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Investment Strategy

Would a shutdown have tarnished a banner year for U.S. markets?

If you thought the Federal Reserve was moving to the backburner for markets, think again. 

Stocks sold off sharply last week after the Fed cut its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25%–4.5%. That was expected. What was more surprising was that the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) showed higher forecasts for growth, inflation and future policy rates from Fed board members.

In response, U.S. equities were lower, bond yields were higher, and the dollar was stronger. The S&P 500 is down -2.4% on the week, the 10-year (4.55%) crossed the 4.5% mark for the first time since May, and the Bloomberg Dollar Index is at the highest level in two years.

Despite the jolt, we think the more hawkish turn in tone reflects the resilience of the U.S. economy. Slower rate cuts reflect the uncertainty that still remains, as stronger growth entails stickier inflation and a labor market that has cooled considerably but has not cracked.

To add more turmoil to the last full week before the holiday season, the U.S. government was facing a shutdown after the Republican-led House rejected a temporary funding plan backed by President-elect Trump. Below, we break down what you need to know.

Government shutdown 101

History shows that the financial and economic impacts tend to be very short lived. However, this episode is an example of how difficult it could be to implement President Trump’s agenda, given very slim margins for Republicans in Congress and competing interests within the GOP.

What happened? On Wednesday, President-elect Trump and Elon Musk opposed the House of Representative’s proposal to extend government funding, which effectively forced House Speaker Johnson to start from scratch. A new bill was drafted, which would keep the government funded through March 2025, but notably included language to suspend the debt ceiling until January 30, 2027. The bill went to the House but failed by a vote of 235 (against) to 174 (for), with 38 Republicans voting against it.

After days of political negotiations, President Joe Biden ultimately signed a funding bill on Dec 21 to keep the U.S. government operating until mid-March, averting a government shutdown. Without a spending bill, most nonessential federal operations will cease, and many workers would be furloughed or work without pay.

What does a government shutdown mean for markets? The shutdown itself is likely to have a very limited impact on markets and the economy, just as with other idiosyncratic, short-lived events. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) studied the economic effect of the 2018–2019 government shutdown (which, at five weeks long, was the longest shutdown on record). According to the CBO, each week the shutdown lasted shaved 10–15 bps from the GDP.

Importantly, once the shutdown ended, economic output almost fully rebounded as workers and operations came back online. Markets understand that these shutdowns are temporary, and as such tend to look through them.

We analyzed the previous government shutdowns since 2010 (there have been three) and their effects on markets. All things considered, markets didn’t move much. On average, the S&P actually gained 4.7% while the government was in limbo—including a 10.3% return during the 35-day 2019 shutdown. Across other asset classes, bond yields were marginally lower on average, and the dollar tended to decline.

What’s more, when we extend our timeline back to 1977, we can increase our sample size to 20 government shutdowns. The results for markets are similar. Stocks and core bonds showed no movement on average, Treasury yields tended to move marginally higher, and the dollar declined less than half a percent.

Markets have looked past government shutdowns

Change during government shutdowns since 2010

There are two tables showing the average and median for the S&P 500, 10-year yield, and the USD during government shutdowns historically.
Sources: History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, Bloomberg Finance L.P. Analysis as of December 19, 2024. Data as of 2019.

What’s our take? Government shutdowns are a more frequent occurrence than anyone would like. Markets tend to realize that the impact is temporary, and we think this time will be no different. That said, this episode is indicative of the challenge that Washington faces next year in important policy priorities such as extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The GOP majority in the House is razor thin (220-215), and it seems as if President-elect Trump and his cohort of advisors (such as Elon Musk) will have an outsized influence over Congress. Compromise may be very difficult to achieve, given competing priorities not only across parties, but within them.

That said, we wouldn’t take a different approach to managing portfolios. Sticking to long-term strategic allocations is the best way to achieve investment goals. In 2025, we think U.S. equities can continue to grind higher as earnings grow. Right now, we are focused on building more resilient portfolios with assets that provide differentiated sources of income and lower correlations to traditional asset classes.

No matter what surprises 2025 has in store, your J.P. Morgan team is here to help guide you and your family. Happy Holidays.

Bonus: The year that was

It was another banner year for U.S. equities in 2024. For the first time since the late 1990s, the S&P 500 gained over 20% two years in a row. What does 2024 have in common with some of the other great years in market history? The Fed was able to lower rates outside of an economic recession. Other examples of 25%–30% annual returns: 1985, 1989, 1995, 1998 and 2019.

As we wrap up the year with our final Top Market Takeaways of 2024, we leave you with biggest events of the last 12 months.

2024 in review

S&P 500 index 2024 price return, %

This shows two line charts: one for the S&P 500 Index 2024 price return and another for the 2024 10-year U.S. Treasury yield.
Source: Bloomberg L.P. Data as of December 19, 2024. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. It is not possible to invest in an index.

Events

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P., J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Data as of December 19, 2024.

All market and economic data as of December 2024 and sourced from Bloomberg Finance L.P. and FactSet unless otherwise stated.

We believe the information contained in this material to be reliable but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Opinions, estimates, and investment strategies and views expressed in this document constitute our judgment based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.

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  • Past performance is not indicative of future results. You may not invest directly in an index.
  • The prices and rates of return are indicative, as they may vary over time based on market conditions.
  • Additional risk considerations exist for all strategies.
  • The information provided herein is not intended as a recommendation of or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any investment product or service.
  • Opinions expressed herein may differ from the opinions expressed by other areas of J.P. Morgan. This material should not be regarded as investment research or a J.P. Morgan investment research report.
History suggests there will be little impact, but could this time be different?

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