Dividend income is an important source of income. In 1Q16, it increased 1.3 percent year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $874.3 billion, down from $876.9 billion in the prior quarter. Dividends made up 5.6 percent of U.S. personal … Continued
It is not easy getting a handle on valuation dynamics. During good times, multiples rise to exorbitant levels, and the opposite happens when times are bad. The usual cycle of things. Come to think of it. At any time, value … Continued
Last Thursday, Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO, grabbed the headlines when he said someone was going to get hurt in the auto-loan lending market. “Auto is clearly a little stretched, in my opinion.” JPM does not do much of … Continued
NYSE margin debt fell $11.9 billion month-over-month in February to $435.8 billion. This was the 10th month since the $507.2-billion peak last April. Margin debt has dropped 14 percent since that peak (Chart 1). For some historical perspective, in 2000 … Continued
Relatively speaking, U.S. housing is going strong, with price being the major risk. Monthly data tend to be volatile. At a seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, sales of existing homes dropped 4.8 percent month-over-month to 5.31 million units, even … Continued
We are in uncharted territory! On so many levels. As you will see in the charts below, many valuation metrics are stretched. The nation’s debt load just rose to a new high. At 1Q15, the total credit market debt outstanding … 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. 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
Sideways move in stocks – just a pause or sign of fatigue after six-year run? Several different measures point to gradual buildup in complacency over the years Human nature not to want to leave party early, which is fine unless … Continued
Ratio of personal interest income to payments declines for three years now Persistent rise in number of 65 years and over who are employed Suppressed rates past six years no good news for seniors In his inaugural blog post on Tuesday, … Continued