Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Economic Update for the week of March 31st, 2015

WEEKLY ECONOMIC UPDATE


WEEKLY QUOTE
              
“Look at all the sentences which seem true and question them.”
     
- David Reisman
      
   
WEEKLY TIP
             
Own a business? Negotiating with vendors may help you save a few hundred dollars in monthly operating costs. It doesn’t hurt to try it; any vendor would prefer a satisfied customer over a search for a new one.
  
   
WEEKLY RIDDLE
            
A man bet his neighbor that his dog could jump higher than his neighbor’s hedge. The neighbor accepted the bet and lost. Why?

   
Last week’s riddle:
Its body of stone shields a fiery heart. Under sufficient pressure, its head will depart. What is it? 
   
Last week’s answer:
A volcano.




March 31, 2015
                       
HOME SALES PICK UP
Existing home sales accelerated 1.2% to an annual pace of 4.88 million in February, the National Association of Realtors announced. Sales had slowed markedly in January. February also brought a big jump in new home buying – a 7.8% increase according to the Census Bureau, taking the year-over-year gain to 24.8%.1,2
   
FEBRUARY BRINGS AN ADVANCE IN THE CPI
The 0.2% gain represented the first monthly rise in consumer prices since October; a 2.4% increase in gasoline prices made a demonstrable difference. Even so, this left the headline CPI flat year-over-year. The core CPI rose 0.2% in February, taking its annualized gain to 1.7%.3
         
UMICH INDEX STAGES MARCH RETREAT
At a mark of 93.0, March’s final University of Michigan consumer sentiment index declined 2.4 points from its final February reading. It has still improved vastly in the past year – last March, it was at 80.0.4
 
FINAL Q4 GDP: 2.2%
The third estimate of fourth-quarter growth by the Bureau of Economic Analysis was unchanged from the second; economists polled by Briefing.com expected an upward revision to 2.4%. Last week also brought news of a 1.4% slip in hard goods orders; even minus transportation orders, durables still declined 0.4%.2
      
WALL STREET WORRIES ABOUT A STRONG DOLLAR
Pessimism about the oncoming earnings season contributed to market choppiness and weekly losses for the big three. Across March 23-27, the Dow fell 2.29%, the Nasdaq 2.69% and the S&P 500 2.23%. Friday, the Dow settled at 17,712.66, the Nasdaq at 4,891.22 and the S&P at 2,061.02.5
       
THIS WEEK: Monday, the Commerce Department releases February personal spending numbers and the NAR issues February pending home sales data. The January S&P/Case-Shiller home price index and the Conference Board’s March consumer confidence survey arrive Tuesday. On Wednesday, ISM’s March factory PMI and ADP’s March employment report appear and Monsanto announces earnings. Thursday brings the March Challenger job-cut report, new initial claims totals, February factory orders data and earnings from CarMax and Perry Ellis. On Friday, the Labor Department presents its March jobs report and Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen speaks briefly at a Fed research conference.
  
% CHANGE
Y-T-D
1-YR CHG
5-YR AVG
10-YR AVG
DJIA
-0.62
+8.91
+12.65
+6.89
NASDAQ
+3.28
+17.83
+20.84
+14.55
S&P 500
+0.10
+11.46
+15.33
+7.55
REAL YIELD
3/27 RATE
1 YR AGO
5 YRS AGO
10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS
0.19%
0.56%
1.62%
1.94%
 

Sources: online.wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov - 3/27/155,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.


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If you would like us to add them to our distribution list, please reply with their address.
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«RepresentativeDisclosure»
 
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.
 
Citations.
1 - housingwire.com/articles/33325-new-home-sales-rebound-25-in-february [3/24/15]
2 - briefing.com/investor/calendars/economic/2015/03/23-27 [3/27/15]
3- nytimes.com/2015/03/25/business/rising-gas-costs-help-lift-us-consumer-prices.html [3/25/15]
4 - tinyurl.com/o9am74a [3/27/15]
5 - tinyurl.com/onrf6g7 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F27%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F27%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F27%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F26%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F26%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F26%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F28%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F28%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F28%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/27/15]           
7 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [3/27/15]
8 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [3/27/15]

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Economic Update for the week of March 24th, 2015

WEEKLY ECONOMIC UPDATE


WEEKLY QUOTE
              
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.”
     
