The Trump Effect: Atlanta Fed Keeps GDP Forecast at 4.4% $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX Wednesday, the S&P 500 finished with a gainer of 0.1%, driven by financial shares, which rallied on another rise in interest rates. The blue-chip DJIA outperformed, adding 0.6%, the NAS Comp lagged, closing lower by 0.1%, and the small-cap Russell […]
Fed Moving to Avert a Recession Due to Falling Unemployment Fed officials tout 10 yrs of falling unemployment as among their major victories in fighting the economic crisis of Y’s 2007 to 2009. Now they are starting to worry they have been too successful. When unemployment falls as low as it is currently, Boston Fed […]
US Investors are Ignoring Political Drama, the ‘Economy’s Everything $SPY National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said stock-market investors are apparently ignoring any White House political turbulence because the robust economy is proof President Donald Trump’s strategy is working. The Bull market on Wall Street set history this week when it eclipsed the S&P 500’s […]
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. […]
President Trump, “not trilled” with Fed’s Raising Interest Rates $USD, $EUR Monday, US President Donald Trump said he is “not thrilled” with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for raising interest rates, plus he accused China and Europe of manipulating their respective currencies. President Trump rattled investors in July when he criticized the Fed’s monetary policy tightening, […]
Fed’s FOMC Votes 8-0 to Leave Fed Fund’s Rate Unchanged $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RTUX, $VXX The FOMC left the benchmark interest rate unchanged, and reiterating their plan to gradually lift borrowing costs to keep the economy expanding at a healthy pace. Economic activity has been “rising at a strong rate,” and the unemployment rate “has […]
Forex Traders Overwhelm Emerging Markets’ Central Bankers $DXY, $OIL, $GLD, $SLV Selloff forces EM central banks to raise interest rates Currencies have struggled to find a floor despite rate moves Central banks in emerging economies are losing the battle with markets as their efforts to shield their currencies struggle for traction, suggesting policy makers have […]
Interest from prospective home buyers in Northern states have propelled two Florida counties — Sarasota and Collier — to the top of the nation’s fastest-growing luxury housing markets, according to the May 2018 Luxury Home Index from realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search℠. In May, the top 5 percent most expensive home prices in Sarasota […]
US Labor Market Tightens, Jobless Claims Fall $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to a further tightening in labor market conditions. The robust US labor market and firming inflation have cemented expectations the Fed will raise interest rates next week at the FOMC meeting. […]
Some Summer Fun Activities can Invalidate Your Life Insurance Whether your children are out of school or you just want a break from work, the Summer is a popular time for vacations in sunny destinations, such as Hawaii and Florida. But if you are the type of person who regularly likes to spice up travel […]
US Unemployment Rolls Smallest in 45 Years $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Thursday, the US economic data showed an acceleration in mid-Atlantic factory activity this month, with manufacturers saying they were boosting employment and asking for higher prices for their products. The combination of a tightening labor market and firming inflation bolsters expectations the Fed will […]
Fed’s Williams Sees ‘Neutral’ Interest Rate Lower, Longer $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Stocks dip following a the strong start to the month Treasury’s benchmark 10-yr yield above 3.00% Tuesday, Mr. Williams, who will take the helm of the New York Fed on 18 June, said that inflation is nearing the central bank’s 2% target after […]
The Trump Expansion Continues to Deliver Jobs The US economy has delivered steady, modest gains for most Americans since the Great Recession ended in Y 2009. President Trump’s policies have extended what is now the 2nd-longest economic expansionon record and why more of the country might soon benefit from higher pay. The government said Friday […]
FOMC Stands Pat on Interest Rates, Focus Now on June Meeting $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The Fed policy makers held interest rates steady Wednesday and expressed confidence that a recent rise in inflation to near the central bank’s 2% target would be sustained, leaving it on track to raise borrowing costs in June. The Fed’s […]
