Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 7-18-2016

  • Economic data for the week was fairly positive, with improvements in retail sales, industrial production and jobless claims.  Inflation ticked a bit higher due to housing costs and energy, while manufacturing remained mixed.
  • Global equity markets gained ground on the week, with foreign stocks outperforming those in the U.S., particular in emerging markets.  Bond prices fell back on the week as interest rates rose.  Commodity prices were slightly higher as oil and industrial metals ticked upward.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 7-11-2016

  • Economic data for the week took a turn for the better, with strong results from non-manufacturing ISM as well as an improved employment situation report on Friday.
  • Equity markets in the U.S. gained as Brexit returns were tempered by the stronger jobs report, but foreign stocks struggled.  Bonds rallied globally with interest rates falling to low if not record-low levels in many locations.  Crude oil prices fell backward with shorter-term supply disruption concerns fading and production rising again.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 7-05-2016

  • Economic data for the week was highlighted by stronger manufacturing results in the ISM and Chicago PMI surveys and higher consumer confidence, while real estate activity was mixed—a combination of higher home prices but weaker building activity for the prior month.
  • Investment markets recovered sharply following the ‘Brexit’ surprise last week, with equities higher globally.  Interestingly, bonds also fared well with bond yields falling on net for the week in both developed and emerging markets.  Commodity prices, including crude oil, generally showed continued strength during the week.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 6-27-2016

  • Most global attention was focused on the U.K. ‘Brexit’ referendum, which was assumed to be doomed to failure earlier in the week—until final results showed it passed by a small margin.  In a slower week for U.S. economic releases, housing results were mixed, with home prices higher but building activity lackluster.
  • Equity markets gained ground early in the week globally as concerns over ‘Brexit’ dissipated before actual voting but reversed as results came through, causing a broad sell-off of risk assets.  Bonds fared well in the week in response, and commodity markets declined with oil and agricultural futures falling back as well as a stronger U.S. dollar.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 6-20-2016

  • The week was highlighted by the FOMC meeting, at which no interest rate policy changes were made. In other data, retail sales surprised on the upside, manufacturing and production data were mixed, and inflation came in little changed as expected.
  • Markets suffered through a week of negativity generally due to the mixed economic data, digesting of Fed communications and heightened ‘Brexit’ concerns. Bonds fared better with lower rates, especially abroad, while commodities fell slightly as oil production and inventories appeared to pick up.

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Fed Note

Fed Note:

It was rumored again in recent months that Fed might use June as another jumping off point for a 2nd rate hike, but it was again not to be.  With the poor employment situation report for May and tight polling for the upcoming ‘Brexit’ vote in the U.K. that could cause market disruptions, the FOMC was provided with several ready excuses to not proceed.

In today’s statement, it was noted that the pace of labor improvement has slowed, while economic activity appears to have picked up, as has housing.  As household spending has improved, business spending/capex has remained soft.  Inflation was acknowledged as remaining little changed, and running below target. Continue reading

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 6-13-2016

  • In a quiet week for economic data, inventories rose, which was a positive for forward-looking GDP, jobs data was decent but consumer sentiment dropped a bit.
  • Equity markets in the U.S. ended generally flat, while foreign markets lost ground, with global growth and Brexit fears.  Bonds ended higher with interest rates falling around the world.  Commodities gained with strength outside of crude oil, which was little changed on the week.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 6-06-2016

  • Economic data for the short week was mixed, with slightly stronger manufacturing data relative to previous months, while non-manufacturing/services weakened.  Housing prices continued in an upward trajectory.  However, the big government employment report on Friday was a disappointment, and could be enough to keep the Fed on hold for another month at least.
  • U.S. and developed foreign stocks were little changed on the week, with the mixed bag of economic data.  Bond prices moved higher with a drop in interest rates and Fed action becoming less likely in June.  Energy prices were little changed on the week, although other commodities gained.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 5-31-2016

  • Economic data for the week was dominated by strong U.S. housing numbers, while durable goods and sentiment lagged.  Comments from FOMC members alluded to a stronger chance of an interest rate hike in coming months.
  • Equity markets around the world gained on the week, with continued strength in oil prices and an improvement in economic and geopolitical sentiment somewhat.  With interest rates flattish, bond prices didn’t experience much movement during the week.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 5-23-2016

  • Economic data on the manufacturing side was lackluster, with indexes contracting again.  Inflation was again generally contained, and housing came in a bit better than expected, while the FOMC minutes from April surprised somewhat—being more biased towards tightening than some observers first thought.
  • Equity markets in the U.S. and developed foreign markets moved slightly higher on the week generally as investors absorbed the more hawkish set of Fed minutes, while emerging markets lost ground.  Bonds declined as interest rates ticked up along the yield curve.  Commodities gained with a continued recovery in oil prices.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 5-16-2016

  • In a slow week for economic data, retail sales gained more than expected, while consumer sentiment also came in showing strength.  Jobless claims were the sole weak spot, but this may have been the result of one-off seasonal adjustments.
  • Stock markets fell across the globe along with poor retail earnings, while bonds gained with interest rates ticking downward.  Due to a variety of cross-currents, crude oil prices rose again, into the upper $40’s/barrel.

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Weekly Economic Update

Economic Update 5-09-2016

  • Economic data for the week was highlighted by continued mixed results in manufacturing, but stronger non-manufacturing/services data.  The employment situation report for April was a bit of a disappointment, mostly due to the doubt it casts on Fed action in the near future.
  • Equity markets declined on the week, but domestic high-quality bonds performed positively as interest rates declined.  On the other hand, U.S. high yield and emerging market bonds weakened in line with lower oil prices.

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