By Tom Burnett CFA On December 4, 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Report for November. The Report indicated that the economy added 245,000 new jobs for the month. Seasonally adjusted employment now stands at 142.6 million, down 9.8 million from the pre-Covid employment…
By Tom Burnett CFA In its October 2 and November 3 press releases, the Options Clearing Corporation in Chicago announced that trading volume through September 30, 2020, had surpassed previous annual record volumes. Total volume of cleared listed options trades reached 5.34 billion contracts through…
By Tom Burnett CFA In the FACTSET report from November 6, 2020, the S/P 500 earnings forecast picture continues to improve. The consensus estimate for 2020 is now $137.15, much improved from the July 10 forecast of $126.79. The latest figure represents a decline of 15.9% from the $163.02 reported…
By Tom Burnett CFA On November 6, 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued another upbeat report on the employment status of the U.S. economy. The total jobs number rose by 638,000 from the prior month. October is the sixth consecutive month to report an increase in the overall employment number.…
By Tom Burnett CFA As expected, on November 5, 2020, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee issued its formal decision to maintain the current low interest rates policy. The 12-member Committee voted unanimously to keep the Fed funds rate in the range between zero and one-quarter percent. …