Market News – January 21, 2020

Market News

HERE COME THE NEW HOMES:  “Housing starts” measures the number of new residential construction projects begun in any particular month.  Housing starts in December were over 16% better than the month before, and 40.8% better than December of 2018.  December’s number was the highest it has been since December of 2006 (end of the bubble). …

January 21, 2020

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Market News – January 6, 2020

Market News

THE OLD YEAR ENDS WITH GREAT NUMBERS AND THE NEW YEAR BEGINS:  We had another holiday-shortened week which included portions of both 2019 and 2020.  For the week, stocks were down a tad (the S&P 500 was down 0.2%).  This was largely due to the dip in prices on Friday.  That decrease was caused by…

January 6, 2020

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Market News – December 30, 2019

Market News

SHORT AND SWEET:  We had a short week for the markets due to the holiday, and it ended well, once again in record territory.  Easing trade tensions and improving economic data have created a positive stock trading environment.  Strong consumer spending data was the latest data point to buoy investors.  Amazon was a natural beneficiary…

December 30, 2019

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Market News – December 23, 2019

Market News

STRONG INCREASE IN PERSONAL INCOME IN NOVEMBER:  In November, personal income for the average American increased by 0.5% from the prior month.   THE U.S. CONSUMER IS SPENDING:  U.S. consumers increased their spending by 0.4% in November from the prior month.  November spending was 2.4% higher than one year ago.  Durable goods including automobiles, led…

December 23, 2019

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Market News – December 16, 2019

Market News

A LIMITED TRADE DEAL:  Apparently, the U.S. and China have agreed to a “first-stage” trade deal.  China will agree to buy more products from the U.S., and in particular agricultural products ($40 billion per year).  The U.S. will not impose certain threatened tariffs, and reduce some existing ones.  Tariffs on smartphones, toys and consumer electronics,…

December 16, 2019

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Market News – December 9, 2019

Market News

STRONG JOBS REPORT REVIVES THE MARKETS:  After a very solid U.S. jobs report (see below), markets jumped on Friday, turning a negative week into a positive one.  Up until Friday our old friend, U.S./China trade relations, reared its ugly head and sent markets sideways to negative for most of the week.  The jobs report provided…

December 9, 2019

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Market News – December 2, 2019

Market News

NOVEMBER WAS A STRONG MONTH FOR THE U.S. MARKETS:  The shortened trading week ended as another positive week and capping off a month with a 3% gain (approximately).  This time of year, a key driver is consumer behavior.  Are they shopping?  Although it is too soon to know for sure, solid data on household spending…

December 2, 2019

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Market News – November 18, 2019

Market News

LONG BULL MARKET CONTINUES:  The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 28,000 for the first time ever on Friday and U.S. stocks in general enjoyed another solid week.  Optimism was fueled by: The White House indicating progress toward a deal with China, Comments by Federal Reserve Chairman noting strength in the economy, Positive third quarter corporate…

November 18, 2019

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Market News – November 11, 2019

Market News

INVESTORS ARE CONFIDENT:  Towards the end of July, investors were frightened by a drumbeat of data suggesting a global slowdown.  U.S. stock prices fell and then bobbed around in a tight range.  Since then, the Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates, U.S. consumer spending and jobs data has come in strong, and corporate profits have…

November 11, 2019

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Market News – November 4, 2019

Market News

NOW IT IS ABOUT THE EARNINGS:  There have been times this year when I feel like I can just cut and paste my comments from the past week about what moved the markets.  Generally, it has been the Fed and U.S./China.  Although the Fed played a role last week, the markets were primarily moved by…

November 4, 2019

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