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% […]
The US Stock Market Remains in Consolidation Mode $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX, $USO The Bull has paused to refresh Fundamentals are Strong Interest rates are low Some pundits are saying that the world markets entered Y 2018 speculating that the most synchronized global economic expansion in a decade was going to get to Hot, but […]
The US 10yr Yield is the Global Benchmark, Do Not Fear It $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Growth-sensitive groups like industrials, materials, and technology lead the broad retreat Tuesday At the close: the DJIA -424 pts, or 1.7%, at 24,024, the S&P 500 -36 pts, or 1.3%, at 2,6234, and the NAS Comp -121 pts, or […]
Investors Rotating Leadership form QE ‘Winners’ to QE ‘Losers’ $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Analysts are expecting investors will shift their holdings as the realization sinks in that the Fed is committed to raising interest rates until a major event compels the central bank to reverse course. That means investments that had strong gains during a […]
The Fed ‘May’ Need to Gradually Raise Interest Rates The Fed may need to keep raising interest rates to keep inflation under control, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in a speech on the economic outlook that did not address the economic risks of rising trade tensions. Friday, in his 1st speech on the economic outlook since assuming […]
Healthy Economy, Strong Earnings Will Drive Stock Market North $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ Soon the stock market will reflect the economy, and all systems are on Go. March Private Sector Jobs, Non-Manufacturing Activity and Help Wanted OnLine ADP: 241,000; Goods: 65,000/ ISM (Non-Man.): -0.7 point; Orders: -5.3 points/ HWOL: up 102,100 The Institute for Supply Management’s […]
Gold Finished the Quarter with a Gainer, Bulls Happy $GLD Gold Bulls are finding Y 2018 a Happy Time so far.=. Gold is wrapping up a 3rd quarterly gainer, something not seen since Y 2011, and ETF (exchange-traded fund) holdings are near the highest in 5 years. Safe-haven demand may also get a boost with […]
DJIA Finished Off 724 Points, Markets Do Not Like Trade Wars $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The DJIA fell more than 700 pts on trade fears, tumbling back into correction territory as US stocks plunged the most in 6 weeks amid the threat of an escalating trade war with China that has the potential to disrupt global growth. At […]
Fed Hikes, Stocks Fall, Gold Rises $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $GLD Stocks swung sharply Wednesday afternoon following the release of the FOMC’s policy directive, which increased the fed funds target range by 25 bpts to 1.50%-1.75%. Overall the hike was priced in ahead of the Fed’s expected move. The S&P 500, the NAS Comp, and the […]
US Bull Market Turned 9 Friday, a Happy Day for the Bulls $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ Friday, the 2nd longest US Bull Market since WWII turned 9 anni. It began precisely at 1.00p EST on 9 March 2009 when all 3 of the major US stock market indexes bottoms and bounced in unison. A very rare […]
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 […]
CPI Came in ‘Hot’, US Stock Market Shrugged it Off and Spiked $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The stock market pundits fears about inflation are inflated. Econ 101: No Inflation, No Growth Top-weighted financials and technology sectors lead market higher Wednesday, US stocks finished sharply higher, shrugging off an initial sharp decline in futures pre-market immediately […]
US Economy Strong, Interest Rates Will Rise $VXX Thursday, New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said that as long as the US economy continues to grow above trend this year, he would be in favor of another interest rate rise at the US central bank’s upcoming meeting in March. “As long as I am […]
Americans Filing for Unemployment Benefits at 45 yr Lows The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, dropping to its lowest level in almost 45 years as the labor market tightened further, driving expectations of faster wage growth this year. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 9,000 to a seasonally […]
Fed: US Stock Market Outlook Unchanged in Growing Economy $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Fed officials played down recent volatility in global stock markets, sounding as resolved to push ahead with gradual increases in interest rates as before the pullback. “Having a bump like this has virtually no consequence in my view of the economic outlook,” […]
