Stocks Lingering Near All-Time Highs

Hello MarketClub members everywhere. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq touched record highs for the second straight day following a batch of upbeat corporate earnings, while Emmanuel Macron's victory in the French presidential election improved risk appetite.

The VIX, Wall Street's "fear gauge," hit its lowest level in more than a decade earlier in the day. A lower VIX typically indicates a bullish outlook for stocks.

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Oil prices headed lower today over concerns about slowing demand and the rise in U.S. crude output which has shaken traders faith in the ability of OPEC to rebalance the market.

Key levels to watch this week: Continue reading "Stocks Lingering Near All-Time Highs"

U.S. Jobs Rebound As Unemployment Falls

Hello MarketClub members everywhere. U.S. job growth rebounded sharply in April and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, that’s near a 10-year low, pointing to a tightening labor market that could seal the case for an interest rate increase next month despite moderate wage growth.

Non-farm payrolls surged by 211,000 jobs last month, well above the monthly average of 185,000 this year and a jump from the gain of 79,000 in March.

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Crude Oil has stabilized after dropping to nine-month low 43.76 in the early morning hours. This decline in prices is primarily driven by an ever-expanding U.S. output and on concerns that global inventories haven’t fallen as much as investors had hoped after OPEC cut production.

Key levels to watch next week: Continue reading "U.S. Jobs Rebound As Unemployment Falls"

Is The Fed Set To Leave Rates Unchanged?

Hello MarketClub members everywhere. It's expected that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its meeting this week as it takes pause to analyze more economic data, but may hint it is on track for a June increase.

The Fed will release its policy decision at 2 p.m. EDT on Wednesday after its two-day meeting. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is not due to hold a press conference at this time.

Most economists feel that the Fed is more confident in its forecast of two more rate increases this year.

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Meanwhile, traders seem reluctant to commit to any direction ahead of the Fed's policy review and Friday's jobs report in light of weaker-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter. The French election on Sunday is adding to concern, while the deal to avert a U.S. government shutdown fueled uncertainty about the timing for any Trump policy priorities.

Key levels to watch this week: Continue reading "Is The Fed Set To Leave Rates Unchanged?"

U.S. Economic Growth Slows To .7% In First Quarter

Hello MarketClub members everywhere. The U.S. stock market is slightly lower this afternoon after data showed that the U.S. economy grew at its weakest pace in three years for the first quarter of 2017. The GDP increased at a 0.7% annual rate, below the 1.2% rise estimated by economists, as consumer spending barely increased and businesses invested less on inventories.

This drop comes on the heels of the 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016.

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Image courtesy of Bloomberg

Key levels to watch this week: Continue reading "U.S. Economic Growth Slows To .7% In First Quarter"

Has The Trump Trade Resumed?

Hello MarketClub members everywhere. The NASDAQ has crossed the 6,000 level for the first time, and the DOW has had two straight triple-digit gains leading me to wonder if the Trump trade is back on. What do you think?

Of course, I would be remiss to overlook the slew of positive corporate earnings that have been this released this week with more to come. Home prices and home sales on are the rise as well, according to new data from the S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index.

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However, I believe everyone is zeroed in on Washington, as President Trump is expected to release an outline to potential tax reform later this week. Tax reform expectations have been one of the key market drivers since the presidential election.

Key levels to watch this week: Continue reading "Has The Trump Trade Resumed?"