President Trump Sees Gain From China Tariffs as Worth US Pain The Trump Administration said it needs to confront China over its trading practices to defend US long-term interests even as escalating tariffs may cause discomfort for American consumers. Inaction by the US would leave the American economy and consumers worse off over the longer […]
The Trump Effect: DJIA, S&P 500 Mark Record Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX Thursday, Wall Street delivered another set of milestones as buying drove US stocks due North, driving the DJIA above the all-time high it closed at in January, marking the 100th record high for DIA since President Trump took the Oval Office […]
The Trump Effect: US Economy is Strong $DIA The strong US economy continues under President Donald Trump. A string of reports Thursday showed the labor market is getting stronger, consumers are increasingly optimistic and manufacturers are expanding, adding to signs that GDP (gross domestic product) remains on track for a solid performance in Q-3 Filings […]
The Trump Effect: US economy Poised for Strong Growth in Q-3 US economy is expanding at a 4.4% annualized rate in Q-3, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow forecast model showed Friday despite retail sales recording their smallest gainer in 6 months in August. Consumers cut back on purchases of motor vehicles and clothing, but upward revisions to […]
The Trump Economy Is ‘Killing It’ Right Now $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow urges all Americans to give President Donald Trump’s negotiating strategy more time because the “entire world” will benefit if all goes if planned because he “is doing the Lord’s work.” As evidence, Mr. Kudlow offers the […]
Americans are Optimistic About the Future $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX Economists say the country is close to full employment, but pay gains for American workers have been flat since Y 2015. Even last week’s upward blip in wage growth could be wiped out by inflation. Yet Americans have not been this optimistic about future […]
Canadian Marijuana ETF in Shares Up 124% Since April $HMMJ, $MJ, $CGC, $STZ, $SMG The 1st marijuana ETF (exchange-traded fund) has reached a milestone that has as much to do with surging marijuana stocks as it does with investor inflows. The Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF’s (HMMJ) total assets have grown to more than […]
Atlanta Fed Lifts Q-3 GDP Prediction to 4.7% $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX The next GDPNow update is Wednesday, 5 September. The US economy is growing at a 4.7% annualized rate in Q-3, the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow forecast model showed on Tuesday, following the latest data on construction spending and factory activity. This is now […]
MAGA Effect:Household Income Spikes US median household income is at all-time highs US median household income has risen more than 4% since President Donald Trump took office on the overall strong economic growth and robust optimism. Inflation-adjusted median household incomes in July hit $62,450, according to the latest release from Sentier Research. “That’s the highest level […]
Highlights of the Michigan Sentiment Index (MSI) for August US consumer sentiment fell by less than expected in August on a positive outlook for the economy and a strong job market, a University of Michigan report showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (August, Final) Sentiment index decreased to a seven-month low of 96.2 (est. 95.5) […]
US Economy Grows Most in 4 Years US economic growth has come in stronger than initially estimated in Q-2, posting its best performance in nearly 4 years, as businesses boosted spending on software and imports declined. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 4.2% annualized rate, the US Commerce Department said Wednesday in its 2nd […]
US Consumers Financial Stress Falls to All-Time Low on Rising Incomes August Consumer Confidence (actual 133.4, consensus 126.5, prior 127.9) Note: August marks the 2nd time this year that financial stress levels have reached an all-time low, with the previous instance occurring in May, when the Index dropped to 49.9. Further, our stress indicator has […]
US GDP Growing on Strong Domestic Demand The US economy set to charge ahead as fresh domestic demand carries it past some softening overseas, keeping the Fed on course for further interest-rate hikes later this year Households have more cash to spend than thought, thanks to pools of savings and President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. […]
Morning Briefing: Special Report on Strong US Retail $WMT, $COST, $AMZN, $LOW, $URBN, $DG, $HD, $DLTR, $JWN On the world markets: World stocks rose Friday as news of plans for US-China trade talks stoked positive sentiment over their tariff dust up, DJIA finished comfortably above Key resistance at 25,500 expect a pause to refresh and the […]
Investors Cautious on Equities Despite Low Unemployment, Strong Growth Americans were less upbeat about stock even as the US unemployment rate hovered near an 18-year low and the economy recorded its fastest growth pace in four years in the second quarter, a New York Fed survey released Monday revealed. The regional Fed’s barometer on consumers’ […]
