Markets and Economy, Page 4
Anton's Weekly UPdate on markets, the consumer, jobs, housing, and the Fed
More in Markets and Economy
Markets and EconomyCase for Staying InvestedFor the past week, major media outlets have opined on the stock market volatility speculating whether this is the beginning of a significant stock market selloff and if the US economy is entering a deep recession cycle lMarkets and EconomyFalling Markets in Stable EconomySince December 6, 2024, the US stock market has been trading in a flat range up to February 19. However, the flat trading range weakened on January 27 when DeepSeek announced it had developed an AI learning database usinMarkets and EconomyConsumers Climb Wall of WorryThe University of Michigan released on Friday their Surveys of Consumers reports. In these reports they identify consumers’ sentiment and confidence based on surveys they conduct each month.Markets and EconomyPositive but Rocky Start for 2025It seems investors entered 2025 with guarded optimism. Interest rates and inflation are stable, and household finances continue to improve. The labor market continued to add more workers, slowly reducing the millions of Markets and EconomyManufacturing Orders Up and Job Availability DownThe US economy continues to improve in many areas which would indicate continued positive momentum and continued growth. Today, our focus will be on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Turnover (JOLTS) repMarkets and EconomyMarket Fragile After Two Year RallyAfter two consecutive years of robust US stock market gains, investors are nervous about stock values and meeting high growth expectations, especially in the tech sector. For reference, the major indices' two-year run haMarkets and EconomyFreedom is the Secret Sauce of AmericaWe have mentioned in past UPdates the importance of monitoring the financial health and sentiment of US consumers. The primary reason is that American spending represents a whopping 67.9% of America’s Gross Domestic ProdMarkets and EconomyStaying in the Sweet SpotThe US economy has had two extraordinary consecutive years of stock market gains. What happened to the recession analysts and major media pundits warned investors in 2022? Although many sectors and indices did not match Markets and EconomyStart the Year StrongIt may be just physiological, but I really enjoy January. Granted it’s just another 30-day period like any other month. But January is motivating to me because it’s the start of a new year to achieve new goals and experiMarkets and EconomySmall Businesses Owners Turn OptimisticFor the past three years, small business owners have been struggling with economic and social issues that have limited their ability to grow. Each month the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) publishes Markets and EconomyShopping, Shopping, And More ShoppingMy daughter loves to shop. In fact, her two love languages are shopping and someone is paying for it. Apparently, at least the shopping part is also a language of love for a lot of people. Adobe Analytics reported that bMarkets and EconomyHomes for the HomelessLate Friday afternoon on November 29, 2024, 61 of us traveled from San Antonio to Reynosa, Mexico to volunteer for Strategic Alliance to build three houses for three related families all living in small shacks.Markets and EconomyThe Sputtering Housing MarketThe housing market came to an abrupt halt for the second time this century. The first shock to housing was following the 2008 Great Recession when existing home sales plummeted from a record 7.25 million annual sales in Markets and EconomyTrump 2.0 - What Can We Expect?As long-time readers know, to determine potential future events I refer extensively to similar historical periods for insights and guidance of what the future may hold. The saying is very true “That if you don’t know wheMarkets and EconomyLabor Costs Continue to Rise as Inflation SlowsI don’t know about you, but it seems the costs for everything are getting crazy. My wife went to the grocery store and items that were $9 last week are $14 this week. You can’t tell me grocery store or supplier costs havMarkets and EconomyConsumers Getting Upbeat...maybeAccording to this month’s University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers report, Consumers for the fourth consecutive month have improved their view of their finances and the economy. It’s been a rough road for consumers tMarkets and EconomyConsumer Spending Building MomentumSeptember retail sales increased 0.4% from August and is the third consecutive month over month (MoM) it has increased. The 0.4% is substantially higher than August’s 0.1% monthly increase. Even though retail sales have Markets and EconomyStock Market Deja Vu!We have warned at the end of the strong first half of 2024 that a summer selloff is not unusual. Not only are selloffs and market corrections typical, but they are also necessary to extend a positive growth trend of stocMarkets and EconomyMore Jobs Less SuppliesToday we have received a trove of economic reports that indicate that companies are still hiring and growing while it appears the economy is in a mild slow-down cycle. This seems contradictory and begs the question:Markets and EconomyIs Housing Reaching a Bottom?The very low volume of existing home sales reported last week by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) would indicate the continued impact of current decades' high mortgage interest rates. The NAR reported only 3.86
For general education only, not individualized tax or investment advice. Up Capital Management is a Registered Investment Adviser.