By Tom Burnett CFA On August 6, 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the employment picture for July 2021. The Report was positive and job growth has continued to come through since the worst parts of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020. Total employment in July increased by 943,000 jobs, following…
By Tom Burnett CFA According to the July 30, 2021 FACTSET report on S/P 500 composite earnings announcements, the second quarter is setting up to be the strongest performance since the fourth quarter of 2009. Based on the reports published so far, it now appears that the second quarter operating results…
By Tom Burnett CFA On July 28, 2021, the Federal Reserve released in public statement following a two-day July meeting. The Fed remains committed to a policy of low rates and material asset purchases until the U.S. economy recovers to its pre-Covid-19 levels. The Statement noted that employment is recovering…
By Tom Burnett CFA The trading activity in the bond market today (July 27, 2021) is decidedly one way—towards lower interest rates. The 30-year Treasury bond is currently trading at a yield of 1.89%, down from a March high of 2.45%. During the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, before vaccinations, in…
By Tom Burnett CFA Commodity prices, as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index, have risen by 21.3% in 2021 (through July 21, Wall Street Journal). Most of the price pressures derive from the recovery in the energy sector which was badly mauled by the Covid-19 outbreak and the economic slowdown in…