How to ride out a potential September storm

Fiona Harris, client portfolio manager on the J.P. Morgan US Equity Income fund, identifies the ‘sweet spot' for US income investors.

‘Scary’ September is underway and so far the forecast is stormy. History tells us that September is not very friendly to US equity markets. The S&P 500 index has averaged a -0.58% loss dating back to 1971. Given the nerve wracking list of potential headwinds – possible war in Syria, tapering of the US Federal Reserve’s market-friendly stimulus, emerging markets currency problems, with the potential to dent global growth – this September may be no exception to the rule. Debt ceiling debate The looming debate over extending the US debt ceiling is also a potential wall of worry for the...