US Retail Sales Strong in 2018 $M, $WMT, $COST, $USO NRF Lifts 2018 Retail Sales Forecast on Strong Job Market, Tax Reform The National Retail Federation on Monday raised its US retail sales forecast for Y 2018, citing higher wages, gains in disposable income and a strong job market that have boosted consumer spending. The […]
Collapsing Turkish Lira Shakes World Stock Markets $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX A plunging Turkish lira sent shock waves through global equity markets Friday, causing concerns over the financial health of lenders with heavy exposure to the economically-struggling country. The S&P 500 lost 0.7%, dropping into the red for the week (-0.3%), and the Nasdaq […]
US Producer Price Index Flat, Restraining Inflation Fears $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX US wholesale prices were unchanged in July after 2 months of increases, indicating inflation pressures have softened a bit. Thursday, the Labor Department said that the PPI (producer price index) which measures price changes before they reach the consumer increased 3.3% last month […]
Oregon Has an Oversupply of Marijuana, Most Goes Unsold Commentary: The Oregon cannabis market is very much over-saturated. For consumers, this is great. One can walk into nearly any Oregon dispensary and find buy a gram of quality ‘bud’ for $5.00, and even concentrates are dropping in price. When the state began legal recreational sales in Y 2016, […]
Gender Gap in Consumer Comfort Widens to Record as Men Gain American men have not been this confident in a long time A measure of confidence among American men climbed last week to an almost 18-year high, exceeding that of women by the most in records back to Y 1990 and keeping the Consumer Comfort […]
US Consumer Spending Rises, Inflation Continues to Strengthen Consumer spending increased solidly in June as US households spent more on restaurants and accommodation, building a strong base for the economy heading into Q-3, inflation rose moderately. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday consumer spending, which accounts for nearly 70% of US economic activity, rose 0.4% last […]
Atlanta Fed: “US Economy Growing at 4.5% Annualized Rate” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX Monday, the Atlanta Fed announced that the US economy is growing at a 4.5% annualized rate in Q-2 following the latest data on strong retail-sales data, the GDPNow forecast model showed. The latest estimate on GDP growth is faster than the […]
US Consumer Comfort on Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX S&P 500 retests its 50-Day Moving Average at 2717 Americans’ sentiment improved to the best mark in 2 months on brighter views of the economy and personal finances, the Consumer Comfort Index reveled Thursday. Highlights of Consumer Comfort for the Week Ended 24 June 2018 […]
US Consumer Expectations are Still Running High $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX About 2/3rds of Americans see the US economy as Good to Great. Monday night President Trump’s top trade adviser Peter Navarro said the White House is not planning to restrict foreign investment as part of its trade actions against China or any other country. […]
Highlights of Consumer Comfort or Week Ended 18 June 2018 Americans’ expectations for the economy advanced for a second month in June to match the highest Mark since Y 2002, the Consumer Comfort Index showed Thursday. Highlights of Consumer Comfort for Week Ended 18 June 2018 Monthly gauge of economic expectations increased to 56 from 54.5 Weekly consumer […]
Supreme Court: “States Can Tax Amazon Marketplace” $AMZN Thursday, the US Supreme Court ruling will now allow states and local governments to pursue sales taxes on more online transactions. The Big Q: How can states collect it? Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) the world’s largest online retailer already takes in sales taxes in all states that charge them […]
MSI: Consumer Sentiment Rises on Americans Optimism US consumer sentiment rose this month amid more-favorable personal finances, while tariffs weighed on Americans’ optimism for the economy and helped boost inflation expectations to a three-year high, according to a University of Michigan report Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (June, Preliminary) Sentiment index rose to 99.3 (est. 98.5) from 98 […]
If You Do Not Know What Bitcoin is, Read This Please $BTCUSD, $ETHUSD, $CME, $CBOE, $V, $MA If you are 1 of those people who do not know what Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are read this, as there is a keen international interest in this nascent digital asset. Interest in digital currency has expanded over […]
The Trump Effect at Work: US Household Wealth Tops $100-T $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX US household wealth topped the $100-T mark for the 1st time in Q-1 of Y 2018, the Fed reported late Thursday. The Fed said the net worth of the nation’s households and nonprofits rose to $100.8-R in the 1st frame of the year, […]