DJIA Pullback Linked to Bond Market Not DC Disclosures $DJIA Last week’s US stock market pullback related to movements in the bond market, and not to the release of a GOP House Intel memo that accuses FBI and DOJ investigators of anti-Trump bias, that has indicated President Trump in the Russia probe. President Trump’s position […]
Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged The Fed decided to leave rates unchanged, as expected, and noted that near-term risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced, but policymakers are keeping an eye on inflation, which has been slow to pick up despite a tightening of the labor market. Fed officials expect that, with further gradual adjustments […]
There is No Question in the Minds of Americans that the Economy is Strong There’s no question that the US economy is experiencing a big effect due to President Donald Trump’s policies, and that all the naysayers have been proven wrong, economic analyst Larry Kudlow said Sunday. Mr. Kudlow, who advised Trump on the tax […]
Big Banks See Trump Tax Reform Benefits, Will Pass Them on to Employees and Stakeholders $JPM, $WFC, $BAC, $C, $GS JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) indicated Friday that they expect to see significant future benefits from the recently enacted GOP tax bill, through both lower taxes and increased business. The comments came as the […]
Fed Doves Calling for ‘Slow’ Tightening The Fed should be patient as it raises interest rates this year, said Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic, adding his voice to other Dovish comments from officials concerned by low inflation and the risk of an inverted yield curve. “I am comfortable continuing with a slow […]
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 […]
S&P 500, DJIA at Record Marks, as Bank Stocks Gain $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Tuesday, the S&P 500 and the DJIA marketrecord levels in early afternoon trading as Boeing (NYSE:BA)rose and bank stocks gained ahead of a near certain move by the Fed to raise interest rate. Losses in technology heavyweights, including Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and […]
Economy Steams Ahead Under President Trump’s Deregulation Policy $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen, in her final testimony to Congress as head of the central bank, described a steadily brightening picture for the US economy while downplaying the risks of financial instability. “The economic expansion is increasingly broad based across sectors as well […]
Gold Up for 3rd Day Running On US Inflation Data $GLD, $SLV, $MTAFF, $USD Gold prices rose for a 3rd day running Wednesday, and was flat Thursday, as USD weakened and US bond yields fell despite solid US economic data that reinforced expectations that the Fed will press ahead with increases to US interest rates, […]
US President Trump Poised to Change Fed Leadership + $GLD,$SLV, $PPLT, $USD Every US President gets the chance to influence Fed policy through nominations to the central bank’s Board of Governors. But, most often, that chance is limited to a small number of nominations, 3 max, including a nomination for Chairperson. But President Trump is […]
US Job Openings (JOLTS)Hit Record High, Qualified Workers Scarce $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The Trump Rally extends, US stocks mark record high, again, led by financials, Apple sags. US job openings aka JOLTS, rose to a record high in July, suggesting a slowdown in job growth in August was an aberration and that the labor market […]
US Stocks to Record Highs, Rate Hikes, NKorea, Irma Fears Fade $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The Trump Rally extends, as President Trump’s approval ratings soar. Monday, the S&P 500 rose 1%+ to a record high close, as Fed rate hike fear abated, Irma caused less damage than expected in Florida, and NKorea decided not to […]
It is Too Soon to Predict When Fed Will Raise Rates Again $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Given the “cross currents” in the economy and markets, it is too early to predict when Fed should raise interest rates, William Dudley, President of Federal Reserve Bank of New York said last Friday. “It’s too soon to judge […]
Yellen and Draghi Open Jackson Hole Symposium Friday $USD, $DXY, $EUR The Jackson Hole Symposium is this week’s most anticipated event, in part due to a severe lack of other newsworthy market stories but also because two very important central bankers are scheduled to appear. The Fed and the ECB are not only 2 of […]
FOMC Split in July Over US Inflation Concerns In the minutes, the FOMC gave off the impression that inflation may take longer to pick up than originally thought. FOMC members were worried last month about inflation, but for 2 opposing reasons. One group of Fed policymakers felt inflation was falling too low and argued for […]
