Equities Remain Resilient – Domestic Equity Update

Equities rebounded in the second quarter, with all eleven sectors of the S&P 500 Index positive for the quarter. Sectors with the most advancements included consumer discretionary, energy, materials and technology. Economists and analysts believe that the upswing in these sectors is representative of an economic recovery, yet hinged on the risk of a second outbreak wave.

The technology heavy Nasdaq Index has outperformed the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Index both year to date and for the second quarter. Some stock analysts believe that the disparity in performance is reminiscent of the dot-com expansion 20 years ago. (Sources: S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Bloomberg)

Rates Stabilize In June – Fixed Income Overview

Federal Reserve buying of debt securities continued in the second quarter under the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility program, which was established to maintain liquidity in the bond markets. Individual corporate bonds and ETFs have been part of the Fed’s buying program, which was launched in mid-June. Bonds purchased so far include debt issues from both investment grade and non-investment grade rated companies.

Corporate and government bonds continued to post positive returns in the second quarter, as yields stabilized following the dramatic drop in yields during the first quarter of the year. The benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield closed at 0.66% at the end of June, helping to boost consumer lending and mortgage rates. (Sources: Treasury Dept., Federal Reserve, Bloomberg)

Unemployment Hits Young Workers Hardest – Labor Market Overview

Unemployment has hit younger workers the hardest, with roughly 25% of workers ages 16 to 24 losing their jobs from February to May due to the virus outbreak. Traditional sectors employing mostly younger workers, such as leisure, hospitality, and restaurants, have suffered dramatic drops in business activity since the outbreak.

Current conditions brought about by the pandemic have made it even more challenging for high school and college students, as well as graduates, to find short term and summer job positions.

Younger workers 16-19 years of age are experiencing unemployment rates as high as 30%, more than double the rate this same time last year. Teenagers are seeing nearly triple the amount of unemployed compared to all other age groups nationally, which is 11.1% unemployment as of the most recent data reported by the Department of Labor. (Sources: DOL, BLS)

Fed Main Street Loan Program – Stimulus Program Overview

In addition to the stimulus loan programs brought about by the CAREs Act, the Federal Reserve has introduced its own stimulus program known as the Main Street Loan Program.

The program is designed to help credit flow to small and medium sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of COVID-19, and are recovering from, or adapting to, the impacts of the pandemic. The program offers 5-year loans, with floating rates, and deferred principal and interest payments to assist businesses facing temporary cash flow interruptions. Loans range in size from $250,000 to $300 million, offering a wide range supporting a broad set of business entities. Different from PPP loans, Main Street Program loans are not grants and can’t be forgiven.

The Fed is participating in the lending process by taking a 95% interest in the loans issued, while lenders retain 5% of the loans. The unusual tactic of taking an interest in the loans allows the Fed to actually assume a risk in the loans issued. Businesses can inquire about eligibility for a Main Street Program loan by accessing the Fed’s link https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/mainstreetlending.htm. (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston)

Small Business Loan Program Still Has Funds – Stimulus Program Review

Three months following the administration’s launch of pandemic relief programs, major debates have arisen in response to the remaining surplus of undirected funds in conjunction with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program was established to assist small businesses with critical funds in order to remain in business during the pandemic.

PPP loan measures have been taken and proposed by congressional members considering the excuse of loans $150,000 or less, which represents nearly 85% of all PPP loans, in order to minimize the burden while utilizing a minimal proportion of the Paycheck Protection Program’s overall expenditure.

After the Small Business Administration’s approval of increased loans, the program’s outlays are the largest financial outlay within COVID-19 spending. Loan applications have shown promising results to nearly 81% of PPP loan applicants, many reporting having already received the funds.

Unless extended by Congress, the Paycheck Protection Program stopped accepting new loan applications on June 30, 2020. As of June 12, 2020, the SBA reported that over 4.5 million PPP loans had been approved, with an average loan amount of $113,000. (Sources: SBA, congress.gov, NFIB)

Tapping 401k & Retirement Plan Assets During The Crisis – Retirement Planning

Provisions initiated by the CAREs Act allows for the withdrawal of retirement plan assets with waived penalties and minimized tax liabilities. During the current tax year, retirement account owners will be able to withdraw funds from 401k plans, tax deferred plans, and IRAs without any penalties. Loan limitations on company sponsored 401k plans will also be relaxed, allowing employees to take larger loan amounts. Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)s are also being waived for 2020 distributions.

Section 2202 under the CAREs Act enacted on March 27, 2020, provides for special distribution options and rollover rules for retirement plans and IRAs. Under the revised rules, IRA owners and retirement plan participants are allowed to withdraw up to $100,000, but must meet certain criteria to qualify. The IRS notes the following as criteria to meet:

You are diagnosed with the coronavirus (COVID-19); Your spouse is diagnosed with the coronavirus (COVID-19); You experience adverse financial consequences as a result of being quarantined, furloughed, laid off, or having reduced work hours all due to COVID-19; Unable to work due to a lack of child care as result of COVID-19; Experience adverse financial consequences as a result of closing a business or loss of hours as a result of COVID-19.

