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%.
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Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of December 10th, 2013
December 10, 2013
Clarksville, TN – Fear of Fed tapering hung over the stock market. Market participants believed that the November Employment Report would be the deciding factor for whether the Fed will begin to reduce the pace of asset purchases this month.
The jobs report was stronger than anticipated, but not as bad as feared. Payrolls rose by 203,000, a bit more than expected (median forecast: +180,000), with a mild net revision of +8,000 to the two previous months. Job gains were relatively broad-based.
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Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of November 12th, 2013
November 12, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The economic data surprised. Real GDP rose at a stronger-than-expected 2.8% annual rate in the advance estimate for 3Q13, but the figure was boosted by faster growth in inventories (which added 0.8 percentage point to GDP growth).
Consumer spending rose at a 1.5% annual rate, while business fixed investment rose 1.6% – nothing to write home about. The partial government shutdown had a mixed impact on the October employment figures.
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 204,000 (median forecast: +125,000), while August and September figures were revised a net +60,000.
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Stock market offers tricks and treats in October 2013
November 1, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The markets sent investors mixed messages in October, generally trending upwards despite signs of volatility around the government shutdown and subsequent reopening.
At the end of the month, stocks – which had enjoyed a days-long record run – began to show some weakness after Federal Reserve policymakers said the economy wasn’t growing quickly enough to curtail its bond purchases and dial back on some of its economic stimulus.
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Clarksville Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of August 4th, 2013
August 4, 2013
Clarksville, TN – The Federal Open Market Committee left short-term interest rates unchanged, as expected, and did not alter its forward guidance (on short-term interest rates) or the monthly pace of asset purchases.
In the policy statement, the FOMC noted that growth had been “modest” in the first half of the year, that mortgage rates had risen “somewhat,” and that a persistent low trend in inflation could present some risks for the economy. All of which suggests that a tapering in the rate of asset purchases will be delayed. However, investors should still expect some tapering by the end of the year. [Read more]
Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of July 30th, 2013
July 30, 2013
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
The economic data reports were mixed. Existing home sales fell slightly in July. New home sales jumped 8.3% (although figures for the two previous months were revised lower and the July increase was not statistically different from zero). A measure of manufacturing activity in China weakened in July, but the same measure for the euro area was about flat.
Next week, no changes are expected from the Federal Open Market Committee, but investors will be sensitive to any changes in the wording of the policy statement. Future Fed policy decisions will be driven by the economic data (or more precisely, the implications that the data will have for the economic outlook). [Read more]
Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of July 24th, 2013
July 24, 2013
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
In his monetary policy testimony to Congress, Fed Chairman Bernanke said that “a highly accommodative monetary policy will remain appropriate for the foreseeable future.” He indicated that the Fed is using asset purchases “primarily to increase the near-term momentum of the economy, with the specific goal of achieving a substantial improvement in the outlook for the labor market.”
The Fed will rely on its forward guidance that short-term interest rates will continue to remain exceptionally low “to help maintain a high degree of monetary accommodation for an extended period after asset purchases end, even as the economic recovery strengthens and unemployment declines toward more normal levels.” [Read more]
Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of July 16th, 2013
July 16, 2013
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
Fed Chairman Bernanke said nothing new, but the markets interpreted his comments as “dovish.” In Q&A following a speech on the history of the Fed, Bernanke said that given the high level of joblessness and low inflation, “you can only conclude that a highly accommodative monetary policy is needed.”
He also conceded that “there is some prospective gradual change in the mix of instruments, but that shouldn’t be confused with the overall thrust of policy, which is highly accommodative.” That’s consistent with the Fed beginning to lower the rate of asset purchases later this year and maintaining low short-term interest rates for a long time (well into 2015).
The June 18th-19th FOMC minutes showed that “many members indicated that further improvement in the outlook for the labor market would be required before it would be appropriate to slow the pace of asset purchases.” However, “several members judged that a reduction in asset purchases would likely soon be warranted.” [Read more]
Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen for the week of July 7th, 2013
July 7, 2013
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
The economic data were mixed. The June ISM non-manufacturing survey disappointed, but motor vehicle sales were strong and the employment report was better than anticipated. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 195,000 in June (the median forecast was 165,000), while figures for April and May were revised a net 70,000 higher.
Manufacturing payrolls continued to slide, but there were strong gains in business and professional services, as well as retail and leisure and hospitality. Payroll gains at eating and drinking establishments were strong for a third consecutive month (accounting for a little over a quarter of private-sector job gains in 2Q13).
The unemployment rate held steady at 7.6% (labor force participation edged higher). Long-term unemployment fell, but remained elevated. Unemployment rates for teenagers and young adults remain high. [Read more]
