Blog

31 Oct 2003

Posted at 10:53h in The Friday Brief by
The economy grew 7.2% from July through September.  That’s the fastest growth rate since 1984 and more than twice that of the second quarter.  For the first time in history, the economy exceeded $11 trillion, before adjustments for inflation, according to Bloomberg.  Consumers spent at the fastest pace in six years and businesses showed strong increases in fixed investments.  Numerous retailing managers have said their businesses improved noticeably after President Bush signed the tax-cut bill into law in July.  Non-retailers are also joining the recovery.  Profits of 375 members of the S&P 500 companies are up an average 22%. 

24 Oct 2003

Posted at 10:55h in The Friday Brief by
The Dow Jones index has given up about 1.7% so far this week, while the S&P 500 has declined a little over 1%.  The technology concentrated NASDAQ is down 2%.  The declines are most likely the result of investors’ disappointment with the earnings reports that have been pouring from Wall Street this week. 

17 Oct 2003

Posted at 11:03h in The Friday Brief by
Last night, EBay reported a 69% increase in earnings for the fourth quarter and a 55% in the number of active users.  But it was their more conservative year-ahead guidance that sent the stock and the market lower in trading this morning.  The company suggested that 2004 earnings would likely come in around 98 cents a share, less than the $1.05 analysts’ profit estimate of analysts surveyed by Thompson Financial.  Money manager Paul Cook of Munder Capital suggested that Ebay “may make more investments than expected in growth opportunities, or may be leaving room to exceed the guidance.”

10 Oct 2003

Posted at 11:05h in The Friday Brief by
A perfect “10” this recovery is not.  On this tenth day of the tenth month business leaders, investors, and economists remain confused by the indicators of this economic recovery.  While the government reports are released like clockwork, the information they contain is not quite so predictable.  Yes, the overall economic trend remains positive and new data increasingly confirm the trend’s direction, but outliers and contradictions continue to confuse expectations.  Fortunately, we are at the early stages of the third quarter earnings cycle.  In the coming weeks we will gain a better understanding of the health of American business and their managers’ expectations for the future.   

03 Oct 2003

Posted at 11:09h in The Friday Brief by
Not too long ago I listened to an Australian gentleman who was interviewed on a radio talk show.  When asked about his experiences inAmerica, he seemed very impressed with our culture, infrastructure, opportunities, etc.  But he concluded his complimentary remarks with a rather telling observation that “no one in this country indicates.”  That’s Australian-speak for ‘uses one’s turn signal.’

26 Sep 2003

Posted at 11:12h in The Friday Brief by
All of this week’s economic data has been released in the last two days.  That conveniently coincided with my return yesterday after spending a few days on my annual trip to the impoverished and twice recently flooded coalfields of West Virginia.  In light of our recent discussions ofAmerica’s waning manufacturing presence, I was struck by the awesome cost of inflexibility in a rapidly changing world. 

18 Sep 2003

Posted at 11:24h in The Friday Brief by
This week’s Brief will be just that due to Hurricane Isabel’s eminent arrival.  With the likelihood that we might not have power or Internet connections tomorrow, we wanted to get it out today before conditions degrade, as they are doing pretty quickly. 

12 Sep 2003

Posted at 15:55h in The Friday Brief by
The S&P gave up a half a percentage point this week while the NASDAQ declined by .64%.  The economic news was mixed and gave little boost to the market in either direction.  Retail stocks led the decline as some investors and analysts fretted that the increase in mortgage rates would slow refinancing, thereby reducing a major source of consumer funds.  Another factor weighing on the market was the release of yet another bin Laden tape on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. 

05 Sep 2003

Posted at 16:08h in The Friday Brief by
The S&P is up 2% and the NASDAQ is up 3.2% for the week.  Progress continues on the economic front as signs mount that the recovery is fully underway.  The short week following Labor Day started on a high note with ISM Manufacturing rising to 54.7, its highest reading since December.  It was also the second month above 50 signaling thatU.S.manufacturing is growing after four months of contraction.  The Institute’s production index rose to 61.6, the highest in four years.  Inventories are lean so factories must step up production to meet rising demand.  But so far, the increase in factory output has not increased hiring as productivity continues to rise faster than the economy.