[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] US equities fell today as the public standoff between the Republicans and Democrats in reaching a deal to avert recession-inducing tax hikes and spending cuts in the New Year overshadowed a drop in jobless rates and growth in retail sales. Ohio Republican John Boehner criticized the Democrats for looking to punish small businesses through tax hikes …
Index ETFs Erase Gains As Optimism Over Bernanke Talk Fades; Europe Holds Ground
The major index ETFs erased gains today as optimism over Federal Reserve plans to expand its balance sheet faded after Chairman Ben Bernanke warned the central bank doesn’t have the tools to shield the economy from the looming fiscal cliff. Stocks rallied to session highs after the central bank said it would add $45 billion a month of Treasury securities starting January …
US Stocks Crawl Higher On Budget Hopes, Fed Stimulus; Europe Rises On German Confidence
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] US stocks finished higher with the Dow Industrials erasing losses since the Election Day and the S&P 500 rising for the fifth straight day as optimism grew that the Federal Reserve will announce more stimulus when wrapping up its final meeting of the year tomorrow and awaited progress on federal budget negotiations in Washington hopefully comes …
Indexes Rise On Budget Hopes, China; Europe Tracks Higher; Stunning Video Demonstrates US Debt
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] The major market indexes finished modestly higher with the S&P 500 index extending tiny gains into the fourth straight session, it’s longest since August after economic data in China beat estimates, overshadowing political uncertainties in Europe and the continued stalemate over budget negotiations in Washington. Europe was back in the spotlight after Italian Prime Minister Mario …
One Man’s Opinion: Will Tax Hikes Push The US Economy Back Into Recession?
Friday’s better-than-anticipated jobs number makes it a little bit easier for President Obama to hike taxes on the wealthy, says Barry Knapp, Head of Equity Strategy at Barclays Capital. However, on close examination, you’ll see earnings-growth has been very tepid and total hours worked has remained flat. In other words, every one-tenth of that total hours worked is worth …
Apple Rebound Boosts US Stocks Amid Cliff Negotiations; Europe Gains On German Factory Orders
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] US stocks advanced for the second straight day Thursday as Apple Inc bounced back from its biggest drop in nearly four years and technology stocks showed strength. But the gains were capped as investors avoided making big bets as long as a budget deal remained elusive in Washington. The indexes continued in roller coaster mode pushed …