Consumer confidence data came in better than expected on Tuesday, surging to 131.4 in February, which bested initial estimates of 124 and was 8 percent higher versus the previous month.
The consumer confidence data tempered news that Home Depot reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $2.09 a share, falling below expectations of $2.16. In addition, Home Depot issued weaker-than-expected guidance for 2019.
The disappointing earnings and guidance comes after the release of weaker-than-expected housing starts data from the Commerce Department. Data revealed that housing starts fell 11.2 percent in December, reaching their lowest level since September 2016.
Higher interest rates and lower affordability have hurt the housing market, but Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, said the data doesn’t reflect “enough time for consumers to respond to lower mortgage rates.”
Nonetheless, some analysts feel that despite the year-end volatility experience in 2018, stocks still have more room to run.
“We are still very much of the mind we are in a secular bull market. The run-off from the December lows is not too much too soon,” said Dan McMahon, director of equity trading at Raymond James. “From a valuation standpoint, everything looks OK. There’s still a lot of cash on the sidelines.Things aren’t that bad. You’ve got all kinds of headwinds and the market keeps charging ahead.”
Fed Chair Warns of Potential Dangers
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the economy is on solid footing, but potential dangers are looming, such as the year-end volatility experienced in 2018. Powell, however, assured that the central bank will respond accordingly should such dangers present themselves.
