Dow was off 15, advancers over decliners 2-1 & NAZ shot up 98. The MLP index fell 3+ to the 248s & the REIT index gained 2+ to the 361s (approaching record highs). Junk bond funds inched higher & Treasuries rose in today's trading. Oil pulled back slightly to the high 53s & gold jumped up 10 to 1325 (more on both below).
AMJ (Alerian MLP Index tracking fund)
![Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]](https://www.kitco.com/images/live/gold.gif?0.2180338269244485)
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits surged to near a 1½-year high last week, which could raise concerns that the labor market is slowing. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 53K to a seasonally adjusted 253K for last week, the highest level since Sep 2017, the Labor Dept said. Claims dropped to 200K in the prior week, which was the lowest level since 1969. The forecast called for claims rising to only 215K. The claims data covered the Martin Luther King holiday. While claims tend to be volatile around holidays, last week's big jump could be flagging a moderation in job growth. The surge could also reflect filings by non-federal gov workers who were temporarily unemployed during the partial gov shutdown that recently ended. The Labor Dept said no states were estimated last week. The 3-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 5K to 225 last week. The claims data has no bearing on the Jan employment report, which is scheduled for release tomorrow, as it falls outside the survey period. The forecast is for nonfarm payrolls to increase by 165K jobs in Jan after jumping 312K in Dec. The 5-week partial gov shutdown is not expected to have an impact on Jan's job growth, as workers who were furloughed will be paid retroactively together with colleagues who worked without pay. However, these workers who stayed at home during the longest gov shutdown in history are expected to temporarily push up the unemployment rate in Jan. The Federal Reserve just kept interest rates steady but said it would be patient in lifting borrowing costs further this year in a nod to growing uncertainty over the economy's outlook. The central bank removed language from its Dec policy statement that risks to the outlook were "roughly balanced." Business & consumer confidence have weakened, with some of the deterioration linked to the gov shutdown. The claims report showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid increased 69K to 1.78K last week & the 4-week moving average of continuing claims gained 8K to 1.74M.
Stocks had their best Jan gain in more than 30 years, & that should mean 2019 will be a pretty good year for stocks. That's what the widely watched Jan barometer says, so goes Jan, so goes the year. According to Stock Trader's Almanac, going back to 1950, that metric predicting the year has worked 87% of the time. But the indicator also signaled a positive year last year, & the market suffered an unusual late-year sell off, wiping out all of the gains. The S&P 500 ended 2018 down 6.6%, despite rising 5.6% in January. But the S&P also defied history with a terrible Dec decline of 9.6%, the biggest loss for the final month of the year since 1931. This Jan, the S&P 500 is up 7.7% as of yesterday. That would be the best Jan performance since 1987, when it rose 13.2% . Some market pros worry the sharp snap back in stocks since the late Dec low means Jan could be stealing the gains from the rest of the year. Others believe there could be another test at lower levels in the not too distant future. Yet, forecasters have a median target of 2950 for the S&P 500 at year end, a big leap forward from the current 2700. The market has sprung back from the Dec low, with the S&P gaining 15% since Dec 26.
The best January in 30 years could mean good things for the stock market in 2019
US crude oil surged this month to post its best Jan performance on record, breaking a 3-month losing streak that saw futures lose nearly ½ of their value. Crude futures have powered through a steady flow of weak economic data from China, the world's 2nd biggest oil consumer, amid an ongoing trade dispute with the US. The energy complex has been boosted by OPEC-led production cuts aimed at draining oversupply & US sanctions on Venezuela, which threaten to disrupt global trade flows & bolster prices. West Texas Intermediate crude prices ended yesterday's session down 44¢ at $53.79 a barrel, after hitting a 2-month high at $55.37. WTI posted an 18.5% monthly gain, its biggest jump since Apr 2016 & its best Jan since the futures began trading in 1983. Intl benchmark Brent crude for Mar delivery was up 25¢ at $61.90 a barrel, on pace to rise 15% in Jan, also the best monthly gain since Apr 2016. Brent's more heavily traded Apr contract was down 1% at $60.89. Prices tumbled after the Energy Information Administration reported US oil production rose to an all-time high 11.9M barrels per day in Nov, up from 11.5M bpd in Oct. Preliminary weekly figures have long telegraphed the jump, confirmed by EIA's first monthly reading yesterday. The drop also came after Pres Trump said he wants a big trade deal with China, but may not reach an agreement by Mar 1, the deadline to prevent a rise in tariffs on hundreds of B$s in goods. An increase in trade barriers threatens to exacerbate a slowdown in Chinese growth that could dent fuel demand. Negotiators from the 2 countries are meeting in DC this week. Despite the strong monthly performance, both benchmarks remain in bear market territory, with WTI down about 30¢ from its 52-week high in Oct. The crude price collapsed to roughly 18-month lows in Q4 on growing oversupply, weak demand signals & technical trading.
