Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of February 16th, 2014
February 16, 2014
Clarksville, TN – In her first monetary policy testimony to Congress, Fed Chair Janet Yellen appeared calm, confident, and in charge.
She pledged continuity in monetary policy and regulatory reform. While “not on a preset path,” the monthly pace of asset purchases will likely be reduced “in further measured steps at future meetings” (which is widely interpreted as -$10 billion per Fed policy meeting).
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of February 9th, 2014
February 9, 2014
Clarksville, TN – The January Employment Report was a mixed bag. Nonfarm payrolls rose by a less-than-expected 113,000 (vs. a median forecast of +185,000), following a subpar 75,000 gain in December.
However, seasonal adjustment and weather effects added uncertainty to the results. Details suggest that the weather may not have been much worse than a normal January, but December weather was more unfavorable.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of February 3rd, 2014
February 3, 2014
Clarksville, TN – Real GDP rose at a 3.2% annual rate in the advance estimate for 4Q13, about as expected, but the details were a bit surprising. Consumer spending and business fixed investment, the key components, each rose at a respectable pace.
However, inventory growth, already elevated in 3Q13, rose further (and will likely subtract from GDP growth in 1H14). Net exports (a smaller trade deficit) added. Residential home building and government subtracted. Personal income figures rose meagerly in 4Q13, suggesting that we may see some slowing in spending ahead.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of January 26th, 2014
January 26, 2014
Clarksville, TN – With a thin economic calendar, U.S. investors typically focus on other things. Sometimes, that’s earnings reports (which have been generally good). Other times, it’s overseas developments.
While the economic situation seems to be improving in the United Kingdom and in Europe, the rest of the world is looking a bit shakier. There have been a number of concerns about individual countries in recent weeks (China, Turkey, Argentina, and so on), but these concerns appear to have now gelled into anxieties about emerging economies in general, which has weighed against U.S. stock market sentiment.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of January 19th, 2014
January 19, 2014
Clarksville, TN – There were few surprises in the economic data reports. Retail sales, industrial production, and the Consumer Price Index were all relatively close to expectations. Retail sales slowed in December, reflecting a pullback in unit auto sales, up moderately otherwise (weakness in department store sales were offset by stronger e-tail activity).
Industrial production rose 0.3%, held back by a drop in the output of utilities, but factory output accelerated in 4Q13, following a soft trend in the first three quarters of 2013 (consistent with improving trends in factory payrolls and new orders). Residential construction figures disappointed, but it’s hard to get too worked up about December data (which can be exaggerated due to the weather and seasonal adjustment).
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of January 13th, 2014
January 13, 2014
Clarksville, TN – The December Employment Report was a mixed bag. Nonfarm payrolls rose a disappointing 74,000 (median forecast: +195,000, although market participants were anticipating an upside surprise following a stronger-than-expected ADP estimate).
The November payroll figure was revised to +241,000 (from +203,000). Manufacturing rose by 9,000. Construction fell by 16,000, with weakness concentrated in nonresidential and in heavy construction and civil engineering (residential rose 6,200).
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of January 5th, 2014
January 5, 2014
Clarksville, TN – The economic data reports of recent weeks contained a few surprises. Consumer spending growth in 3Q13 was stronger than previously estimated, while monthly figures showed acceleration in spending growth in the first two months of 4Q13 (although this is somewhat inconsistent with the pace of income growth).
Right now, inflation-adjusted consumer spending (70% of Gross Domestic Product) appears to be on track for about a 4% annual rate in 4Q13 – impressive, although the current figures may be revised. Durable goods orders rose more than expected in November, with the details suggesting that capital spending plans were delayed due to the government shutdown.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of December 30th, 2013
December 30, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Next week, the ISM Manufacturing Index is expected to be the highlight, although the December figures can be exaggerated by the seasonal adjustment.
Market participants are likely to look ahead to the Employment Report.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of December 19th, 2013
December 22, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Taper, no tantrum. The Federal Open Market Committee decided to reduce the monthly pace of asset purchases from $85 billion to $75 billion in January. The FOMC added that it expects to further reduce the pace of asset purchases “in measured steps” depending on the economic data (that may mean every other Fed policy meeting in 2014).
It also emphasized that the federal funds target rate would remain in its current low range (0-0.25%) even after the unemployment rate falls below 6.5%.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of December 15th, 2013
December 15, 2013
Clarksville, TN – House and Senate leaders reached an agreement on a mini budget deal. This isn’t the “grand bargain” that lawmakers were tasked with, but it will prevent a government shutdown in January. That removes a major uncertainty for the markets, but also for Federal Reserve policymakers.
The deal reduces (but does not eliminate) the impact of the sequester cuts to spending that were slated for mid-January. The deal does not address the debt ceiling, which will go back into effect on February 7th, nor does it prevent over 1.2 million from losing extended unemployment benefits at the end of this month.
Frazier Allen