Fed Does Not, Need Not Raise Interest Rates Anytime Soon The Federal Reserve can leave interest rates where they are for now because inflation is not likely to rise much even if the US job market continues to improve, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said Monday. “The current level of the policy rate is […]
The Trump Rally Extends, DJIA Marks Its 8th Straight Record High $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average) ended on its 8th straight record high Friday, with gains in banks after the NFPs data showed US employers hired more workers than expected in July. The strong jobs report may help clear the […]
Weakening USD is Positive for Gold & Silver $GLD, $USD, $SLV The US Dollar (.DXY) Index has been moving lower, retreating 9% in 5 months, from 102 in March to its current 93.39. Not surprisingly, Gold has risen almost 10% in USD terms during this frame. Earlier this year many participant expected USD to continue its […]
FOMC “Reducing Debt Holdings to Start ‘Relatively’ Soon” Fed officials said they would begin running off their $4.5-T balance sheet “relatively soon” and left their benchmark policy rate unchanged as they assess progress toward their inflation goal. The start of balance-sheet normalization is another policy Milestone in an economic recovery now in its 9th year. […]
Slightly better than expected wages and jobs data saved Britain’s pound from another downward lurch on Wednesday, offsetting a series of political and economic warning signs as talks on leaving the European Union get going. Amid the resulting falls in the pound, several of the Bank of England’s monetary policy panel members have stepped in […]
US Mint Sales of American Eagle Gold Coins Totaled 6,000 oz in June $GLD, $SLV, $CU US Mint American Eagle Gold coin sales in 1-H of Y 2017 were the lowest for this frame in 10 years, the sales of Silver in the frame were the weakest since Y 2008, government data showed Friday. US […]
Fed Sees Lower Interest Rated for Longer After last week, the FOMC raised the fed-funds rates by a quarter of a point and Fed Chair Janet Yellen, during the press conference that followed the rate decision pointed to the relentless debate, which concerns practically all central bankers of the leading economies in the world, whether […]
Atlanta Fed Raises Q-2 GDP Growth View to 3.2% The US economy is growing at a 3.2% annualized pace in Q-2 of Y 2017 based on data on May retail sales and consumer prices, the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s most recent GDP Now forecast model showed. The latest Q-2 GDP (gross domestic product) estimate was stronger […]
The Search is On for a New Fed Chief $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX President Trump’s top economic advisor, Gary Cohn to lead the search for the next Fed chief. President Donald Trump’s relationship with the Fed has been friendly to date, that does not mean Chairwoman Janet Yellen is likely to stay on. Some market […]
European Central Bank Facing Continuing Challenges The European Central Bank (ECB) facing continuing challenges when its Governing Council meets Thursday in Estonia. The Eurozone’s central bank is likely to err on the side of prudence by avoiding any notable reduction in monetary stimulus, even though the arguments points to a different policy direction. The argument […]
Soft US Inflation May Warrant Interest Rate “Rethink” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Tuesday, Fed Governor Lael Brainard said soft US inflation may cause her to reassess the path forward for monetary policy should it linger, even as the global economic outlook brightens and US growth looks poised to rebound. “If the soft inflation data persist, […]
FOMC Ties Rate Hikes to Economic Rebound The Fed (FOMC) policymakers agreed they should hold off on raising interest rates until they see evidence that a recent economic slowdown was transitory, mins from their 2-3 May policy meeting showed Wednesday. Nearly all policymakers at that meeting said they favored starting the wind-down of the Fed’s […]
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, […]
VIX (NYSEArca:VXX) Marks 10 yr Lows $VXX, $AUDUSD, $JPY, $EUR, $GBP After returning from the long May Day weekend, equity investors look undecided on whether to be Bullish or Bearish. Stocks across Asian markets were mixed Tuesday despite the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), Wall Street’s ‘Fear Factor’ hitting its lowest marks in a decade. The low volatility was reflected […]
