Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of September 29th, 2013
September 29, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Next week, the markets will be interested in the ISM Manufacturing Index, but the focus should be on the September Employment Report. Seasonal adjustment is an issue in September.
We can expect to add more than 1.4 million education jobs (public and private) before adjustment, with hundreds of thousands of seasonal job losses in other areas. So it seems a little silly to worry about the nearest 20,000 or so in the adjusted payroll figure. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady (at 7.3%) or edge a bit lower
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of September 22nd, 2013
September 22, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The Federal Open Market Committee did not reduce the pace of asset purchases. In its policy statement, the FOMC noted that the improvement in economy activity and labor market conditions since it began the asset purchase program a year ago was “consistent with growing underlying strength in the broader economy,” but “the Committee decided to await more evidence that progress will be sustained before adjusting the pace of its purchases.”
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of September 15th, 2013
September 15, 2013
Clarksville, TN – With a thin economic calendar, Syria remained a key concern for the markets. However, prospects for a U.S. strike diminished, which helped bolster equity market sentiment. The bond market is looking ahead to the Fed policy meeting. In the bond market, expectations on tapering have solidified somewhat, with a moderate majority seeing a small initial reduction in the pace of asset purchases.
Retail sales for August disappointed (relative to expectations), but figures for June and July were revised a bit higher. Jobless claims were distorted due to upgrades in state computer systems, but the trend had been lower in August. Hiring intentions improved. Consumer sentiment softened.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville’s Rivers and Spires Festival named Top 100 Events in the Country
September 13, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The American Bus Association (ABA) recently announced that the Rivers & Spires Festival, to be held April 24th-26th, 2014 in Clarksville, Tennessee, has been named as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2014.
According to ABA, inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that Rivers & Spires offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world.
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of September 8th, 2013
September 8, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The economic data were mixed, but mostly on the strong side of expectations. The ISM’s two monthly surveys surprised to the upside. Motor vehicle sales advanced
However, the August Employment Report disappointed. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 169,000 (vs. a median forecast of +180,000 and expectations of an upside surprise). Figures for June and July were revised a net 74,000 lower (July went from +162,000 to +104,000).
Manufacturing rose by 6,000. Construction was flat. Retail added 44,000. The unemployment rate fell to 7.3%, but that was due to lower labor force participation (the lowest since May 1978).
Frazier Allen
Investors looking for answers from the Fed, Government
September 4, 2013
Clarksville, TN – August saw all three of the major U.S. stock market indexes fall into negative territory, as investors become more concerned about the possibility of rising rates and potential military action in Syria.
Emerging markets, particularly Brazil and India, also took a hit in August as their economies weakened and their currencies fell against the dollar.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of September 1st, 2013
September 1, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The economic data were consistent with a slowing in the rate of overall growth in July.
The estimate of second quarter growth was revised higher (to a 2.5% annual rate, vs. +1.7% in the advance estimate), but that was almost entirely due to a smaller-than-expected trade deficit (the estimate of consumer spending growth was the same and the estimate of business fixed investment was only slightly different).
Personal income and spending figures showed a poor start for the consumer in 3Q13. Durable goods orders tanked in July, reflecting a drop in aircraft orders (which were strong in May and June). However, ex-transportation orders still disappointed.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of August 25th, 2013
August 25, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Fed tapering concerns continued to dominate the stock market action. The minutes of the July 30th-31st Federal Open Market Committee meeting provided little clarification.
Officials noted that the unemployment rate had fallen “considerably” since last fall (when QE3 began), with “solid” gains in nonfarm payrolls in recent months, but other measures of labor force utilization suggested “more modest” improvement.
From the minutes: “A few members emphasized the importance of being patient and evaluating additional information on the economy before deciding on any changes to the pace of asset purchases. At the same time, a few others pointed to the contingent plan that had been articulated on behalf of the Committee the previous month, and suggested that it might soon be time to slow somewhat the pace of purchases as outlined in that plan.”
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of August 20th, 2013
August 20, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Fed tapering concerns continued to weigh against the stock market and helped push long-term interest rate higher. There’s a growing consensus that we will see some reduction in the rate of asset purchases announced next month, but the first move may be a small one, as a compromise among divided Fed officials and as a means of testing market reactions to tapering.
The market reaction to the tapering talk is still a puzzle. Tapering is not tightening and the Fed will continue to support the recovery through its guidance on short-term interest rates. However, long-term interest rates are normally going to rise as an economic recovery progresses.
Frazier Allen
Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of August 12th, 2013
August 12, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Next week, the mid-month economic data will help fill in the picture of where the economy stands in the third quarter.
Many of the reports have market-moving potential, but future Fed policy decisions are seen as being driven more by the employment figures.
Frazier Allen
