Stocks Fall On Central Bank, EU Debt, & Recession Woes

Stocks and other risk assets fell on Wednesday after fresh EU debt/recession fears re-emerged. In Q1, the Nasdaq composite surged nearly 19% which was its strongest quarter since 1991! The benchmark S&P 500 jumped nearly 12% or its best quarter sine 1998! Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 8%. From our point of view, the bulls remain in control of this market as long as the benchmark S&P 500 stays above its 50 DMA line.

EU Debt and Recession Woes Hurt Stocks:

Risk assets fell on Wednesday after investors digested a slew of economic data. Japan’s Nikkei experienced its largest single day decline in 5-months and gold fell by over 50pts. The European Central Bank (ECB) held rates steady and did not allude to further easing which echoed the Fed’s minutes released on Tuesday. Elsewhere, investors were also concerned that Spain’s debt auction was a little shy of estimates. Spain sold 2.6 billion euros of government bonds which was near the lower end of its target rate and yields rose compared to prior levels. This sparked fresh concern regarding other EU country’s and their debt woes. The news in the U.S. barely missed estimates. ADP, the country’s largest private payrolls report, said U.S. employers added 209,000 new jobs last month which was just shy of the Street’s 217,000 estimate. Separately, the ISM service index came in at 56 which was just below the Street’s estimate of 57.

Market Outlook- Confirmed Rally