Andrew Hallam
02.09.2019

Should Investors Fear The Inverted Yield Curve?
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Plenty of investors focus on economic news. They worry about where stocks are headed. They want a quick heads-up so they can bob or weave in case stocks hit the skids. But investors usually make more money if they do three things:

1. They invest every month.

2. They build diversified portfolios of low-cost index funds

3. They ignore investment news.

Warren Buffett says investing is simple, but it isn’t easy. The toughest part might be ignoring economic news.

Consider the latest: Many are worried about the inverted yield curve. On Wednesday, August 14th, the interest yield on 2-year U.S. treasury bonds inched higher than the interest yield on 10-year treasury bonds. That rarely happens. Usually, the yield on longer-term bonds is higher than the yield on short-term bonds. After all, if people are going to park their money for a long period, they want to be compensated more for doing so.

Now here’s the part that gives investors chills. In 2018, Michael D. Bauer and Thomas M. Mertens published, Economic Forecasts with the Yield Curve. They wrote that when bond yield curves invert, a recession is on its way.

The Washington Post recently published the following chart.

Inverted yield curve graph

The red circles indicate inverted yield curves. The shaded regions represent recessions. I don’t doubt the research. But investors should be asking one important thing: If there’s a recession, will stocks hit the skids? After all, for many investors, that question matters most.

In 2006, Richard G. Anderson wrote, Yield Curve Inversions and Cyclical Peaks for The Federal Reserve Bank’s Economic Synopsis. He listed several dates from which inverted bond yields began. Here’s every date since 1973.

June 1973

November 1978

October 1980

June 1989

July 2000

January 2006

I wanted to see if U.S. stocks struggled after bond yields inverted. The financial news media might not like this...because they love scary headlines. But this might calm your nerves. On average, after bond yields inverted, U.S. stocks made profits over the following 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year and 20-year periods.

 

How U.S. Stocks Performed After Bond Yields Inverted

1-Year Average Annual Return3-Year Compound Average Annual Return5-Year Compound Average Annual Return10-Year Compound Average Annual Return20-Year Compound Average Annual Return
+5.27%+0.36%+9.46%+12.0%+12.01%

* From each beginning period of inverted bond yields (1973-2006): June 1973, November 1978, October 1980, June 1989, July 2000, January 2006 Source: portfoliovisualizer.com

If you’re trying to predict how stocks will perform, bond yields and tealeaves simply won’t work. But sadly, some investors will always try to see a pattern. For example, notice the table above. U.S. stocks averaged just 0.36 percent per year over the 3 years after an inverted bond yield curve began. Such investors might say, “Those returns look bad. There’s an inverted bond yield now, so I’ll sell my stocks for the next three years.” But if they do, that could be a big mistake.

An inverted bond yield occurred in June 1973. Over the following 3 years, U.S. stocks averaged a compound annual return of 4.23 percent.

The next inverted bond yield period began November 1978. Over the next 3 years, U.S. stocks averaged a compound annual return of 19.7 percent.

The following inverted bond yield occurred in October 1980. Jumping out of stocks would have been expensive. After all, U.S. stocks averaged a compound annual return of 15.95 percent over the next 3 years.

Almost ten years later (June 1989) bond yields inverted once again. Over the next 3 years, stocks averaged a compound annual return of 10.5 percent.

I’m not saying that stocks won’t fall. On average, stocks drop about 1 out of every 3 years. But predictable patterns don’t exist. Nobody knows when the next drop is coming. That’s why it’s best to add money every month to a low-cost portfolio of index funds. Even if you’re retired, single year returns (even decade-long returns) shouldn’t matter much.

If you want to make money, ignore forecasts. Over time, forecasts tempt people into doing silly things. Intelligent investing really is simple. Just keep your head in the sand and stay on course.

 

Growth Of U.S. Stocks
Measuring $10,000 Invested At The Beginning Month Of Inverted Yield Curves

Inverted Yield Curve Began     
June 19731 Year Later3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later>20 Years Later
 $8,383$11,326$12,219$30,153$99,374<
      
November 19781 Year Later>3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later20 Years Later
 $12,723$17,170$24,919$44,740$218,239
      
October 19801 Year Later3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later20 Years Later
 $10,741$15,589$19,861$33,366$158,102
      
June 19891 Year Later3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later20 Years Later
 $11,205$13,542$15,770$48,951$42,770
      
July 20001 Year Later3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later19 Years Later
 $8,347$7,318$9,727$9,859$31,460
      
Jan 20061 Year Later3 Years Later5 Years Later10 Years Later13.5 Years Later*

 

 $11,768$7,039$11,814$19,247$31,238

*To July 31, 2019 Source: portfoliovisualizer.com

Andrew Hallam is a Digital Nomad. He’s the author of the bestseller, Millionaire Teacher and Millionaire Expat: How To Build Wealth Living Overseas

Swissquote Bank Europe S.A. accepts no responsibility for the content of this report and makes no warranty as to its accuracy of completeness. This report is not intended to be financial advice, or a recommendation for any investment or investment strategy. The information is prepared for general information only, and as such, the specific needs, investment objectives or financial situation of any particular user have not been taken into consideration. Opinions expressed are those of the author, not Swissquote Bank Europe and Swissquote Bank Europe accepts no liability for any loss caused by the use of this information. This report contains information produced by a third party that has been remunerated by Swissquote Bank Europe.

Please note the value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may not get back all the money that you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.


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