FIRESIDE CHARTS
Accelerating Economic Growth, Tech Narrows Underperformance, and Is a Trend Reversal Approaching?
March PPI numbers topped forecasts with a year-over-year reading of 4.2%—the largest annual rise since September 2011. Fed Chairman Powell acknowledged that outlook has “brightened substantially”…
Record Highs and Lows from the Trade Deficit, Population Growth, and Coupon Treasury Issuance
Consumer confidence is recovering in the U.S. and it’s showing up in spending… just not necessarily on American-made goods. The trade deficit climbed to another record high in March, and it could…
Jobs Come Roaring Back, ISM Services PMI Hits New Record, and the Spike in the Global Money Supply
U.S. job openings blew past expectations and surged to a two-year high in February as the job openings rate hits its highest level on record. As competition for employees heats up though…
Manufacturing PMI Hits 37-year High, Small-Caps ‘Dethrone’ Nasdaq 100, and Markets Anticipate Rate Hikes
In yet more evidence of the economic recovery gaining momentum, the ISM Manufacturing PMI jumped to 64.7 in March—its highest level in nearly 40 years. While good news for the U.S. economy…
The Pricing Divergence in Manufacturing, the Red-Hot Housing Sector, and Extremes from Equity Valuations & Margin Debt
Manufacturing remains strong in the U.S. and saw more gains in February—even in the frozen Lonestar state—but producer prices are also climbing without accompanying gains in prices charged…
Trade Deficit Now Largest on Record, Putting Inflation in Context, and Equities’ Historic 12-Month Run
The trade deficit widened 2.5% in February to hit a record high of $86.7 billion and the budget deficit is feeling its own strain as stimulus payments go out and QE reignites. At long last though…
Unemployment Hits Pandemic-Era Low, U.S. Index Correlation Near 20-Year Low, and a Bond Market Check In
Economic recovery continues to gain momentum in the U.S. as new unemployment claims drop to a pandemic low of 684,000. Business activity and manufacturing remain robust and are continuing to grow…
Trend Reversals, Small Caps Come Under Pressure, and is the Commodity Rally Losing Steam?
Soaring home sales and plummeting air travel were two of the strongest trends to emerge during the pandemic era, but could both soon witness a reversal? And as demand for high dividend climbs and…
Indices Closed Lower Friday After New Highs, Yields Digest the Fed Meeting, and Are Commodities Overextended?
The Dow and S&P snapped a two-week winning streak on Friday, but not without touching new highs during the week. All sectors weren’t pulling their weight equally though… GameStop meanwhile…
GDP Forecast Climbs to 6.5%, 10-year UST Yield Hits 1.7%, and Checking In on Growth vs. Value
The Fed concluded its meeting on Wednesday with an announcement that it projects GDP surging to 6.5% this year—a major revision from its December estimate of 4.2%. Inflation fears were stoked yet…