US Homebuilder Sentiment Slips, Overall Outlook Still Positive $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX US homebuilders are a bit less optimistic about their sales prospects, as their overall outlook still remains favorable. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Monday slipped to 68 this month. That’s down 3 points from 71 in March, […]
Bullish Gold: A Case Study for Gold’s Price Run to $2,500 oz $GLD, $GDX, $SLW, $EXCFF Those who read this column know that I have been Bullish Gold for several months after noting the end of the Bear cycle in the precious Yellow metal and new forces that will contribute to an even stronger advance […]
Inflation in US Means Higher Interest Rates Speakers from the Fed are talking of up to 3 more Fed rate hikes this year. It is clear that Fed tightening is warranted by the steady rise in US inflation and the debate is more about the degree of tightening and the mechanism of tightening that is […]
Long Term US Mortgage Rated “Slipped” Last Week Long-term US mortgage rates last week fell from their highest marks of Y 2017. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate home loans fell to 4.23 from 4.30% the week prior. The benchmark rate stood at 3.71% a year ago and averaged […]
Inflation Back, Deflation Demons ‘Dead’, Growth Ahead $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The “Demons of Deflation” are in the dust-bin on a uptick in price pressures globally, prompting investors to seek protection in inflation-protected bonds. A year ago, it was deflation, falling prices that restrain consumer spending and economic growth that plagued investors and central banks, […]
Bullish Investors Positive About President Trump’s Policies $SPY Stock-market investors worldwide, especially the Bullish ones who have been proven right since 9 November have been richly rewarded, look to be in a gradual transition in their operating outlook. Their environment is moving away from comfortable reliance on central banks that are able and willing to […]
Hawkish FOMC Member said, “March Rate Hike Possible” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX A FOMC member Thursday added his hawkish tone to a growing group of Fed officials who are indicating that they could raise rates in March. FOMC member Jerome Powell said in a TV interview that he believed the Fed was close to achieving […]
US Home Mortgage Refinancing Activity Hits 2.5-Month High US application activity to refinance a mortgage climbed to its highest level since mid-December as 30-year home borrowing costs declined to their lowest in 6 weeks, Mortgage Bankers Association data released on Wednesday showed. The Washington-based industry group said its seasonally adjusted measure of loan applications for […]
Expect US Financial Market to Hold, DJIA 22,000 Next? $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The DJIA has risen about 14% since the November 8 Presidential election marking an intrday high of 20,851.33. That’s within 6% of 22,000, the next round number (resistance) that investors and traders are looking at. “I think 22,000 is what is justified […]
US Home Prices Up in December, Fastest Pace in a Year US home prices rose in December, this as prospective buyers bid against each other for a limited supply of property. The Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City home price index, released Tuesday, increased 5.6%, the most since January 2016. The price gainer reflects the […]
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 […]
Here is the Proof, Rising Interest Rates are Good for Gold $GLD, $USD, $XAUUSD You will recall that when the Fed raised interest rates in December, and the publicly spoke its plan to do so 3X more times in Y 2017, the conventional wisdom suggested gold should fall. The theory: Gold is a non-yielding asset, […]
US President Donald Trump’s Economic Plan to Spur GDP $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Economic experts now believe that the Trump White House estimates of economic growth of 3 to 3.5% are actually “too conservative” and the economy is poised to expand much faster than that. “With Reagan, we put up 4% growth rates coming out […]
Investors Still See Gold as Safe Haven & Inflation Hedge $GLD In a counter intuitive move, the precious Yellow metal is advancing as Fed threatens to tighten, ETF investors have turned buyers as Trump Rally extends. Savvy market analysts know very well that works for Gold in practice does not work in theory very often, in […]
Abu Dhabi Rents to Dip in 2017 on New Supply Thousands of new apartments and potentially decreased housing allowances are expected to weigh on the market Average apartment and villa rents in Abu Dhabi are expected to weaken further this year after declining in Y 2016 due to new supply and uncertainty related to state […]
