Archive for the 'Unemployment' Category

Recession Definition

All the markets moved sideways today, except bonds which lost value (increased interest rates) as the economic situation continues to deteriorate.
In the news today…..

Private Employers – laid off 371,000 workers in July.  This was down from 463,000 in June.  If you listen carefully to the news media, you would think this was a great result. [...]

Taxes, Clunkers and Benefits

Stocks soared on the news of manufacturing data. (It was down, but stocks went up).  Bond interest rates soared too.
The Dollar lost 2 cents – a massive move, and portends inflation.
Oil and gasoline rose significantly – you can now bet that gasoline will be rising at the pump.  Go fill up now.
Gold rose [...]

FED Unemployment Predictions

Stocks soared today on great earnings from Intel.  The herd took that as a sign of our economic recovery – it’s not.
Bonds lost lots of value, increasing interest rates up 0.25% in two days.  Here come the higher interest rates again.  Think inflation worries.
The Dollar lost a lot of value today, after moving sideways for [...]

Unemployment Truth

Stocks, the Dollar, Gold, Oil and gasoline all moved sideways today – very boring.
Bonds got scared by the PPI, and increased interest rates – bad news for us all.  However, the scare of inflation remains even thought the argument of deflation versus inflation rages.
In the news today….

Retails Sales – rose in June by 0.6%.  Where [...]

Nothing Back

The unemployment rate hit stocks very hard today, with the Dow down 223 points.  Bonds gained (lower interest rate), but not much today given stocks big movement.
The Dollar gained back its 1 cent move down yesterday.
Gold continued its seesaw movement going down $10 today.
Oil and gasoline were the other big movers – moving down.  This [...]

George Soros

Stocks fell today, but only 82 points.  Bonds moved sideways, as did the Dollar.
Gold fell $13.
Oil and gasoline fell also, below $70/barrel.

In the news today…..

Consumer Confidence – fell last month.  But, this is a flaky statistic, so I would ignore it.  Stocks thought it was terrible, so the stock market fell on the news.
Home Prices [...]

Jobless Roles

Everything went sideways today, with stocks showing an upward bias most of the day.
Bonds were the single thing that jumped. The 10 Year Treasury interest rate increased by 0.19% – and enormous increase.
In the news today…..
Inflation – if you are interested in seeing the cause of inflation, and what’s coming toward us, click on [...]

Toxic Asset Plan Is Toxic

Stocks moved sideways mostly today, but ended up just over 8000.  This was in the face of a very bad unemployment report.  Stocks are irrational, and this is proof.  This has been the best stock rally since 1933.  I might add that the Great Depression continued through 1939, so even if this is following the [...]

Mortgage Relief Plan

Stocks moved sideways today – not a ringing endorsement of the President’s Mortgage Rescue plan.  Bonds gave up value (increased in interest rates again.)
The Dollar strengthened again on Euro weakness.
Oil and gasoline both gave up ground again today.  Great for us as consumers.  Let’s hope it continues in a downward direction – but this would [...]

Jobless Claims and Missed Payments

Stocks spent most of the day in negative territory, then recovered, and retreated – ending down 105 points.  The economy continues to dominate the thought in stocks with Microsoft announcing layoffs for the first time.
Bonds continued to lose ground (increase interest rates) – and this is hitting mortgage rates hard right now.
The Dollar, oil, gasoline [...]