NASDAQ Marks Another All Time High $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX Tuesday as investors were encouraged by US economic data, driving the NASDAQ to finish at another at record high for the 2nd day running, as the technology and consumer discretionary sectors outpreformed Investors remain a bit wary about trade discussions, with Mexico imposing tariffs […]
The US Economy is Rolling Along on Truck Tires Real GDP may be starting to do so at a faster speed now, exceeding the so-called 2% “stall speed,” which was the so-called “New Normal” from mid-2010 through Q-1 of Y 2018 Consider the following: A Supercharged Quarter: Friday, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model boosted the Q2-2018 real […]
Living in the Trump Era of Optimism, Prosperity and Strong Economic Growth $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ Just in case you missed this at the weekend, and remember Optimism leads to Power! Friday’s blockbuster NFPs (jobs) data capped a long string of recent strong economic reports which has led to much brighter forecasts for American growth under […]
US Stocks Finish Flat to Unchanged Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer sentiment according to a University of Michigan (MSI) report Friday. Consumers anticipated income gains of 1.6%, down from 2.2% in April and 2% last year 51% expected the jobless rate to stabilize at current 18-year lows Inflation rate […]
Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) M-3 EV ‘Busted’ By Consumer Reports $TSLA Model 3m a thrill to drive, it had “big flaws.”– Consumer Reports Monday, Consumer Reports did not recommend Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model 3 sedan, criticizing the car for its braking and taking the shine off a day of gains for shares in Elon Musk’s fledgling EV venture. […]
US Consumer Sentiment Running High and Higher $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer sentiment held steady on a gain in American household expectations, according to a University of Michigan report Friday. The MSI held steady at a solid 98.8 for preliminary May, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Survey Center reported. The comparable April reading was also […]
JOLTS Spike, Wage Growth and Inflation Ahead $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US job openings aka JOLTS rose to a record high in March, suggesting that a recent slowdown in hiring was probably the result of employers having difficulties finding qualified workers. The monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, released by the Labor Department […]
Assets that Will Suffer on the Return to the Normal Interest Rate Regime $SPY, $GLD, $SLV, $BAC While Treasuries faded a bit after 10-year yields tapped at the 3% mark last week for the 1st time in 4 years, expectations are mounting that higher rates will soon be normal again, that rate historically is 5.0% […]
US Families Home-buying Plans Hit Record, Consumer Confidence Jumps Consumer confidence rose in April to the 2nd-highest mark since Y 2000 as Americans grew more upbeat about both current conditions and the economic outlook, according to figures Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board. Highlights of April Consumer Confidence Report Confidence index rose to 128.7 (est. 126) from 127 […]
US Retail Sales UP on Trump Tax Cuts, Consumer Spending Strengthens US retail sales rebounded in March after 3 straight monthly decliners as households boosted purchases of motor vehicles and other big-ticket items, suggesting consumer spending was heading into Q-2 with momentum. Fears of a trade war between China and the United States have roiled […]
President Trump’s Tax Cuts Seen Halting a 3-Month Retail Sales Slump $SPY For sure President Trump’s tax cuts have given a boost to Americans’ take-home pay this year. The Big Q: Will the US consumer putting the extra cash toward savings and debt, or using it to go shopping? The Big A: We here a […]
President Trump Staking US Trade Position Vs China and the World The US trade figures for February that were released this week and showed a widening deficit. President Donald Trump’s policies over the past year have been calculated to increase the size of the US trade and current account deficits. One could easily say that the […]
US Jobless Claims Fall, US Stocks Soar $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Markets in the US and Europe will be closed tomorrow for Good Friday and some world markets will also be closed on Monday. Oversold technology shares bounced Thursday, leading a broad rally on Wall Street, as investors kicked off the extended Easter weekend on […]
US Economy Strong in Q-4 Consumer spending on goods also saw its biggest Quarterly bounce in more than 11 years after an upward revision to 7.8% growth. The US economy grew significantly faster at the end of Y 2017 than previously reported, with revised data showing stronger consumer spending and business investment, the government reported […]
