Covid-19: March Update

Todd Sadowski
Investments

March is coming to an end, so I wanted to reach out to our StrongTower family with an update. February was rough, but March hit us even harder, but with some encouraging signs toward the end. Let’s see where we stand today.

“Shock and Awe”

First, let’s look at what March looks like through the end of 3/26. Market declines often have an initial phase of “shock and awe”. In military terms, shock and awe is when you blitz the enemy heavily with everything you’ve got. The shock and awe of the moment can be demoralizing for the enemy, causing them to retreat or surrender quickly. Well, how have you felt after this initial onslaught of media coverage and market declines? Pretty demoralizing, right? While a shock and awe phase usually comes quickly, this one in particular moved fast. On the flip side, hopefully we this means we can regain some ground with some speed as well. One of the hardest things for investors to do is endure the shock and awe phase of a downturn.

SPY - 3 months

Is the market decline over?

Unfortunately, we can’t answer this yet. It was encouraging to see a nice rebound toward the end of March. In fact, we experienced the biggest single day percentage gain on the DOW since 1933. There could certainly be more declines to come, but maybe this at least signifies the end of the shock and awe phase. The next few weeks will be very revealing as we see how the US handles the Covid pandemic.

SPY in March (through 3/26)

Some Added Perspective

As always, I like to take a step farther back to put the current drop into perspective. Here are a 10-year and 20-year glance at the markets using the SPY as guide for large cap stocks.

SPY - 10 year
SPY - 20 year

The Christian Opportunity

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on Galatians 6:2 after a devotional posted by one of my pastors. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a great opportunity to show God’s love to a hurting world. When tragedy strikes, we can step up to the call. I pray that we will all be given opportunities to care for those around us. People are hurting financially, people are hurting physically, people are hurting emotionally, and people are seeking answers spiritually. In times like this, providing a meal to someone, delivering groceries to those most susceptible to the virus, or showing grace as a landlord to someone who has lost their income for a period of time can reveal the love of Christ. Where you are able, I encourage you to show love and mercy to those hurting right now.

Hang in there, StrongTower family! We love you and are praying for you in these times.

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

2 Comments.

  • Sheila
    April 6, 2020 10:54 am

    I look at the current events as weather patterns. We can do our best to predict how it will develop but it is only thing that man can’t control. Mike and I rebuke bad weather reports just as we rebuke the fear that has controlled our media reports. Whose report will you believe? We will believe the report of the Lord! God will continue to work on our behalf as we look to the future full of faith in the one true God. Thank you Todd for being led by the Spirit of God as we all move forward during this critical time in our history. Be still and know that He is God.

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