10 Dec 2010

Posted at 15:08h in The Friday Brief by
The biggest news this week was that of the deal reached between President Obama and Congressional Republicans on extending the Bush tax cuts. On the news, the S&P surged two thirds of a percent then settled back as investors considered both the potential for higher deficits, at least in the short run, and the difficulty of getting it through Congress as liberal Democrats railed against the measure throughout the day. Obama defended his deal saying he was able to preserve tax breaks for the middle-class and extend unemployment benefits that were set to expire. 

03 Dec 2010

Posted at 15:10h in The Friday Brief by
The US stock market as measured by the MSCI US Broad Market Index is up 2.4% for the week. The S&P is up the same and the Dow is up 2.3%. Various economic reports released this week proved considerably stronger than expected, boosting the outlook for stocks. Wednesday was a particularly good day, when it was reported that private employers added more jobs in November than previous months and the Fed’s Beige Book report of regional economies concluded that “the economy continued to improve, on balance” from early October to mid-November. Today’s jump in the unemployment rate so far, has not stemmed the advance. 

12 Nov 2010

Posted at 15:17h in The Friday Brief by
Equity markets took a 1% hit on Tuesday when Cisco, a bellwether of the tech industry, expressed concern over its projected revenues. Investors ignored analysts’ reminders of the recent reports of other large techs which were in sharp contrast to Cisco’s warnings. But investors are concerned over the broader question; will companies be able to grow sales numbers sufficiently in a sub-par economy to sustain record earnings momentum? 

05 Nov 2010

Posted at 15:19h in The Friday Brief by
It has been a busy week across the country, but especially, in Washington D.C. and on Wall Street. Republicans gained over 60 seats in the House, roughly twice the post-World War II midterm average. Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve risked credibility again by increasing their record stimulus to buy an additional $600 billion of Treasuries through June to reduce unemployment and avert deflation. And amidst it all the S&P 500 charged to its highest level since September 2008 on strong earnings releases and speculation that the Fed will indeed stimulate growth and that banks will be allowed to raise dividends. But alas, as the presumptive Speaker of the House John Boehner said on Tuesday night, “we have real work to do – and this is not a time for celebration.”