Weekly Marketing Commentary – Week 40
10/2/2023
In August, for the first time in two years, inflation (excluding volatile food and energy costs) dropped below four percent.
MOREIn August, for the first time in two years, inflation (excluding volatile food and energy costs) dropped below four percent.
MOREJust as the market anticipated, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) chose not to raise interest rates last week.
MOREThe performance of United States economy in 2023 has been as unexpected as a lentil-avocado-cinnamon smoothie – a tasty surprise.
MORE2023 has been a remarkable year so far. It has, “confounded economists, humbled forecasters, and rewarded investors. Despite a rapid rise in interest rates, the U.S. economy continues to grow.
MOREThe Federal Reserve (Fed) often acts as a counterweight to the economy; raising and lowering interest rates to achieve its goals. Recently, the Fed has been raising rates to bring inflation down.
MOREThe Chinese government’s zero-COVID policy took the wind from the sails of its economy. When the government finally ended the policy earlier this year, many economists anticipated that pent-up consumer demand would refill China’s economic sails, lifting the global economy, reported Malcolm Scott of Bloomberg.
MOREAfter more than a decade of near-zero interest rates, the “free money” era – a time when people and businesses could borrow money and repay it with very low (or no) interest – may be over.
MOREAfter rising sharply in June and July, consumer sentiment leveled off this month. The preliminary August reading for the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index was 71.2.
MORELast week, Fitch Ratings startled markets by lowering the credit rating of United States Treasuries from AAA to AA+
MORECentral bank palooza!
While music lovers attended concerts and festivals across the United States, central banks had a lollapalooza of their own. The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) led things off last Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday, and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Friday.