The latest employment data is significant and insightful, believes Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer and co-chief investment officer at the $1.8 trillion Pacific Investment Management Co. The report reveals three important developments. First, 171,000 new jobs were created because of two important events; the housing sector stabilizing and better consumer confidence. The second important but less encouraging development; businesses remain …
Can Equities Do Well Even If QE Generates Too Much Inflation?
Bill Gross of PIMCO thinks Treasuries and high-yield bonds will do well as investor become risk averse, which is a reasonable bet, says David Zervos, Head of Global Fixed Income Strategy at Jefferies. Gross probably believes quantitative easing does little good for the real economy and that’s where the subtle difference of opinion lies, he added. In the end, the …
Will Bernanke Keep His Cards Close To His Chest?
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is unlikely to disclose his strategy going forward when he attends the annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole in September, says Randall Kroszner, former Federal Reserve governor and a professor of economics at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Back in 2010, Bernanke had disclosed his strategy, because he was …
Cisco Pulls Equities Out Of Trading Range; German Chancellor Merkel Assists
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Boosted by solid tech and housing data, US stocks rallied Thursday with the S&P 500 hitting its highest level since April even though regional manufacturing data remained mostly disappointing. Angela Merkel provided additional support to the markets after the German Chancellor said Berlin remains committed to the single currency during a trip to Canada. All the …
Domestic Stocks End Flat Despite Better Economic Numbers; Germany And France Hold The Fort
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Domestic stocks pared better economic-data driven early gains Tuesday in the final trading hour, after media reports suggested Greece was set to seek more time to meet its budget-deficit reduction targets. As if more time would really make a difference. The Financial Times of London suggested Greece is expected to propose 1.5 percent deficit reduction annually …
April Jobs Data Disappoints; Time For Another Round Of QE?
The Friday US jobs numbers disappointed big time. Does this mean the Fed will initiate another round of Quantitative Easing? According to Tom Porcelli, Chief US Economist at RBC Capital Markets, this job number alone is unlikely push the Fed to the edge. Ben Bernanke has made it clear that the Fed would prefer not to initiate another round of …