President Trump’s Tax Reform has Consumer Sentiment Jumps at 14-Yr Highs US consumer sentiment in March unexpectedly jumped to a 14-year highs after tax cuts boosted disposable incomes, while new tariffs boosted inflation expectations and dimmed the outlook, a University of Michigan (MSI) survey showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (March, Preliminary) Sentiment index rose to […]
US Retail Sales Slide for 3rd Month Running, Inflation Edges Up $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US retail sales fell for a 3rd straight month in February as households cut back on purchases of motor vehicles and other big-ticket items. Despite signs of cooling in consumer spending, inflation pressures are building, which may allow the Fed […]
US Consumer Confidence is at 17 Year Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US Consumer Confidence jumped to a 17-year high as optimism about employment prospects grew and Americans began seeing additional money in their paychecks from recently enacted Trump tax cuts, data from the New York-based Conference Board showed Tuesday. Highlights of Consumer Confidence (February) […]
Inflation & Gold, the Link Between the Elements $GLD The Big Q: On fueled inflation will Gold’s price soar? The Big A: The recent US NFPs report showed that wages had jumped 2.9% in January on an annual basis. It was the best since Y 2009, which awakened investor fears of inflation. That’s why investors awaited Wednesday’s data on […]
The Trump Effect Continues, Consumer Sentiment Spikes, Stocks Recover $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer sentiment rose in February to the 2nd-highest mark since Y 2004 as tax cuts and a strong job market helped Americans shrug off stock-market volatility, a University of Michigan survey showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (February, Preliminary) Sentiment index rose to […]
US Stocks Overcome Early Weakness Finishing in the Green $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Tuesday, US stocks overcame early weakness driving the major indices North for the 3rd session running. Fully, 9 of the 11 S&P 500 sectors finished in the Green, with financials (+0.5%), consumer discretionary (+0.5%), and real estate (+0.6%) being the Top performers. […]
Blockchain, Bitcoin Ushering in a New Age in Retail Spending $BTCUSD, $SBUX, $AMZN Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Chairman Howard Schultz has said in the past that retail was going to witness “a seismic change” in consumer behavior because of technology, most notably the Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) effect and the explosion of e-Commerce. “I think if you look at […]
US Core Consumer Prices Mark Big Gainer US consumer prices recorded their largest increase in 11 months in December on strong gains in the cost of rental accommodation and healthcare, bolstering expectations that inflation will accelerate this year. Stock soar on inflation news: no inflation, no growth The strengthening domestic demand was underscored by other […]
Seeing Inflation Almost Everywhere We Look, Growth Too! Investors with the idea that inflation will stay subdued should be concerned. Worldwide data have recently made clear that PPIs (producer-price indexes) have ticked up leading bond buyers to begin wagering that consumer inflation could be soon to follow, with US breakeven rates above 2% in here The […]
America’s Confident Consumers Post Record Breaking Holiday Spending $AMZN, $M, $MA, $TGT, $FDX, $UPS The US Holiday shopping season is on track to break sales records on the back of rising consumer confidence presenting an unexpected “boom” for retailers and the delivery companies they rely on. The Christmas Holiday shopping season, a Key period for […]
US Economist Sees Strong Growth in 2018 $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX A top-ranked US economist last year predicted that real US economic growth would reach 3% in Y 2017. “With a tax cut package finally passed by Congress, growth is likely to remain robust as we head into 2018,” Steven Stanley said. “The economy’s 2% […]
US Consumer Confidence Up in Blue Counties Since Trump’s Victory Surveys that question respondents about their political affiliation have generally shown that consumer confidence among Republicans has soared since the US elections in November 2016, whereas Democrats have lagged. When the data are broken down by which way a county voted it is the Democratic […]
Equity Investors in ‘Risk On’ Mode for Fear of Missing Out $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Wall Street’s fear of missing out on this extending Trump Rally is “trumping” all if any political risk in Washington, DC. The countdown on the GOP’s efforts to cut corporate taxes has virtually ended, its a deal, now the risk […]
Strong US Consumer Confidence Cheers Retailers Black Weekend indicated US Consumers shopped for the real deals. Having just gotten through a huge Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, news that consumers did not go out and shop ‘till they dropped in October was not something for retailers to worry about. After splurging on […]
US Consumer Confidence Climbs to 17-Year Highs Holiday shopping started strong and the data suggest that will continue. US Consumer Confidence marked a 17-year high in November, with optimism ticking higher for the 5th month running, according to a monthly survey released Tuesday. Consumers’ outlook about jobs and the business environment edged upwards, adding to […]
