Market sentiment is very fickle and can turn quickly. Just look at the first quarter of 2016 as an example. It was a tumultuous period for stocks. The new year began ominously, as a global economic slowdown and the December decision by the FOMC to raise rates conspired to produce stocks’ worst two-week opening on record. The S&P 500 tumbled about 9% early in the year and remained depressed through the middle of February. Just as quickly, their gloom lifted and the S&P 500 Index rebounded to actually finished the quarter with a +1.4% gain? Has the negative tide turned for good or are there still risks that could derail the market’s move higher?
Patti Domm, CNBC’s executive news editor responsible for news coverage of the markets and economy recently wrote about a few potential pitfalls that could surprise the market in the 2nd quarter.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/31/5-risks-that-could-surprise-markets-in-the-second-quarter.html