No Lion Or Lamb, January Shows Up A Bear

Video Length: 00:05:46

Welcome to January? It’s been a lousy start to a New Year. Fear heightens the visible and less visible stress out there. 

2016 may look like last year. 2015 clocked 0% returns. Europe and Japan ramped up QE. An oil rout, a Chinese renminbi re-set, EM recessions, and a strong USD reigned.

What compels U.S. optimism on 2016? U.S. jobs and better wages build confidence. Stock wealth. Demographics and policy build Health Care. U.S. house buying looks strong.

What’s alive for pessimists? Here is some pessimism for you. The average yearend 2016 target for the S&P500 for 10 Wall Street strategists surveyed by MarketWatch is lower than the average of their original 2015 targets. At this time last year, Wall Street strategists pegged the S&P500 ending 2015 with an average of 2,201. For the end of 2016, those same analysts have an average S&P500 target of 2,193.