The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a “Sick, Sad Joke” President Donald Trump declared that he would bring the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) “back to life,” and criticized how the agency has been devastating to financial institutions under the Hussein Obama Admin’s leadership. “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, has been a […]
US Stock Indexes Post Record Highs, Tech and Energy Outperform $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX On this sleepy Friday The Trump Rally extended, as stocks set more records in post-Holiday trading as technology companies outperformed, and Energy companies rose with the price of Crude Oil. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 5.34 points, or 0.2%, to […]
Inflation is Back, Meaning Growth is Back $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Underlying US consumer prices increased in October on the back of a pickup in rents and healthcare costs, bolstering the view that a recent dis-inflationary trend worrying the Fed probably had ended. The rise in the consumer price index, excluding the volatile food and […]
US Consumer Sentiment Falls on Inflation, Rate-Hike Fears $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US Consumers remain optimistic about employment and the economy. US consumer sentiment in fell on expectations that inflation and interest rates will rise, according to a University of Michigan report Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment Indicator (November, preliminary) Sentiment index dropped to 97.8 (est. 100.8) […]
US Consumer Confidence at 17 Year Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer confidence rose more than expected in October to the highest mark since Y 2000, as Americans grew more confident about the economy and job market, according to figures Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board. Highlights of Consumer Confidence (October) Confidence index rose to […]
Highlights of Michigan Sentiment Indicator for October Consumer Sentiment climbed in October to the highest mark since the start of Y 2004 as US households grew upbeat about the outlook for the US economy, a University of Michigan (MSI) survey showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (October, final) Sentiment index rose to 100.7 (matching est.) […]
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model 3 Reliability Likely to Be ‘Just’ Average $TSLA, $TM, $GM Tesla Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) new Model 3 sedan is likely to have “average” reliability despite production snags. Consumer Reports magazine said on Thursday. The magazine said its survey of 640,000 vehicles showed that all-new vehicles or models with newly updated technology are more […]
Gold and the Fall of the US Dollar $OIL, $GLD, $SLV, $USD, $CNY China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia are aligning in response to trade sanctions and political discord from the West. Together, they may bring an end to the global supremacy of America and the USD, according to analyst Peter Reagan. China, Russia, and Saudi […]
US Consumer Sentiment Spikes to 13-Year Highs US consumer sentiment (MSI) rose to a 13-year high as Americans’ perceptions of the economy and their own finances rebounded following several major hurricanes, a University of Michigan survey showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (October, preliminary) Sentiment index rose to 101.1 (est. 95), highest since January 2004, […]
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Overvalued, Dropped by Key Fund $TSLA Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is overvalued, according to a climate focused investment fund that has beaten 97% of its peers. “We don’t see upside,” Thomas Sorensen, who manages the Nordea Global Climate and Environmental Fund, said in a recent interview . “What’s needed in cash flow generation to get […]
US Consumer Comfort Falls After 7 Straight Weekly Gainers $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Americans’ confidence eased from a 16-year high last week, though relatively high optimism should continue to support spending, according to the Consumer Comfort Index figures released Thursday. Highlights of Consumer Comfort, Week Ended 3 September Consumer comfort measure fell to 52.6 from […]
US Consumer Confidence at 16-Year High, Sign of Sustained Spending $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Consumer confidence, including views about the US economy, last week marked a 16-year high, indicating spending will remain solid. Confidence among Republicans rose to an almost 10-year high, while comfort of independents was strongest in more than 16 years, Democrats are […]
Housing is The Top Consumer Spending Category in the UAE Among GCC countries, consumer spending per household in the UAE was highest during Y 2016 at $103,000 Consumer spending in the UAE is expected to exceed $261-B in Y 2021, compared to nearly $183-B in Y 2016, according to research released by the Dubai Chamber […]