- Art Linkletter
      
   
WEEKLY TIP
             
Federal student loans may offer 6-month grace periods before any repayment is necessary, but having an income-based repayment plan in place soon after graduation is wise. Repayments can be limited to affordable amounts through these plans.
  
   
WEEKLY RIDDLE
            
Its body of stone shields a fiery heart. Under sufficient pressure, its head will depart. What is it?

   
Last week’s riddle:
I never complain no matter where I am led; I go around in circles, yet move straight ahead. What am I? 
   
Last week’s answer:
A wheel.




March 24, 2015
                       
FED MAY WAIT LONGER TO TIGHTEN
March’s Federal Reserve policy statement provided less forward guidance than many investors expected. As anticipated, the word “patient” disappeared – but the Federal Open Market Committee also lowered its 2015 GDP forecast (to a range of 2.3-2.7%) and nearly halved its 2015 inflation projection (to a range of 0.6-0.8%). Seconding this weaker economic outlook, the Fed indicated it might wait until late 2015 to tinker with interest rates, altering the commonly held perception that a rate hike might be in store before Q2 ends.1
   
OIL PRICES RISE
Light sweet crude rose 3.9% on the NYMEX last week, settling at $45.72 Friday. It was the first winning week in five for the commodity, and a short-term decline in the dollar and lower U.S. rig counts helped. Gasoline advanced 2.0% on the NYMEX for the week, natural gas 2.2% and heating oil 1.2%.2
         
FEWER STARTS, BUT MORE PERMITS
The Census Bureau measured a 17.0% drop in groundbreaking for February, which took housing starts to a 13-month low. Declining builder sentiment, higher construction costs and fewer available parcels were all contributing factors. Building permits increased 3.0% last month; apartment permits jumped 18.3%.3
     
TERRIFIC WEEK FOR U.S. EQUITIES
A little dollar weakness, a rebound in energy prices, easing in Europe, the latest FOMC statement and pleasing corporate earnings all supported a 5-day rally. From March 16-20, the S&P 500 gained 2.66% to settle Friday at 2,108.06. The Dow and Nasdaq posted weekly gains of 2.13% and 3.17% on their way to respective closes of 18,127.65 and 5,026.42.4
       
THIS WEEK: Existing home sales figures for February appear Monday, courtesy of the National Association of Realtors. On Tuesday, February new home sales data arrives from the Census Bureau, and the Street also interprets February’s CPI, manufacturing PMIs for Japan and China and earnings from H.B. Fuller, Sonic and Steelcase. Wednesday brings durable goods data for February plus earnings from Pacific Sunwear, Paychex and Red Hat. In addition to the latest initial jobless claims report, Thursday also brings earnings from Accenture, Restoration Hardware, Lululemon Athletica, ConAgra Foods, GameStop, Fred’s Super Dollar and Scholastic. Friday, the University of Michigan publishes its final March household sentiment survey, the federal government’s final estimate of Q1 growth arrives, and Fed chair Janet Yellen speaks on monetary policy in San Francisco.
  
% CHANGE
Y-T-D
1-YR CHG
5-YR AVG
10-YR AVG
DJIA
+1.71
+11.00
+13.75
+7.16
NASDAQ
+6.13
+16.37
+22.34
+15.04
S&P 500
+2.39
+12.61
+16.35
+7.81
REAL YIELD
3/20 RATE
1 YR AGO
5 YRS AGO
10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS
0.17%
0.66%
1.50%
1.80%
 

Sources: online.wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov - 3/20/155,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.


Please feel free to forward this article to family, friends or colleagues.
If you would like us to add them to our distribution list, please reply with their address.
We will contact them first and request their permission to add them to our list.


«RepresentativeDisclosure»
 
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.
  
Citations.
1 - thestreet.com/story/13084714/1/meaning-of-fed-policy-statement-depends-on-definition-of-is--surprising-market-reaction.html [3/19/15]
2- marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-stay-choppy-ahead-of-rig-count-data-2015-03-20 [3/20/15]
3 - eyeonhousing.org/2015/03/housing-production-stumbles/ [3/17/15]
4 - markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/usmarkets/usmarkets.asp [3/20/15]
5 - markets.wsj.com/us [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F20%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F20%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F20%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F19%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F19%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F19%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F21%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F21%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F21%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/20/15]            
7 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [3/20/15]
8 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [3/20/15]


 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Economic update for the week of March 17th, 2015

WEEKLY ECONOMIC UPDATE


WEEKLY QUOTE
              
“Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.”
    
