Weekly Economic Update
February 11, 2018
THE WEEK ON WALL STREET
Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions.
The big three ended the week little changed from where they settled the previous Friday. The Dow Jones Industrials rose 0.17%, while the S&P 500 Index gained 0.05%. The NASDAQ Composite ended the week up 0.47%. Looking at international stocks, the MSCI EAFE index retreated 0.47%. 1,2
eARNINGS SCORECARD
As of last Friday, 66% of all S&P 500 companies had reported fourth-quarter earnings. So far, 71% of these firms have announced earnings exceeding estimates, and 62% have seen revenues top projections. 3
Halfway through earnings season, 2019 future guidance has been a mixed bag for S&P 500 companies. For Wall Street, future earnings can be just as important as current earnings. We keep a close eye on both. 3
tariff TENSIONS
March 1 is the 90-day deadline set by President Trump for a trade deal with China. If no agreement is reached, the U.S. may consider a new round of tariffs. On Thursday, news that President Trump and Chinese President Xi may not meet before the March 1 deadline added to the market volatility.
The decision by the U.S. on new tariffs may hinge on how much progress has been made toward a new agreement. We do not expect that to become clear until the deadline nears.
STate of THE SERVICE SECTOR
Many indicators help economists take the pulse of the overall economy. The Institute for Supply Management keeps a critical, but not widely followed, index, which helps gauge the health of the service sector.
The January reading on this index came in at 56.7. Any reading above 50 shows that the service industry is seeing solid growth. 4
FINAL THOUGHT
Over the next several weeks, we are expecting more volatility as the markets digest economic news, a new wave of corporate earnings, and twists and turns on the geopolitical front. We will be watching to see if anything changes our short-term and long-term view. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
T I P O F T H E W E E K
New parents should seek to create an emergency fund equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses. Sticking to a budget can help a household save over time.
THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Wednesday: January’s Consumer Price Index, which measures monthly and yearly inflation.
Thursday: December retail sales figures (a delayed release due to the government shutdown).
Friday: January’s preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, a gauge of consumer confidence levels.
Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, February 8, 2019
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons, including the shutdown of the government agency or change at the private institution that handles the material.
THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Monday: Loews Corp (L)
Tuesday: Activision Blizzard (ATVI), HubSpot (HUBS), Occidental Petroleum (OXY)
Wednesday: Cisco (CSCO), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT), Yelp (YELP)
Thursday: Applied Materials (AMAT), CBS (CBS), Coca-Cola (KO)
Friday: Deere & Co. (DE), PepsiCo (PEP)
Source: Morningstar.com, February 8, 2019
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Q U O T E O F T H E W E E K
“In all affairs it is a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
BERTRAND RUSSELL
Custom Quote In Seconds!
Use our 3 Step form to instantly see live rates along with closing costs.
-
"Michael Visser took great care of us on our mortgage. On top of that, he gave us other business advice that was extremely helpful. He knows much more than just the mortgage business. And that is what sets him apart from the competition. Fantastic rate to boot!"
-
"Mike Visser with Axent Funding has done both my mortgage and my refinance on my house. He was referred to me by my real estate agent. My real estate agent sends most of her clients to Mike for mortgage processing. Both of the loans he has arranged for me have been very smooth. He always makes sure that I am aware of what is going on in the loan process. He made sure I stayed alert to action items I needed to complete to keep the loan process progressing. This last Refinance I thought it would take about a month but it only took 18 days from application to closing including weekends. I have gotten emails from Mike at 11:30 at night so I know he works long hours and weekends to keep the loan process short. I had shopped my refinance at other places and they charged a lot more in fees."
-
"We just closed on our home and I can say that Axent Funding was great to work with every step of the way. We had peace of mind and confidence throughout the entire process because of Michael's experience. Our confidence was validated when we closed on schedule without any surprises, with a great rate! Thanks Michael!"
Google Reviews