Rising Interest Rates Put Selling Pressure on Stocks

With economic data indicating that consumer confidence is at a six-year high, all while income and spending actually fell by 0.1% in April, investors seem confused about what this means for the economy and the markets moving forward. On one hand, consumer confidence is strong, which indicates that Americans will likely be willing to spend more money in the coming weeks and months. But if income levels are slipping, consumer have less to spend, which could hurt the economic recovery in the future.

And therein lies the reason that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has only gained 13 points by 12:50 p.m. EDT, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq have moved less than 0.1%.

With consumer spending coming in lower than expected, consumer staples are trading lower today. Procter & Gamble is down 2%, Coca-Cola is off by 0.9%, and Johnson &Johnson has fallen 0.9% as well. Even the country's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, is down 0.5% on the news. But while we can blame April's reduced consumer spending for these declines, the more likely reason some of the Dow's stalwarts are sinking today is that investors are slowly but surely moving out of stocks and into bonds.

After rising almost every day this week, interest rates on Treasury bonds are again higher today. 30-year rates are now at 3.31%, while 10-year notes are now paying 2.15%. The Dow's consumer-facing stalwarts -- P&G, J&J, and Coke -- all saw their stock prices increase as investors chasing yields left bonds and moved into stable, dividend-paying stocks. But now that interest rates are rising and decent yield can once again be found in bonds, those investors will be selling equities.

The biggest challenge for equity investors will be holding on to shares while their prices slowly decline over a period of weeks or even months with no apparent catalyst. Coke is dealing with a strike in Venezuela, but we haven't seen any negative news pertaining directly to Johnson & Johnson or Procter & Gamble all week, and yet shares of the companies are down about 2% and 5.8%, respectively, during this short week of trading. Wal-Mart and Coke have both lost about 2% this week as well.

Coca-Cola's wide moat has helped provide its shareholders with superior gains in the past, but the company faces some new threats to its continued market dominance. The Motley Fool recently compiled a premium research report containing everything you need to know about Coca-Cola. If you own or are considering buying shares in the company, you'll want to click here now and get started!

The article Rising Interest Rates Put Selling Pressure on Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Matt Thalman owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool recommends Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. Check back Monday through Friday as Matt explains what caused the Dow's winners and losers of the day, and every Saturday for a weekly recap. Follow Matt on Twitter: @mthalman5513. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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