Monthly Archives: September 2017

Macro Briefing: 13 September 2017

US household incomes increased to record in 2016: WSJ
President Trump: New N. Korea sanctions are only the first step: Reuters
N. Korea vows faster development of nukes after new sanctions: Bloomberg
Global oil market demand set to rise faster than expected: CNBC
US small business optimism edges higher in Aug: MarketWatch
The era of no-retirement age is near: Telegraph
Another record high for US stocks as Treasuries prices fall: FT

Macro Briefing: 12 September 2017

Hurricane damage will temporarily slow US economic growth: AP
Irma’s damage expected to be less than forecast: Bloomberg
Consumer inflation outlook for year ahead holds steady at 2.5%: NY Fed
UN Security Council tightens sanctions on North Korea: NY Times
Trump considers more aggressive Iran strategy: Reuters
MSCI All Country World stock index touches record high: Reuters
US stocks (S&P 500) close at record high: Reuters

Book Bits | 9 September 2017

The Myth of Independence: How Congress Governs the Federal Reserve
By Sarah Binder and Mark Spindel
Review via Publishers Weekly
Binder and Spindel have written an extremely thorough study of the Federal Reserve that shows how the institution, while in theory insulated from politics, is in reality anything but. Binder and Spindel persuasively argue that Congress and the Federal Reserve are interdependent entities. By giving the Fed the power to control monetary policy and steer the economy, lawmakers gain their own convenient scapegoat when the economy sours. Likewise, the Fed relies on Congress for political support to implement “unpopular but necessary” policies.
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A New Sample Issue: The US Business Cycle Risk Report

Curious about the newsletter? You’re timing is perfect. Here’s a fresh sample of The US Business Cycle Risk Report.

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Tech Stocks Lead US Sectors For 1-Year Momentum

Technology shares have overtaken financial stocks as the top sector performer for the trailing one-year period, based on a set of ETFs. The formerly high-flying financials have been clobbered recently, in part due to worries that falling bond yields and the blowback due to hurricanes striking the US will take a bite out of earnings for banks and insurers. Tech shares, by contrast, have been relatively steady this week, holding on to nearly all of the sector’s 2017 rally.
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