April 2019 In Review

The S&P 500 Index returned 4% in April, the fourth-straight positive month, its best April since 2009, and the best start to a year since 1987. The index hit a fresh all-time closing high on April 23, its first in nearly seven months. The Nasdaq fared better during the month with its 4.8% return, while the Dow Jones Industrials Average (+2.7%) and Russell 2000 Index (+3.4%) both lagged the S&P 500. The Nasdaq leads the major indexes year to date with its 22.4% return through April 30, followed by the Russell 2000 (+18.5%), S&P 500 (18.2%), and the Dow (14.8%).

Increasing optimism surrounding prospects for a U.S.-China trade agreement remained a key driver for stock market gains—as has been the case throughout 2019. As April ended, reports suggested a deal might be imminent; the key remaining question centered on the United States’ use of tariffs as part of the enforcement mechanism going forward.

Evidence of improving economic growth in the United States and a good start to first quarter earnings season also helped support April’s market gains. A better-than-expected first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) report got most of the headlines, but strong rebounds in retail sales and job growth in March were notable. The first batch of results suggested expectations for first quarter profits may have been lowered too much. Although guidance from corporate executives has been mixed overall, estimates have held up relatively well as reports have come in.

Stocks also received some support from the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the bond market. The central bank has maintained its patient stance, backed by soft inflation data even in the absence of further evidence of economic weakness. The dovish stance has resulted in the bond market pricing in a rate cut later this year (which is difficult to square with incoming data), while also steepening the yield curve (the difference between short-term and long-term interest rates), a widely followed recession signal. As the Fed’s two-day policy meeting began on April 30, no material changes to policy were anticipated.

Despite rising stock prices and healthy credit markets, small cap stocks underperformed large caps during the month. The large cap Russell 1000 Index returned 4%, above the 3.8% and 3.4% returns for the Russell Midcap and Russell 2000 Indexes. Large cap outperformance, which likely reflected, at least in part, the market’s view that larger, more global companies will probably benefit more from a U.S.-China trade deal, was primarily attributable to the communication services and healthcare sectors. Mid caps have outpaced large and small caps year to date with a 21% return.

Growth outpaced value for the fourth straight month despite financials sector leadership. The Russell 1000 Growth Index returned 4.5%, ahead of the 3.6% return for the Russell 1000 Value Index. The growth style benefited from strength in the communication services and information technology sectors, while value was hurt by energy sector weakness. Growth leads value by more than five percentage points year to date.

Cyclical sectors were ahead in April, led by financials with notable strength in communication services and information technology. Financials benefited from a steepening yield curve and the well-received start of earnings season, with JPMorgan Chase a notable outperformer. Other big individual stock contributors included Microsoft and Facebook.

International developed and emerging market (EM) equities both failed to keep up with U.S. equities in April for the second straight month, despite evidence of stabilizing international growth. During the month, MSCI EAFE and EM indexes returned 2.9% and 2.1%, respectively. Year to date, the 13.3% and 12.3% returns for international developed and EM equities have trailed the S&P 500’s 18.2% return. A more growth-oriented United States has helped drive 2019 outperformance, as has a strong U.S. dollar, though these were not big factors in April.

Leadership among developed international markets came from Germany and France, based on MSCI country indexes, while Japan lagged among major country markets. Germany benefited from improving prospects for a trade deal, though the threat of tariffs on German autos lingered as May began. U.K. stocks modestly underperformed as policymakers agreed on a six-month Brexit extension through October 31.

Within EM, gains in China and Taiwan were offset by losses in Brazil and only marginal gains in South Korea and India. Despite trade progress, China’s equities essentially matched broad EM—the MSCI China Index returned 2.2% for the month.

Treasury prices slid and yields jumped in April amid improving economic conditions. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 10 basis points (0.10%), its biggest monthly gain since September 2018. The benchmark yield climbed as high as 2.59% on April 17 before sliding through the end of the month to close at 2.50%. The yield curve steepened further, as the spread between the 2-year and 10-year yields rose to its highest point since November 2018.

Eight of the 11 fixed income asset classes we track gained in April, even as long-term U.S. government bonds declined (as shown in the Fixed Income Performance Table). Bank loans increased 2.1%, the best performer of all classes, while high-yield corporate bonds climbed 1.4%. Investment-grade bonds (represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Credit Index) rose 0.5%, while the broader Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was unchanged on the month. Dollar-based emerging market debt fell 0.7%.

Alternative investment performance was mixed during April, while the S&P 500 Index set record highs (+4%) for the month, and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was marginally higher, gaining 0.03%. At the underlying subcategory level, the HFRX Systematic Diversified CTA Index led gains with a return of 1.8%. Returns were concentrated within the long equity positioning of most models. This exposure has steadily grown over the course of the year, as global equity markets continue their swift move upwards. Select commodity exposure was also positive during the month, as long oil exposure and short agriculture contracts such as soybean and wheat delivered strong profits and attractive diversification benefits from traditional markets.

The HFRX Equity Market Neutral Index was the only index in negative territory, with a loss of 0.5%. The outperformance of growth over value during the month continued to weigh on performance, as many strategies in this space maintain a long value bias and short growth stocks. For 2019, the Index has declined a disappointing 1.1%. The HFRX Equity Hedge Index gained 0.7%, although it underperformed on a risk-adjusted basis. There was significant dispersion within the category, as the top decile of funds gained over 4%, while the lowest decile was in negative territory. In general, there has been a growing divide over the year-to-date run-up in equities: Many managers have been active in increasing or decreasing their beta profiles as compared to their historical averages either to participate further in potential market gains or to better protect during a sell-off.

The HFRX Merger Arbitrage Index gained 0.08%. Deal flow remains healthy, while a large oil-related transaction at the end of the month has resulted in a bidding war. Overall, strategies have been able to find attractive opportunities to deploy capital. 

Global infrastructure was the only liquid real asset category in positive territory during April, while international real estate and master limited partnerships (MLP) were the biggest monthly laggards.