For U.S. corporations, there was a trio of bad news in yesterday’s revised productivity numbers for the first quarter, and this potentially has earnings repercussions. U.S. non-farm business output per hour year-over-year was revised lower from growth of 0.6 percent … Continued
U.S. consumer spending, accounting for >2/3rds of economy, key to growth Over last eight years, bank deposits have grown 80 percent But interest income suppressed due to ZIRP Do consumers always benefit from low interest rates? At first glance, that … Continued
U.S. personal incomes grow in April, but consumers stash away cash In recent months/quarters, inventories have been growing faster than orders ISM Manufacturing shows small improvement in order-inventory mismatch in May The importance of U.S. consumers cannot be stressed enough … Continued
The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of May 26, 2015. Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: If we just focus on what the consensus was expecting, U.S. economic data this week were split down the middle, with maybe a … Continued
2nd straight M/M rise in orders for U.S. business capX proxy in April For several months beginning June, hurdle rate quite high for Y/Y growth Six years into expansion, ZIRP probably not confidence booster among CEOs Phew! A sigh of … Continued
Sales of U.S. new homes came in better than expected in April, up 6.8 percent month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 517,000. Monthly numbers tend to be volatile. The 12-month rolling total was 5.66 million in the month … Continued
The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of May 19, 2015. Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The April FOMC minutes for all intents and purposes put a nail in the coffin of June rate-hike odds. At the March meeting, … Continued
U.S. existing-home sales fell 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million in April. March, however, was revised higher to 5.21 million from the previous 5.19 million. Depending on how one looks at it, there is both … Continued
U.S. financials continue to send conflicting signals. As important a sector as this one is, what happens next probably will hold clues to a whole host of things, ranging from what lies ahead for the U.S. economy to where interest … Continued
S&P 500 retraces 161.8 percent Fib extension of Oct 07-Mar 09 decline Transports not in sync with Dow/S&P 500, having broken several support levels Having spent lots of buying power of late, SPX shows signs of fatigue; pullback odds rising … Continued