Weekly Market Recap – December 23, 2021 U.S. coronavirus pandemic statistics have been monopolizing the news. Nationwide, the seven-day moving average for COVID-19 related deaths reached 1,481 (up 22% from a week ago). New cases averaged 176,829 (a 40% increase from the previous week), and hospitalizations rose 3% to an average daily admission level of

Weekly Market Recap – December 17, 2021 COVID-19 statistics have dominated the news every day of the week. The Omicron variant has now been detected in all 50 states. Congress gave final approval to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion. Monthly economic statistics, compared with previous levels, were as follows: the producer price index

Weekly Market Recap – December 10, 2021 As the week came to a close, a series of deadly tornadoes began to strike the U.S. heartland with wind speeds up to 150 mph. The ensuing destruction across six states caused countless deaths and injuries as it leveled entire communities. Monthly economic statistics, compared with prior months

Weekly Market Recap – December 3, 2021 New COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are up 36% from a month ago. As of Friday, the Omicron variant had been detected in 10 states. The Fed’s intentions of addressing inflation may be evidenced by the Treasury yield curve flattening more; it is now at its narrowest in

Weekly Market Recap – November 26, 2021 On Friday, Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant took the oxygen out of newsrooms. Detected first in South Africa, this mutation is being described as potentially more contagious than the Delta variant. It is unknown whether the currently available vaccines will provide protection from it. The economic statistics for

Weekly Market Recap – November 19, 2021 President Biden signed the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law. The House passed the Build Back Better Act on Friday. The national count for new COVID-19 cases has risen 25% in the last two weeks. With travelers flying in record numbers recently, and more people planning for

Weekly Market Recap – November 12, 2021 A labor statistic that began getting more attention in spring 2021 is the “JOLTS” number (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey). It enumerates new job creation and resignations, and the latter is in focus. Now dubbed the “Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit”, the measure reached a new

Weekly Market Recap – November 5, 2021 Congress finally passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill late Friday evening. Monthly economic statistics, compared with previous releases, were: construction spending -0.5% vs. +0.1%, factory orders +0.2% vs. +1.2%, balance of trade -$80.9 billion deficit vs. -$72.8 billion, consumer credit $29.0 billion vs. $14.0 billion, non-farm payrolls

Weekly Market Recap – October 29, 2021 Heads of state converged on Rome for the annual G-20 meeting. Prior to the start of the summit, President Biden paid a visit to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. The FDA authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11. Monthly economic statistics released during the week, compared

Weekly Market Recap – October 22, 2021 Following FDA authorization, the CDC approved booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, in addition to the previously approved Pfizer shots for those who are eligible. In Washington, reports indicated that there would be a vote on the infrastructure bill in the coming week. Monthly