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Weekly Economic Update

Posted on October 17, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 10-17-2016

In a lighter week for economic data, retail sales came in stronger than in the previous few months, but remained lackluster. Producer inflation picked up slightly, consumer sentiment fell a bit while labor was mixed with a drop in job openings but continued low jobless claims.

Global equity markets generally lost ground on the week, foreign markets outperforming U.S. in local terms, but the gains being reversed by a stronger dollar. Bonds were mixed, with small positive results in the U.S. and losses in foreign debt due to the dollar effect. Crude oil gained ground again, leading the commodity group upward.

Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on October 10, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 10-10-2016

Economic news last week was highlighted by strong reports in ISM manufacturing and non-manufacturing, and a decent but not outstanding September employment situation report. The combination of data led to increased expectations for a Fed rate hike in December.

Equity markets were generally negative for the week, as was most fixed income, due to a rise in interest rates. Commodities, however, were surprisingly resilient, led by continued gains in the price of crude oil.

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Weekly Economic Update

Posted on October 3, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 10-03-2016

In week packed with economic data, results showed weaker housing numbers for the prior month, flattish personal income/spending but somewhat stronger industrial numbers and consumer sentiment, and continued strong/low jobless claims.

Equity markets experienced small positive gains in the U.S. and were mixed overseas in a see-saw type week. Bonds gained a bit as well, with interest rates declining slightly worldwide, with U.S. corporate high yield leading the way. Oil prices jumped by several dollars upon OPEC members seeming to agree on production cuts.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on September 26, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 9-26-2016

Economic data for the week was largely focused around the FOMC meeting, where no interest rate policy action was taken. Several housing metrics came out during the week, to mixed results, with stronger pricing and homebuilder sentiment, but weaker sales volume and starts/permits.

Stock markets rose globally with Fed policy holding steady, and Japan going a bit further, although gains were stronger abroad than domestically. For similar reasons, bonds fared well on the week with the decline in interest rates. Commodity indexes gained, led by a rise in oil prices.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged 1st Quarter GDP, bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Housing, housing starts, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, Taper, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Fed Update

Posted on September 21, 2016 by LSAConnect

Fed Note:

The September FOMC meeting ended with no action. For those hoping for some activity after some hawkish Fedspeak, this proved again to be a disappointment, but was not really a surprise for most. Three members did dissent on this lack of action—wanting a rate hike now—and the statement alluded to a rate hike being likely in the near future, after ‘further evidence of continued progress towards its objectives’. Risks were described as being roughly balanced, with overall growth picking up somewhat from earlier in the year, strong labor and household spending, but weaker business investment (more on these below).

Once a quarter, including for this meeting, released materials included additional projections for economic growth and inflation, as well as the ‘dot plot’, a graph introduced in 2012 as a way of showing anonymous FOMC member interest rate projections for the coming year and beyond. These projections have been inconsistent, as growth, inflation and rates have all fallen short of expectations. Actually, there’s been some call for the Fed to drop the dot plot, since these haven’t been very accurate, and the constant tweaks seem to be creating more confusion than they’re alleviating. Continue reading →

Posted in Economic News | Tagged 3rd quarter GDP, bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on September 20, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 9-19-2016

There were a flurry of economic data releases last week, with results tilted toward the negative—included were disappointments in retail sales and manufacturing, while consumer sentiment was a little better than expected, and jobless claims remain very low. Inflation also remains flattish, in line with the recent cyclical trend.

Equity markets experienced more volatility than during the last few summer months, but gained a bit on net in the U.S., while generally losing ground overseas. Bonds experienced a lackluster week as well, upon higher interest rates. Commodities lost ground thanks to a weaker dollar and higher perceived oil supply conditions.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on September 12, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 9-12-2016

In a light week for economic data, the key release was a disappointing ISM non-manufacturing number, while JOLTs and jobless claims showed continued labor market strength. A key question focused on by market participants is how these various reports will affect the probability of a Fed interest rate move in a few weeks.

U.S. equity markets declined, as did most investment-grade bonds, as a result of comments implying a sooner-than-later Fed interest rate move. Foreign developed markets fell to a lesser degree, while emerging markets bucked the trend with gains. Commodity markets rose with help from a weaker dollar and higher energy prices.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, GDP, Government, Home Sales, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on September 6, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 9-06-2016

In a busy week for economic data, general results weren’t as strong as expected, but neither were there any outright trouble spots. The ISM manufacturing index weakened by a few points, housing proved mixed but stable and the employment situation report disappointed a bit compared to expectations.

Equity markets generally ended up in the positive globally, as did domestic bonds, while foreign bonds were mixed due to a stronger dollar. Commodities, led by oil, were generally down on the week.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on August 30, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 8-29-2016

Economic data for the week was decent with strong reports from durable goods, new home sales, and jobless claims while existing home sales came in a bit weaker. Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole conference alluded to a desire to perhaps boost rates sooner than year-end.

S. equities declined on the week with a higher probability for rate hikes, while foreign stocks generally fared better. Bonds were also relatively flattish in both the U.S. and abroad. Commodities were also hurt by the dollar with crude oil prices declining a few percent.

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Weekly Economic Update

Posted on August 22, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 8-22-2016

Economic data for the week showed a combination of strength in housing and jobless claims, continued mixed results in manufacturing, and tempered consumer inflation. The FOMC minutes showed conflicting opinions, which has carried over into recent Fed member communications.

In continued low-volatility summer equity market activity, stocks were slightly higher in the U.S. and emerging markets, and lower in the developed markets generally, even with help from a weaker dollar.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, GDP, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on August 15, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 8-15-2016

Economic data for the week included a flattish/disappointing retail sales report and continued weak productivity, but, on the positive side, ongoing strong labor market metrics.

U.S. equity markets reached new highs again for the week, before pulling back to flattish returns; foreign stocks outperformed, with generally positive gains globally. Bonds gained some ground with interest rates falling. Commodities with help from a weaker dollar and higher oil prices.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged 1st Quarter GDP, Bank of Japan, bps, China, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, foreign bonds, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, Russia, S&P 500, S&P500 | Leave a comment

Weekly Economic Update

Posted on August 8, 2016 by LSAConnect

Economic Update 8-08-2016

Economic data for the week was highlighted by weaker than expected but still-expansionary ISM manufacturing and non-manufacturing reports, while the July employment situation report was much stronger than anticipated, pleasing investment markets.

Equity markets were higher in the U.S. and somewhat mixed globally. Government bonds declined with interest rates moving higher, with the exception of high yield corporates, which gained. Commodities were mixed with oil little changed on the week on net.

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Posted in Economic News | Tagged bps, Brazil, China, Commodities, CPI, Crude oil, crude oil prices, DJIA, ECB, Economic, economic data, economic growth, Economic Update, Emerging Markets, Employment, employment report, Europe, Eurozone, Fed, Federal Reserve, fixed income, FOMC, Government, Home Sales, Inflation, interest rate, interest rates, Janet Yellen, Japan, Jobless Claims, Jobs Report, LSA, MSCI Europe, oil prices, Olympics, Portfolio, Q/E, Real Estate, Retail Sales, S&P 500, unemployment rate, Update, Yahoo! | Leave a comment

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