Setback in orders for business-capex proxy; down four consecutive months Inventory-to-order ratios, nowhere near previous peaks, trending higher Zero-bound suppressed rates probably impacting incentive to borrow The much-anticipated capex boom in the U.S. will just have to wait a while … Continued
As FOMC meets, markets will be looking for clues on rate-hike timing Consensus, which had been betting on mid-year hike, vacillating of late Lower-than-expected inflation, strong dollar excuses for Fed not to move The Federal Open Market Committee begins its … Continued
As oil price buckles, increase in talk of need to focus on S&P 500 earnings ex-energy Collapse in energy earnings important factor, but SPX ests were too rosy to begin with Sell-side struggles to wrap arms around energy repercussions; hard … Continued
Draghi finally delivers, igniting a global rally in stocks Here in U.S., sustainability in doubt unless stocks attract some of that money U.S. households not likely to be source of funds as money market funds lower than pre-crisis As expected, … Continued
U.S. home builder sentiment chirpy, near multi-year highs Just a matter of time before sentiment follows home sales/starts lower Stocks follow builder sentiment; ITB perilously close to breaking crucial support Hope springs eternal. U.S. home builders are an optimistic bunch. … Continued
As world’s largest debtor and one running deficit, U.S. needs constant demand for Treasurys Recycling of petrodollars has been reliable source of demand for U.S. federal debt So far, drop in price of crude has not adversely impacted this demand … Continued
November job openings in U.S. non-farm payroll at yet another high As of December, not much change in momentum in oil and extraction jobs Job openings in mining and logging peaked in July and is sideways/down since Job openings enable … Continued
True to ‘when it rains, it pours,’ Goldman turns bearish on oil Sustained low price will reverberate through oil earnings, jobs, capex Technicals have probably already spoken; WTI unable to save 16-year support Remember Arjun Murti? He was a Goldman … Continued
Should not come as a shock that wage growth for U.S. workers is in doldrums Beneath ‘all hunky dory’ headlines, there are cracks in labor market In corporate vs. labor today, former price setter, latter taker The five-cent month-over-month drop … Continued
U.S. rig counts have continued to drop since September This is yet to negatively impact well-paying oil and gas jobs Although weekly hours of support activities peaked in Mar last year U.S. rig counts are on the decline. As of … Continued