A global wave of risk-on sentiment delivered gains for all the major asset classes last week, based on a set of exchange-traded products through Friday, Feb. 1.
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Monthly Archives: February 2019
Macro Briefing: 4 February 2019
A new government shutdown for US may be brewing: Bloomberg
Suspension of nuclear treaty by US and Russia spark fear of new arms race: CNBC
UK and Spain recognize Guaidó as Venezuela’s president: BBC
Pope makes historic visit to Middle East: BBC
The big tech stocks are no longer driving the stock market: NY Times
US consumer sentiment slumped in Jan to lowest level since Trump elected: MW
ISM survey data: US manufacturing activity picked up in Jan: CNN
US Mfg PMI: output in mfg sector strengthened to 4-month high in Jan: IHS Markit
US payrolls rose sharply in January, beating all forecasts: Bloomberg
Construction spending for US rose 0.8% in Nov: MW
Crude oil price (W. Texas Int.) on Friday rose to highest close since mid-November:
Book Bits | 2 February 2019
By Katherine S. Newman
Review via The Washington Post
“Downhill from here” is an exquisitely ambiguous phrase for the state of retirement security in America. It might suggest a restful and well-earned glide down the back of the mountain that one has climbed in a lifetime of hard work. But the same phrase can mean nearly the opposite — a descent into hardship or suffering.
It is the latter, darker meaning that sets the tone for Katherine S. Newman’s excellent new book, “Downhill From Here: Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality.” But Newman’s title also evokes the contrast between what retirement means in today’s America and what it is supposed to mean.
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US Private Payrolls Surged In January
The Labor Department reports that US companies continued to hire workers at a strong pace in January. The 296,000 gain in payrolls last month beat the consensus forecast by a wide margin. Even more impressive, the annual rate of growth for the nonfarm workforce in the private sector ticked up to the strongest pace in nearly three years.
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Major Asset Classes | January 2019 | Performance Review
January delivered a strong rebound in the global markets, lifting all the major asset classes amid a powerful renewal of risk-on sentiment. The strong start to 2019 contrasts with December’s rout that inflicted deep losses far and wide.
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Macro Briefing: 1 February 2019
Trump is upbeat about trade talks with China: WSJ
Trump: border talks with Congress a ‘waste of time’: NY Times
Economists expect softer growth in today’s payrolls report for Jan: Bloomberg
Gov’t shutdown may complicate analysis of today’s payrolls report: NY Times
Eurozone mfg inches closer to stagnation in Jan: IHS Markit
China Mfg PMI: survey data reflects slight contraction in Jan: IHS Markit
The Fed’s pause on rate hikes suggests softer growth ahead: Reuters
Chicago PMI: growth cooled in January to moderate pace: Chicago PMI
US wage growth in Q4 exceeded 3% for first time in a decade: CNBC
US job cuts up 19% year-over-year in January: CG&C
Jobless claims in US surged last week, possibly due to seasonal quirk: MW
New home sales in US rose sharply in Nov but annual pace is still negative: WSJ