A 5 to 10% Pullback in the Market will be Bullish And Low Inflation in the US is Like a Tax Cut for the Economy Economist Larry Kudlow, a former adviser to President Ronald Reagan, said he is Bullish stocks because profits are rising, inflation is low and consumer confidence is high. “I’m very Bullish […]
The Trump Rally Extends, DJIA, SP 500 at Record Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US stocks finished higher Monday, with the DJIA closing at a record high, after marking another all-time high at the open. The rise in the DJIA also put the blue-chip index on track to close higher for the 10th day running, […]
Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Losses Mount as Claims Broaden $TSLA Wednesday, Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, pulled back on estimates of Model 3 reservations, even as the company reported stronger than expected losing results. The fledgling EV maker continues to lose money, although it cited growing excitement and profit margins for its vehicles. Tesla reported a real […]
“The Big Print Giveth and The Small Print Taketh Away” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Monday, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a rule that would bar credit card companies, banks and other firms from requiring that customers agree to settle any disputes away from the courts and in arbitration as a condition of […]
June US Consumer Spending Near 9-Yr Highs Consumer spending in the US rose was $103 a day in June, the best performance for the month since Y 2008, according to a survey by Gallup. The daily spending in May was $104. Americans’ reported daily spending has averaged $100 or more since February, the longest stretch of […]
Allianz Investment Management (OTCMKT:AZSEY) Looks at the US & EU Markets $AZSEY In Q-1, it appeared that inflation in the US would indeed move up, as the labor market continued to show signs of strength and job creation remained strong. Economic growth in Q-1 was weaker than FY forecasts, but financial markets have come to […]
US Home Construction Stalled, Continuing Growth in Question $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX May Housing Starts and June Preliminary Consumer Confidence Starts: -5.5%; 1-family: -3.9% Permits: -4.9%; 1-Family: -1.9% Consumer Confidence: down 2.6 points The downward trend in home construction does not augur well for growth in 2-H Business leaders and owners, whether they are involved […]
US Retail Sales Miss, Fall 0.3% in Biggest Decline in 16 Months US retail sales marked their biggest decline in more than a year in May amid declining purchases of motor vehicles and discretionary spending, which could temper expectations for a sharp acceleration in economic growth in the 2nd Quarter. The US Commerce Department said […]
Economic Outlook is Bright, Consumer Spending Rising $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer spending is stable and relatively high as Americans are more positive than negative about the national economy and fewer adults are unemployed than at any time in the past 16 years, Gallup reports: Their daily self-reports of spending averaged $104, similar to […]
FOMC Holds Interest Rates Steady as Expected $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The FOMC kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday and downplayed weak Q-1 economic growth while emphasizing the strength of the labor market, signalling it is on track for 2 more rate hikes this year. In a statement following the end of a 2-day policy meeting, […]
There is a Lot Going on in the Markets this Week… $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US stocks posted a gainer in April, thanks solid corporate earnings and the anticipation of significant federal tax cuts. The outperforming NAS Comp extended its winning streak to a 6th month running, while the DJIA followed with 5 of 6 […]
Trump Effect: US Consumer Optimism Strongest Since November 2000 $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Consumer sentiment climbed in early April to 3-month highs as consumer optimism on current economic conditions under President Donald Trump rose to its strongest marks since November 2000. The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers (MSI) said its preliminary April consumer sentiment […]
Rising Student Debt Hurts Housing and Consumer Spending Rising student loan debt looks to harm the overall US economy, especially home ownership and consumer spending, a top Federal Reserve official said Monday. The rising debt also might erode colleges’ and universities’ ability to elevate lower-income students. New York Fed President William Dudley cited research from […]
The Trump Effect: American Consumer Sentiment “Sunny” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US Consumer Sentiment rose in March as Americans registered “Sunnier” views about the state of their finances while becoming less upbeat about the long-term economic outlook, University of Michigan (MSI) survey data showed Friday. Key Points are as follows: Final sentiment index rose to […]
