DATA PREVIEW: COVID-19 RESURGENCE TO BE WEIGHED IN JULY DATA

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The coming week’s July data will be scrutinized for any early effects of the COVID-19 resurgence, with the highlight of the week being Friday’s monthly employment report. The combined 7.5 million payrolls gain in May and June only began to scratch the surface of offsetting the 22.2 million total […]

DATA FLASH: US JUNE PERSONAL INCOME DROPS AS STIMULUS WINDS DOWN

–US June Personal Income -1.1% After -4.4% in May–Savings Rate 19.0%, Nominal PCE +5.6%, Real PCE +5.2%, Core Prices +0.2%–Chicago PMI Jumped to 51.9 from 36.6 in June, Highest Since May 2019–July Michigan Sentiment Index Revised Down to 72.5, Well Below 78.1 in June By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Personal income fell further in […]

STATUS CHECK: NO GOOD NEWS FOR VIRUS, GDP, JOBS; TRUMP DISTRACTS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: Thursday’s welter of policy countercurrents, paralysis and confusion about ominous suggestions from the president was in contrast to the stark facts about the virus that stood out in sharp relief, that there were […]

DATA FLASH: US SECOND QUARTER GDP CONTRACTS BY 32.9% ON FULL COVID IMPACT

—Second Quarter PCE Plunged by 34.6% After 6.9% Drop in First Quarter–First Quarter GDP Unrevised at 5.0% Decline, Fourth Quarter GDP Revised Up To 2.4% Gain–Initial Jobless Claims Rise By 12,000 to 1.434 Mln, 4-Week Average Up For First Time Since April By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As expected, the U.S. economy contracted sharply […]

STATUS CHECK: NO HAPPY TALK FROM POWELL; VIRUS STATS GRIM

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: The VIX mood ring turned a more mellow shade Wednesday, improving a notable 5.27% to settle at 24.10 by day’s end. U.S stocks finished the day’s session +0.61% or 160.29 points, and in […]

FED’S POWELL: PROBABLE ‘LONG TAIL’ OF THOSE SLOW TO GET JOBS BACK

By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, following a hold-in-place policy meeting, Wednesday stayed away from any happy talk about progress against the virus and unemployment, saying it will be quite a while before low jobless rates return. Referring to the “tail” outside the bulk of the reemployment distribution curve, Powell […]

STATUS CHECK: BITTER PARTISAN DIVISIONS ON DISPLAY; CONSUMER CONF DETERIORATES

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: A VIX somewhat more tense Tuesday, worsening 2.83% to 25.44, as U.S. stocks backed into the red by moderate amounts, worsening in a steep downdraft in the last hour of trading. The S&P […]

DATA FLASH: US JULY CONFIDENCE PLUNGES; CITES COVID REBOUND

–Current Condition Readings Improved, But Outlook Deteriorated on Uncertainty–Manufacturing Regional Data Point to Expansion, But Services Readings Plunge By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Conference Board’s U.S. consumer confidence index Tuesday fell to a reading of 92.6 in July from an upward revised 98.3 reading in June, with concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 […]

STATUS CHECK: FOMC; THE SHADOW VIRUS TASK FORCE; AS GOES BASEBALL …

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s’ status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: A VIX improved by a large amount, 4.28%, to 24.74, backgrounded a mildly positive day for U.S. stocks, with the DJIA +0.43%/+114.88; S&P +0.74%/+23.78 and the Nasdaq +1.67%/+173.09. After-hours futures were much the […]

GERMAN BUSINESS SENTIMENT IMPROVED FOR 3RD CONSECUTIVE MONTH

By Marco Babic ZURICH (MaceNews) – Business confidence in Germany improved for the third consecutive month, beating market expectations and showing German businesses are more optimistic about the future, the IFO Institute reported Monday. The Ifo Institute’s Business Climate Index rose to 90.5 in July from a revised 86.3 (86.2) in June, beating the median […]