Distributions from IRAs and qualified plans will have the 10% penalty waived but are still taxed at the individual owner’s corresponding tax rate. Qualified distributions up to the $100,000 maximum are for distributions made between January 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Taxes on distributions may be paid over a three year period starting with the year in which the initial distribution was made. Distributions may also be repaid back to an IRA or qualified plan over a three year period to avoid any tax consequences. (Source: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/coronavirus-related-relief-for-retirement-plans-and-iras-questions-and-answers)

Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium Extended – Housing Market Update

In an effort to help keep homeowners and renters suffering from financial burdens due to the pandemic in their homes, federal foreclosure and eviction moratoriums are being extended to August 31, 2020 from the original expiration date of June 30th. FHA-insured single family mortgages backed by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), will have an extension on moratoriums until the end of June. So, the expiration on moratoriums depends on what entity insures the mortgage loan. Lenders of unpaid mortgages during the moratorium, are required to halt foreclosure actions and suspend any foreclosure proceedings that may have been in process. Evictions of residents renting from homeowners in moratorium, are also forbidden until the expiration of the moratorium.

It is suggested that homeowners continue to make mortgage payments during the moratorium period. If unable to, then homeowners may seek forbearance on the payments via a provision in the CAREs Act. Homeowners affected by the coronavirus pandemic with a federally-backed loan can delay or reduce mortgage payments for up to a year. Homeowners that don’t have a government backed loan may get forbearance at the discretion of their mortgage lender. (Sources: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD)

Low Rates Supplement Economy – Fixed Income Update
Interest rates held steady in May, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yielding 0.65% at the end of May. The continued low-rate environment is helping to sustain certain industries in the form of low loan rates, such as for autos and homes. Talk of negative rates in the U.S. became more commonplace as other developed economies continued to drive their rates to near zero and below with the objective of stimulating economic activity. The Fed chair reiterated the central bank’s stance on negative rates, stating that it was not a target for the time being. The Fed is opposed to negative rates because of the detrimental effects it imposes on money market funds, government funding calculations and banks. Investment grade bond issuance surpassed $1 trillion worth of new debt since the beginning of the year, an amount that wasn’t reached last year until November. The Fed’s announcement to purchase $750 billion of corporate debt as part of its stimulus program has stimulated new activity as demand has increased.
(Sources: Treasury Dept., Federal Reserve Bank)

Where Unemployment Is Hitting The Hardest – Labor Market Demographics
The nation’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7% in April, representing the largest percentage of unemployed workers since the great depression, when the rate reached 25% in 1933. The pandemic’s affect on the labor force has been extensive and rapid, resulting in a dramatic increase in the unemployment rate.

What has truly made this spike in unemployment unique is the fact that all sectors of the economy have been affected, along with all income and education levels. Data compiled by the Department of Labor show that all income and education levels fell considerably in April 2020. Unemployment has historically been highest for non-high school graduates and recent high school graduates, relative to those with bachelor and masters degrees who traditionally see the lowest unemployment rates.

Unemployment for non-high school grads rose to over 20% in April, up from 5.2% in April 2019, while workers with a bachelors degree and higher experienced 8.2% unemployment in April. The surprise with the latest unemployment numbers for higher educated workers was the exponential increase from a year earlier,
when only 1.9% were unemployed. Economists view this as a validation of the profound effect the pandemic has had on the labor market. (Source: Department ofn Labor)

Consumers Spending Much Less – Consumer Behavior
Recovery to the economy has become hinged on the ability of the American consumer to regain confidence and start spending again. What consumers spend on goods and services represents roughly 70% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Commerce Department, which tracks what consumers spend money on and how much they spend each month, reported the largest monthly drop in Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) since data tracking began in 1959. March PCE saw a 7.5% decline in consumer expenditures, as the pandemic restrained discretionary spending leading to a drop in over $1.1 billion in expenditures. Expenditures composing the PCE Index include automobiles, food, housing, furniture, health care, and clothing.

Consumer behavior has been altered since the pandemic began, with a drop for certain items such as cars, furniture, and clothing, yet with an increase in food purchases at grocery stores. Many believe that it may be months before there is a better gauge of what consumers will be buying and where the demand may be.

(Source: U.S. Commerce Department)

Over Half of Unemployed Making More Than When Employed – Employment Update
The National Bureau of Economic Research released findings of a study examining the amount of unemployment benefits recipients are being paid. The study found that roughly 68% of jobless workers are bringing home more than what their job was paying them. The combination of state and federal unemployment benefits have been extremely generous with the passage of the $2.2 trillion CAREs Act. Unemployment benefit payments replaced an average of 134% of lost wages for the average jobless worker. State unemployment benefits vary as to how long they last, however the federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week are due to expire at the end of July. Findings from the study show that lower income workers have benefited the most from the enhanced unemployment payments, whose jobs may not be there when they return to work, due to the industries affected employing lower wage workers.
(Source: National Bureau of Economic Research)