The Trump Effect: US Consumer Confidence Highest in 16 Years US consumer confidence rose to its highest mark in more than 16 years, a strong gain for one of President Donald Trump’s preferred economic indicators. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 125.6 in March from 116.1 in February, the […]
Consumer Confidence (MSI) Up in March, Americans More Satisfied $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US Consumer Confidence up in March as Americans were more satisfied than any time in 16 years with the current state of their finances and the economy. The University of Michigan (MSI) said Friday that its preliminary index of sentiment increased to […]
Starbucks’ (NASDAQ:SBUX) Brand Takes a Hit on CEO Refugee Comments $SBUX, $TWTR, $FB, $DNKN Starbucks Corp’s (NYSE:SBUX) vow to hire thousands of refugees after President Donald Trump’s 1st executive order that temporarily banned travel from 7 mostly-Muslim nations appears to be hurting customer sentiment of the coffee chain. President Trump’s supporters have used Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), […]
US Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Since July 2001 Consumer confidence rose in February to the highest level since July 2001, according to a report Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board. The group’s gauge rose to 114.8, from 111.6 in January. The median forecast in a media survey of economists called for a fall […]
A Growing Mania in the Stock Market, I Think Not. $DIA, $GLD, $USD, $GOOGL, $FB The DJIA continues rising like a “bat out of hell”. Of the past 72 NYSE trading sessions, the Dow Jones broke above to a new all-time high in 29 of them. That’s a new all-time high in 40.2% of the […]
The Market Knows What the Market Knows, the Financial News is Real $SPY Buy the News, Sell the soft Data. That is the conclusion drawn from a paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which suggests that financial news holds predictive power when it comes to economic data. Stories about the US economy […]
US Congress Setting Up to Ease Several Wall Street “Rules” The Republican leader of the House Financial Services Committee plans to scale back banking reforms, curb the consumer finance agency and ease regulations on financial institutions and companies looking to raise capital, according to a proposal seen Thursday. In a memo on the legislation he […]
IRS Tax Refund Delay to Weigh on Consumer Spending Legislation aimed at preventing fraud is delaying US federal tax refunds and is likely to hurt consumer spending by as much as $21-B this month. The provision in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act passed by Congress near the end of Y 2015 will postpone funds […]
US Consumers Spending Less, Much Less $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX American consumer credit rose much less than forecast in December, for the smallest annual increase in household borrowing since Y 2013. The $14.2-B advance last month followed a revised $25.2-B jump in the prior month, the Fed numbers showed Tuesday. For all of Y 2016, […]
US Consumer Confidence at 12 Year Highs Consumer confidence jumped to the highest level since Y 2004, extending Americans’ optimism for their finances and the US economy following Donald Trump’s Presidential election victory. The University of Michigan said Friday that its MSI (final index of sentiment) rose to 98.2 from 93.8 in November. The median […]
Good News: US Economy Growing, Bad News: Very Slowly $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX More Americans sought unemployment aid last week, but the number of applications remains at a low level that suggests companies are still hiring. The surge in jobless claims is not worrisome, but trying to seasonally adjust weekly data is a pretty much […]
US Consumer Confidence Running High Consumer Confidence rose more than forecast this month as Americans expressed the Sunniest picture of their financial situation in 11 years, extending a boost following Donald Trump’s election victory. The University of Michigan (MSI) said Friday that its preliminary index of sentiment rose to 98, the highest since January 2015, […]
US Consumer Confidence Spikes to Highest Mark in Decade $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US consumer confidence rebounded this month to the highest mark in more than 9 years. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index registered 107.1 in November, up from 100.8 last month and highest since July 2007. Americans’ assessment of […]
US Consumer Sentiment Soars on Donald Trump’s Victory US consumer sentiment rose noticeably in the wake of the Presidential election as Americans expressed greater confidence in the outlook for their personal finances and prospects for economic growth, a survey said Wednesday. The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers (MSI) said its consumer sentiment index rose […]
FBI’s Announcement on Hillary Clinton Investigation Knocks Stocks off Highs $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The US economy grew at a 2.9% in Q-3, the strongest pace in 2 years, as businesses began restocking their shelves at a faster pace. The Q-3 US GDP (gross domestic product), the broadest measure of economic health, was 2X the […]