The Trump Rally Extends, S&P 500 Posts Another Record High $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Along with the S&P, the DJIA posted its 4th straight record close, the NAS Comp closed at a high for a sixth day running. MSCI’s all-country world index edged up 0.08%. Europe’s broad FTSEurofirst 300 index slipped 0.04%to snap a 5-session […]
Econ 101: No Inflation, No Growth $GLD,$ SLV, $SPY A measure of US inflation expectations rose for a 2nd month running in January to its highest mark since mid-2015, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey released Monday that reinforced the view that interest rates would keep climbing. The survey of consumer […]
Bulgari Resort & Residences to Feature Dubai’s most Expensive Hotel Bulgari’s executive vice president Silvio Ursini said the room rates will be “by far the highest in the market” he upcoming Bulgari Resort and Residences on Dubai’s Jumeira Bay Island will take the crown of the Emirate’s most expensive hotel when it opens later this […]
Rates Rise, US New-Home Sales Fall 10% to 10-Month Low $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Purchases of new US homes fell in December to a 10-month low, suggesting the post-Election rise in mortgage rates pushed out potential buyers. Single-family house sales dropped 10.4%, the most in nearly 2 years, to a 536,000 annualized pace, the US […]
Janet Yellen, “Makes sense to raise rates gradually.” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX With the US economy close to full employment and inflation headed toward the Fed’s 2% goal, it “makes sense” for the US central bank to gradually lift interest rates, Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen said Wednesday afternoon. “Waiting too long to begin moving toward […]
The DJIA Tapped at the 20,000 Mark Friday $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The DJIA tapped at the 20,000 mark Friday, as US stock indexes close in on all-time highs as The Trump Rally extends. The US December jobs situation report showed that wages jumped by the largest amount in 7 years, though hiring was weaker […]
US Real Estate: Mortgage Rates Rise Mortgage rates inched upward, but it was enough to extend the climb to a ninth consecutive week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate now at 4.32 percent, according to Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey. The 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.24 discount and origination points. The larger […]
November 2016 Mortgage Data — Delinquency rate up by 2.5 percent, a relatively mild seasonal increase by historical standards — Annual improvement in mortgage delinquency rates is beginning to slow as market “normalizes” — Number of loans in active foreclosure drops below 500K for the first time in nearly 10 years — Pre-payment activity remains […]
US Home Construction Dove in November, Stocks Flat on High Volume $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX New-home construction in the US fell more than forecast in November after surging a month earlier to a 9-year high, indicating fitful progress in residential real estate. Residential starts slumped 18.7% to a 1.09-M annualized rate last month after rising […]
US Stocks Pause On FOMC’s Expected Rate Hike $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The FOMC raised interest rates by a Quarter point Wednesday and signaled a faster pace of increases in Y 2017 as the Trump Administration takes over with promises to boost growth through tax cuts, spending and deregulation. The rate increase raised the target […]
New York City-based luxury real estate marketplace Concierge Auctions has added three properties to its upcoming Winter Portfolio Sale, including an Italian palazzo apartment in Venice, Italy; a coveted penthouse in Tel Aviv, Israel; and a 9,500-square-foot Caribbean oceanfront mansion in St. Croix, USVI. The newest offerings are three of 19 dream homes globally that […]
US Jobs Report Validates Short-term Interest Rates $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The monthly US jobs report for November was released early Friday, and it was not so bad that the FOMC will upset market expectations and not hike interest rates in mid-December. The data validated what fixed-income markets have already priced in when it comes […]
The Recovery in Home Prices Bolsters Americans’ Household Wealth US home prices have fully recovered from their steep plunge during the housing bust and Great Recession, according to the data The Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index , released Tuesday, is just a bit above the peak it set in July 2006, […]