- Charles de Gaulle
      
   
WEEKLY TIP
             
Are you in your fifties and providing eldercare to one or both of your parents? As you help them in their retirements, remember not to neglect your own retirement planning as these years of your life are among the most important for that effort.
  
   
WEEKLY RIDDLE
            
I never complain no matter where I am led; I go around in circles, yet move straight ahead. What am I?

   
Last week’s riddle:
Buried in wood from one end to the other, my head is exposed while I keep things together. What am I? 
   
Last week’s answer:
A nail.




March 16, 2015
                       
WHERE ARE THE SHOPPERS?
Retail sales were off again in February – the 0.6% decline reported by the Census Bureau was the third straight monthly retreat. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com anticipated an 0.4% advance. This severe winter may have prompted households to spend more on utilities and services than on retail purchases. Another closely watched indicator, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, showed a preliminary March reading of 91.2. That was 4.2 points under its final February reading and 4.1 points below the expectations of economists polled by the Wall Street Journal. Less optimism among lower-income households influenced the decline.1,2
   
PPI DEFIES EXPECTATIONS
Both the overall and core Producer Price Index retreated half a percent for February. Even with low fuel and energy costs, economists polled by Briefing.com still projected a 0.3% rise in the headline PPI and an 0.1% advance for the core PPI. In January, the headline PPI fell 0.8%.2
         
OIL DOWN 9.6% IN A WEEK
Worries about a supply glut sent light sweet crude lower on the NYMEX. It settled at just $44.84 Friday, yet there was a nice development for oil investors: the Energy Department announced it would be buying up to 5 million barrels for its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That could ease anxieties about excess inventory.3
     
BIG SWINGS, NO ADVANCE
A rollercoaster week ended with 5-day losses for all three major U.S. indices. The Dow shed 0.60%, the Nasdaq 1.13% and the S&P 500 0.86%. That resulted in the following Friday settlements: Dow, 17,749.31; Nasdaq, 4,871.76; S&P, 2,053.40.4
       
THIS WEEK: Monday, the Federal Reserve reports on February industrial output and Eastman Kodak and Molycorp announce Q4 results. Tuesday sees the release of February figures on building permits and housing starts and earnings from Oracle, Burlington Stores, Adobe Systems, Pacific Sunwear and DSW. Wednesday brings the latest Fed policy statement and earnings from Cintas, FedEx, Jabil Circuit, Guess?, Tilly’s, Smart & Final, General Mills, Wet Seal and Williams-Sonoma. The Conference Board presents its February index of leading indicators on Thursday, accompanying a new initial jobless claims report and quarterly results from Lennar and Nike. Darden Restaurants, Tiffany and KB Home report earnings Friday.
  
% CHANGE
Y-T-D
1-YR CHG
5-YR AVG
10-YR AVG
DJIA
-0.41
+10.18
+13.41
+6.43
NASDAQ
+2.87
+14.35
+21.15
+13.75
S&P 500
-0.27
+11.21
+15.71
+7.01
REAL YIELD
3/13 RATE
1 YR AGO
5 YRS AGO
10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS
0.44%
0.49%
1.45%
1.82%
 

Sources: online.wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov - 3/13/155,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.


Please feel free to forward this article to family, friends or colleagues.
If you would like us to add them to our distribution list, please reply with their address.
We will contact them first and request their permission to add them to our list.


«RepresentativeDisclosure»
 
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.
 
Citations.
1 - foxbusiness.com/economy-policy/2015/03/13/consumer-sentiment-falls-in-march/ [3/13/15]
2- briefing.com/investor/calendars/economic/2015/03/09-13 [3/13/15]
3 - marketwatch.com/story/energy-dept-plans-up-to-5-million-barrel-oil-purchase-2015-03-13 [3/13/15]
4 - markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/usmarkets/usmarkets.asp [3/13/15]
5 - markets.wsj.com/us [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F13%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F13%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F13%2F14&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F12%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F12%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F12%2F10&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F14%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F14%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]
6 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F14%2F05&x=0&y=0 [3/13/15]             
7 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [3/13/15]
8 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [3/13/15]