The “I’s” had it across the first quarter, as inflation and interest rates continued to dominate financial headlines. That is, at least, until the Silicon Valley Bank meltdown took over, followed by the government’s swift reaction to the same.

What should you make of the quarterly news? If you’d missed these events in real time, you may not even have known they’d happened. At quarter-end, inflation continued to simmer on the back burner, as it has for some time. For the ninth time in a row, the Fed raised interest rates, most recently by a quarter point. Once again, many markets ended the quarter up, with big tech stocks leading the way. And to date, widespread bank runs have not materialized.

This suggests, as usual, your best bet is to lead with two different kinds of “I’s.”

• One important “I” is an investment strategy clearly focused on the market’s distant event horizon. Across bear and bull markets alike, having a long-term investment outlook as your front-and-center guide better positions you to make thoughtful decisions amidst shifting news.
• Next, when should you buy, sell, or hold particular positions? When is it time to reduce or increase your exposure to market risks? Why are you investing to begin with? In large part, the answers are found in another important “I,” your individual goals. As long as your investment portfolio is already structured and managed to mirror your goals, your values, and your personality, we suggest staying true to yourself and your investment plans.

For more on world capital market performance for the past quarter, you can view Dimensional’s Quarterly Market Review for First Quarter 2023.

View PDF: Quarterly Market Review (QMR) – Q1 2023