Gundlach sees stocks falling past the lows reached in March

Gundlach sees stocks falling past the lows reached in March
The bond manager predicts unemployment will rise to 10% and said the current economy resembles a 'depression'
MAR 31, 2020

The S&P 500 Index is likely to surpass its March lows in April as economic uncertainty further riles investors, according to bond manager Jeffrey Gundlach.

“I think we’re going to get something that resembles that panicky feeling again during the month of April,” Gundlach, chief investment officer for DoubleLine Capital, said Tuesday during a webcast on the market and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The S&P 500 fell 12.5% in March, its worst monthly performance since October 2008. The gauge’s decline ended the longest bull market in history.

The U.S. is likely to follow Japan, Europe and emerging economy stock markets that haven’t rebounded to highs reached more than a decade ago, according to Gundlach.

“It won’t be back to where it was prior for a long time to come,” he said, “particularly on a real basis.”

Gundlach also said that it will take time — and sacrifice — for the U.S. economy to eventually grow stronger.

“We will get back to a better place, but it’s just not going to bounce back in a V-shape back to January of 2020,” he said.

Among his other comments:

 •   Projections by major banks that the U.S. economy will quickly recover from the coming recession are too optimistic.
 •   The current economy resembles a “depression.”
 •   The U.S.’s economic and monetary stimulus will likely reach $10 trillion.
 •   Unemployment will rise to 10%.
 •   The dollar is likely to weaken.

In his prior webcast on March 17, Gundlach said there may be a 90% chance of a U.S. recession this year, the national debt could grow to $30 trillion in two to three years and investors should prepare for “en masse” corporate debt defaults and downgrades. He later attacked government bailouts as plans to backstop “greed and mismanagement,” according to a March 19 Twitter post.

https://twitter.com/TruthGundlach/status/1240847084531531776

The $51 billion DoubleLine Total Return Bond Fund, Gundlach’s mortgage-focused flagship fund, lost 1.3% this year through Monday and returned an annual average of 2.6% over five years.

Latest News

What wine culture can teach investors about decision-making
What wine culture can teach investors about decision-making

Choice anxiety, prestige bias, and the temptation to make selections based on outsourced confidence are just some of the parallels between investing and the world of wine tasting.

Merrill Lynch, BofA's brokerage arm, hit with $7.5M SEC fine over missed suspicious activity reports
Merrill Lynch, BofA's brokerage arm, hit with $7.5M SEC fine over missed suspicious activity reports

Regulators found Bank of America's monitoring software had a known flaw Merrill left uncorrected for years.

AI is changing how investors research, not who they trust
AI is changing how investors research, not who they trust

While AI has become a go-to research tool for affluent investors, new HSBC research suggests human advisors remain the deciding voice when investment decisions are made.

Supreme Court blocks Trump's bid to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook
Supreme Court blocks Trump's bid to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook

A 5-4 ruling preserves the Federal Reserve's independence for now, but the legal fight over presidential removal power is far from settled.

Morgan Stanley boosts returns on client cash, analyst says
Morgan Stanley boosts returns on client cash, analyst says

For years, large firms have been facing penalties and questions from regulators over interest rates for clients’ cash accounts.

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.