Market Commentary
Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – February 10, 2020
The coronavirus showed some signs of slowing the pace of its expansion even as the number of fatalities surpassed the SARS crisis. Efforts to contain the virus are shrinking consumption in China and affecting diverse industries, such as auto manufacturing, oil, and luxury goods.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – February 3, 2020
The coronavirus continued to spread in China and around the world. Concerns about the virus and measures to prevent its spread will likely reduce economic activity in the first quarter. Interest rates moved lower, and the 10-year Treasury bond yield moved below short-term rates, which indicates concern about the strength of economic growth.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 27, 2020
In a week in which impeachment news produced the top headlines, markets reacted more to news about a virus in central China. A coronavirus apparently coming from an open-air food market in Wuhan raised concerns the Chinese would reduce spending just as the Chinese New Year vacation is starting.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 21, 2020
Optimism from continued progress on trade pushed the S&P 500 to new highs last week. The U.S. and China signed a “phase one” deal that included an agreement by the U.S. to reduce tariffs in exchange for promises of increased purchases of U.S. goods by China and adjusted rules to allow U.S. corporations to better compete in China.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 13, 2020
The U.S. employment report missed expectations, but it reinforced our view that the U.S. labor market remains strong. As shown in the accompanying chart, 145,000 new jobs were created, missing expectations of 160,000. Wages have risen 2.9% over the last year, falling below 3% for the first time since late 2018.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 6, 2020
The new year and decade started off where the last one finished as major stock market indexes opened the year by reaching new highs. The good spirits, supported by continued progress toward a Phase One trade deal with China, boosted markets.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – December 30, 2019
Stock markets continued to march steadily higher last week. News was relatively light, but momentum and reduced uncertainty helped push the markets toward a series of new highs.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – December 23, 2019
Stock markets rallied sharply last week as uncertainty continued to fade. U.S. trade negotiators were able to secure approval of the USMCA trade deal in the House of Representatives. While steps remain for its final approval, all indicators are the deal will be ratified in early 2020.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – December 16, 2019
Three key policy issues achieved greater clarity last week. The U.S. and China reached a “phase one” trade deal. The U.S. will reduce some existing tariffs and not implement a set of planned tariffs in exchange for greater grain exports and some improvement to technology regulation. China is pressing for phase two negotiations to begin soon.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – December 9, 2019
A powerful jobs report in the U.S. produced continued evidence the U.S. economy is performing well and the risk of recession is lower. As discussed in greater depth below, the economy produced 266,000 jobs in November, and jobs numbers for the previous two months were revised higher. The risk of a recession continues to decline in the U.S.
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