IMF: FED SHOULD WAIT 6 MONTHS TO TAPER QE3
On Friday, the International Monetary Fund called for the Federal Reserve to keep easing at current levels at least until the end of 2013 and to carefully manage any exit from QE3. In its annual review of the U.S. economy, the IMF characterized the March 1 federal budget cuts as “excessively rapid and ill-designed” and called for their repeal. It lowered its 2014 GDP projection for the U.S. to 2.7%. The IMF still projects U.S. growth for 2013 at 1.9%.1,2
RETAIL SALES UP 0.6% IN MAY
This Commerce Department announcement was a nice surprise, as retail purchases advanced just 0.1% in April. A 1.8% jump in car and truck sales was instrumental, though the pace of overall retail purchases still improved 0.3% for May with vehicle sales factored out.3
A NOTABLE RISE IN THE PPI
Increases in food and energy costs took the overall Producer Price Index 0.5% higher for May, with a surge in gasoline prices central to the advance. The core PPI (minus food and energy prices) rose 0.1% last month.1,4
HOUSEHOLD SENTIMENT SLIPS
On Friday, the University of Michigan’s preliminary June index of consumer sentiment came in at 82.7. That was a surprise to the downside; economists polled by Bloomberg had forecast a reading of 84.5, the index’s final mark for May.1
HEADWINDS BUFFET WALL STREET
The Dow fell 1.17% from June 10-14, closing at 15,070.18 Friday. Similar weekly losses plagued the NASDAQ (-1.32% to 3,423.56) and the S&P 500 (-1.01% to 1,626.73). Last week also brought a 12.62% rise for the CBOE VIX, which settled at 17.05 Friday.4
THIS WEEK: June’s NAHB housing market index comes out Monday, and a G8 summit begins in Ireland. Tuesday, the May Consumer Price Index arrives along with data on May housing starts; Adobe Systems and La-Z-Boy present earnings. Wall Street will be focused on the Federal Reserve’s latest policy announcement on Wednesday; in addition, earnings news rolls in from Red Hat, FedEx and Jabil Circuit. Thursday, NAR releases its report on May existing home sales and the Conference Board’s May index of leading indicators appears, complemented by earnings from Kroger, Rite Aid and Oracle. Friday is a quadruple witching day which also offers earnings from CarMax.
% CHANGE Y-T-D 1-YR CHG 5-YR AVG 10-YR AVG
DJIA +15.00 +19.11 +4.49 +6.53
NASDAQ +13.38 +20.70 +7.90 +11.05
S&P 500 +14.06 +22.39 +3.92 +6.45
REAL YIELD 6/14 RATE 1 YR AGO 5 YRS AGO 10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS 0.09% -0.47% 1.77% 1.51%
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov – 6/14/134,5,6,7
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
WEEKLY QUOTE
“Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.”
– Calvin Coolidge
WEEKLY TIP
A dollar available now is worth more than a dollar available in the future – not just because of long-term inflation, but because that now-available dollar can potentially earn interest. This truism is known as the time value of money.
WEEKLY RIDDLE
You hold a sheet of cellophane. Fully unfolded, it is 3 feet long by 2 feet wide. How can you get two people to stand on it (when it is fully unfolded) in such a way that they can’t touch or see each other?
Last week’s riddle:
What runs around a field, but doesn’t move?
Last week’s answer:
A fence.
Citations.
1 – nasdaq.com/article/midday-update-stocks-sliding-after-imf-cuts-us-growth-forecast-consumer-sentiment-dips-cm253273 [6/14/13]
2 – bbc.co.uk/news/business-22911400 [6/14/13]
3 – stltoday.com/business/local/u-s-retail-sales-jump-percent-in-may-on-autos/article_33200d05-0de6-5d75-a666-5d422d700c76.html [6/13/13]
4 – cnbc.com/id/100816191 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=6%2F14%2F12&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=6%2F14%2F12&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=6%2F14%2F12&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=6%2F13%2F08&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=6%2F13%2F08&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=6%2F13%2F08&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=6%2F13%2F03&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=6%2F13%2F03&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=6%2F13%2F03&x=0&y=0 [6/14/13]
6 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [6/14/13]
7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [6/14/13]
This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., for Mark Lund an independent Investment Advisor, Investor Coach and author of The Effective Investor.