Clarksville, TN – The economic data were mixed, but generally consistent with moderately strong growth. Unit auto sales improved in August. The ISM Manufacturing Index slowed. The Non-Manufacturing Index pulled back a bit after surging in July (still strong). The Fed’s Beige Book described growth as evenly split between “modest” and “moderate” across the 12 Fed districts.
The August employment report was mixed, but generally strong. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 173,000 (median forecast: +220,000), but with a net revision of +44,000 to June and July.
The unemployment rate fell to 5.1% (median forecast: 5.2%) and average hourly earnings rose by 0.3% (median forecast: +0.2%), giving the Fed’s hawks some ammunition in arguing for a September 17th rate hike (although one should really take those figures with a grain of salt).The financial markets remained focused on the volatility in China, but with the Chinese market closed on Thursday and Friday, fears of the Fed and slower global growth remained. In his Jackson Hole speech on August 29th, Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer suggested that the Fed was still on track to begin raising short-term interest rates this year and implied that a September move was still on the table.
The Fed does take into account what’s happening in the rest of the world, said Fischer, but needs to focus on the domestic economy – what’s good for the U.S. economy is good for the global economy.
Next week, the economic calendar is thin. Investors will return from the three-day weekend with a focus on the rest of the world (China, in particular). Monetary policy makers in Canada and the United Kingdom will meet (neither is expected to act, but the Bank of Canada is contemplating another rate cut and the Bank of England is contemplating when to raise rates). The Fed’s September 17 decision is seen as being determined by financial market volatility (this week and next), but the Fed is still looking to begin raising rates by the end of the year.
Indices
Last | Last Week | YTD return % | |
DJIA | 16374.76 | 16654.77 | -8.13% |
NASDAQ | 4733.50 | 4812.71 | -0.05% |
S&P 500 | 1951.13 | 1987.66 | -5.23% |
MSCI EAFE | 1704.05 | 1731.13 | -3.99% |
Russell 2000 | 1145.15 | 1153.61 | -4.94% |
Consumer Money Rates
Last | 1 year ago | |
Prime Rate | 3.25 | 3.25 |
Fed Funds | 0.14 | 0.09 |
30-year mortgage | 3.99 | 4.10 |
Currencies
Last | 1 year ago | |
Dollars per British Pound | 1.526 | 1.646 |
Dollars per Euro | 1.112 | 1.315 |
Japanese Yen per Dollar | 120.070 | 104.790 |
Canadian Dollars per Dollar | 1.318 | 1.089 |
Mexican Peso per Dollar | 16.800 | 13.099 |
Commodities
Last | 1 year ago | |
Crude Oil | 46.75 | 95.54 |
Gold | 1125.46 | 1269.40 |
Bond Rates
Last | 1 month ago | |
2-year treasury | 0.72 | 0.72 |
10-year treasury | 2.15 | 2.18 |
10-year municipal (TEY) | 3.46 | 3.53 |
Treasury Yield Curve – 09/04/2015
As of close of business 9/03/2015
S&P Sector Performance (YTD) – 09/04/2015
As of close of business 9/03/2015
Economic Calendar
Sept 7th | — | Labor Day (markets closed) |
Sept 9thy | — | Bank of Canada Policy Decision |
Sept 10th | — | Bank of England Policy Decision Jobless Claims (week ending September 5) Import Prices (August) |
Sept 11th | — | Producer Price Index (August) University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (mid-September) |
Sept 15th | — | Retail Sales (August) Industrial Production (August) |
Sept 16th | — | Consumer Price Index (August) |
Important Disclosures
US government bonds and treasury bills are guaranteed by the US government and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and guaranteed principal value. US government bonds are issued and guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by the federal government. Treasury bills are certificates reflecting short-term (less than one year) obligations of the US government.
Commodities trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Specific sector investing can be subject to different and greater risks than more diversified investments.
Tax Equiv Muni yields (TEY) assume a 35% tax rate on triple-A rated, tax-exempt insured revenue bonds.
Material prepared by Raymond James for use by its financial advisors.
The information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Data source: Bloomberg, as of close of business September 3rd, 2015.