75% so far this year.
In nominal terms, the 800-point sell-off was the fourth-largest in the Dow’s 123-year history. However, what’s more material—and informative—is the percentage sell-off in the market. From that vantage point, Wednesday’s market decline is barely worthy of mention; in fact, it merely ranks 292nd all-time.
This is the thousand-point question. Global markets are enormously complex systems that, collectively, digest new information in real time. Therefore, drawing a cause-and-effect conclusion is always extremely difficult.
That said, the evidence points toward three likely catalysts for the recent market volatility:
I can’t predict future market returns; no one can. The next twelve months might very well deliver us a bear market—or not. Market pundits have been predicting the next bear market since the last one in 2008-2009. This is the most unloved bull market in history. But all bull markets come to an end, so the prudent thing to do is to plan appropriately.
First, let’s be clear on what not to do. Investors should never react to short-term market volatility by making reactionary changes to their portfolios. As I outlined above, while inverted yield curves may potentially be an indicator of a future economic recession, they’re not necessarily indicators of poor future market returns. Reactively changing your portfolio without carefully evaluating the long-term implications is a recipe for financial disaster. Mercer Advisors clients’ asset allocations are carefully determined through meticulous financial planning that reflects each client’s specific long-term goals.
Second, there is no substitute for a globally diversified portfolio—one that is systematically rebalanced, low-cost, scientifically implemented, and spread across multiple asset classes. Reducing equity exposure—or worse, abandoning broad asset class diversification—in response to market volatility can short-change your future returns. Expected returns for equities are highest after market sell-offs, and investors benefit most from asset class diversification when markets are volatile.
Events like Wednesday’s 800-point sell-off are why investors should continue to own fixed income (such as bonds), even if rates are rising like they were late last year. Who doesn’t wish they had a heavier allocation of bonds before yesterday’s sell-off? Consider the opposite question. Who doesn’t wish they had purchased more stocks on March 6, 2009, when the Dow was trading at 6,600? Or during last year’s Q4 market correction?
Lastly, I encourage you to meet with your advisor about what the Dow’s recent behavior and other trends might signify for your personal financial plan. We plan for market volatility. We’re not surprised by it. Don’t let it blow you off course.
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