US Real Estate Report Black Knight Home Price Index Report: September 2016 Transactions — U.S. Home Prices Up 0.1 Percent for the Month; Up 5.4 Percent Year-Over-Year — September’s home price movement was relatively flat at the national level, with home prices ticking up just 0.1 percent from August — U.S. home prices are up […]
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USD Charging North on Interest Rate Bets $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The US climbed to its highest level in about 14 years Vs a basket of peer currencies Friday, while US T-Bond yields were set for their biggest fortnightly rise in 13 years on bets US inflation and interest rates are headed North. A growing […]
The Anemic Recovery from Great Recession Surprise Economists $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Friday, the Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said that the slow recovery from the Great Recession has surprised economists, confounding long-held beliefs about growth and inflation. Speaking to an economic conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Ms. Yellen did not address […]
Investor appetite for commercial real estate assets remains relatively healthy – despite ongoing geopolitical influences, which lend some uncertainty to the marketplace – as buyers look to increase allocations to the sector in their ongoing quest for yield. Scarcity of available product remains a factor in many markets as stakeholders keep an eye on interest-rate […]
US Real Estate Report: Home Price Perception Index Quicken Loans, the nation’s second largest retail mortgage lender, today announced appraisals lagged behind what homeowners estimated by 1.26 percent in September, according to the company’s national Home Price Perception Index (HPPI). This is a slight move toward equilibrium after a 1.56 percent gap between perceptions in […]
A $7-T Event in the World’s Financial Markets Is Looming $GS, $DB, $JPM If the London Interbank Borrowing Rate aka LIBOR was a musical artist, or an actor, or a sports team, we will be calling Y 2016 its comeback year. Not since the financial crisis of Y 2008 has Libor, to which almost $7-T […]
Key US Stock Indexes, Crude, Gold and Silver Markets Briefing $DIA, $GLD, $SLV, $OIL, $USO, $CU Commentary: The US stock market ended midweek on a higher note as a rally in Crude Oil futures and financials (+1.5%) outweighed interest rate worries. The DJIA (+0.6%) finished ahead of the NAS Comp (+0.5%) and the S&P 500 (+0.4%). Index […]
Fed Official Cautions Colleagues on Raising Interest Rates $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley suggested the central bank should be cautious in raising interest rates, given limits on its ability to respond to a recession with borrowing costs close to Zero meaning out of tools. Noting concerns from […]
US Federal Reserve, Hawks Vs Doves $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Friday we had 4 FOMC members speaking and participating on panels (jawboning). Within the US Fed there are colliding forces about US monetary policy. Not a situation that is market/investor healthy. The latest FOMC votes reveal that 3 members of the FOMC dissented in favor […]
Commentary: Paul Ebeling on Wall Street $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Last Friday, “Goldie” (NYSE:GS) issued a Southside warning for the S&P 500, again. Note: for almost 8 years the US Fed has been printing money in the trillions in an effort to inflate the economy and instill the notion of wealth in the people. And […]
The Week Ahead on Wall Street $FDX, $LEN, $GIS, $AZO On the Earnings Front Announcing earnings this week to Wall Street are S&P 500 members Adobe Systems (ADBE), FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) and Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN) Tuesday; Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), CarMax (KMX), General Mills (NYSE:GIS) and Red Hat (RHT) on Wednesday; and AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) Thursday. On […]
Fed Welcomes Uptick in Inflation US consumer prices rose more than expected in August as healthcare costs recorded their biggest gain in 32.5 years, pointing to a steady build-up of inflation that could allow the US Fed to raise interest rates this year. The cost of living last month was also pushed up by continuing […]
US Stocks Finished Volatile Week, NAS Comp Outpreformed $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX, $AAPL The the US stock market finished a volatile week, but was able to settle above last Friday’s marks. The NAS Comp outperformed, +2.3%, the S&P 500 + 0.5% after testing its 100-Day MA at 2122.5 several times. Fears of a September Fed […]