Author Archive: Jeremy Parkinson
December 2017: ECRI’s WLI Growth Index Rate Unchanged
ECRI’s WLI Growth Index which forecasts economic growth six months forward remains in expansion. ECRI released their inflation index this week and is shown below. Analyst Opinion of the trends of the weekly leading indices This index is indicating modest growth six months from today – but the rate of growth would be little changed […]
E Is Monetary Policy Easing Or Tightening?
When I was a graduate student in the late 1960s, I had an opportunity to hear a lecture by the legendary Milton Friedman who explained the difference between easy and tight monetary policy. He argued that low-interest rates are a sign of a tight monetary policy, rather than the conventional thinking that low rates mean […]
Low Orders Plunge U.S. Services Sector To 4 Month Low
U.S. services sector expanded at the weakest pace in four months in December, the Institute for Supply Management reported Friday. The services index declined from 57.4 to 55.9 in December, falling below 57.6 predicted by most economists. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Also, the gauge of new orders fell from 58.7 to 54.3, making […]
ISM Non-Manufacturing: Continued Growth In December
The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) has now released the December Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), also known as the ISM Services PMI. The headline Composite Index is at 55.9 percent, down 1.5 from 57.4 last month. Today’s number came in below the Investing.com forecast of 57.8 percent. Here is the report summary: “The NMI® registered 55.9 percent, […]
Gold Market In 2018 Vs. 2017
Craig Hemke, Editor at TFMetalsReport.com joins me today to look at the similarities and differences for gold in 2018 vs last year. We discuss the USD and inflation in terms of how they impact the gold market. (Audio length 00:11:39)
Jobs Report Misses Badly, Earnings In Line, Dollar’s Woes Continue
Ok, here comes payrolls. As usual, the focus will be on average hourly earnings, which have (generally speaking) dictated trading after the last six employment reports. The story is the same as it ever was against a backdrop of (basically) full employment but still subdued inflation: the market is looking for signs that wage growth […]
Precious Metals Markets Outlook 2018
The first trading days of 2018 are confirming signs of renewed investor interest in the precious metals sector after a long period of malaise. Gold and silver markets entered the year with some stealth momentum after quietly posting gains late in 2017. Gold finished the year above $1,300/oz. – its best yearly close since 2012. […]
Oracle Ready To Battle Amazon AWS
Photo Credit: May Wong/Flickr.com Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) may have delivered a rather tepid quarterly outlook as part of its recent result announcement. But the market is very hopeful of its cloud strategy as the company continues to battle it out with Amazon and adds more companies to its arsenal. First, the financials. Oracle’s Financials Revenue for the second […]
Featured Stocks In December’s Dividend Growth Model Portfolio
This report highlights last month’s top performers and features a stock from the current portfolio. Recap from November’s Picks Our Dividend Growth Stocks Model Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 in November. The Model Portfolio rose 2.0% on a price return basis and rose 2.3% on a total return basis. The S&P 500 rose 1.7% on […]
Time To Buy Gold For 2018 As The Run-Down Starts?
The price of gold could rally to $4,200 as the Federal Reserve tries, and fails to normalize monetary policy over the next few years according to analysts at CLSA. CLSA has long been a gold bull, advocating the yellow metal for its model portfolio since 2002. So far, this trade has yielded mixed results. After the price […]