Oil surges more than 18 percent this month for its best January on record
A survey of business conditions in the Chicago area that’s seen as a proxy for the broader US economy cooled off in Jan, falling to the lowest level in 2 years & providing more proof that 2019 has gotten off to a slow start. Although any reading over 50 to an improving economy, the index has taken a big tumble lately. Just 3 months ago, the index stood at 66.4. New orders fell to a 2-year low & production was the weakest in 10 months. Customers were put off in part by higher prices, execs told MNI. Stable inventory growth suggested strong sales in the months ahead, though. Employment was little changed & some companies would like to hire, but can't find enough skilled workers, especially in blue-collar trades. The Chicago survey gives a good idea of what's happening with manufacturers & other large US companies, including many with expansive global operations. It is viewed as a leading indicator of how well the US & even global economies are performing. The US & global economies appear to have slowed. Jobless claims surge to 16-month high of 253K. The US, buoyed by a strong labor market, is still growing steadily. That’s not the case for Europe, though & China is also struggling to expand as much as its economy usually does. The festering trade fight with the US is part of the reason. The Federal Reserve is worried enough that it's tabled plans to raise interest rates until it gets a better handle on what's going on.
Gold futures settled higher, tallying a 4th straight monthly gain, after the Federal Reserve left interest-rates unchanged & employed language hinting at a momentary pause in monetary tightening, bullish development for bullion prices. The most-active Apr gold contract climbed $9.70 (0.7%) to settle at $1325 an ounce, after settling at $1315 an ounce before the Fed's updated policy statement. The Federal Reserve on Wed left a key interest rate at a range of 2.25% to 2.50% & Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank would be “patient” about further interest-rate moves, adding that it was open to slowing the pace of the runoff of its $4T balance sheet if needed. Of particular note to market participants, the Fed removed a reference to “further gradual rate increases” in its policy statement, leaving many to believe that future rate hikes were on hold until further notice. The policy update marked a decidedly dovish shift for the Fed, even if the market had anticipated a more moderated stance on the pace of monetary normalization. This position has put downward pressure on the $, which skidded lower late Wed, providing a runway for commodities priced in the currency to trade higher. The yellow metal had already been in an uptrend prompted by earlier communications of the Fed's softening stance on rate increases & uncertainty about a resolution of a protracted tariff spats between the US & China. Pres Trump said yesterday trade talks in DC are going well, but that he doesn't expect to reach a final deal until he & Chinese Pres Xi Jinping meet “in the near future.” Meanwhile, a report today from the World Gold Council showed that 2018 gold demand edged up by 4% to 4.345 metric tons, as central bank buying climbed to 651 metric tons, its highest in 50 years. Tracking the most-active contracts, gold futures ended 3.3% higher for the month.
Jan was an out standing month for stocks, oil & ALSO GOLD. The Dow rose 1700 after a horrible Dec. Oil had a similar story. Bargain hunters returned in Jan to bid up prices. Meanwhile, nervous Nellie investors put their money in gold & the buying came in the last 5 trading days of Jan. Stocks continue overbought even though background data is very weak (US-China trade talks, another possible gov shutdown, a drab housing market, etc.). Feb will test the the strength of the bulls to control the stock market.
Dow Jones Industrials
AMJ (Alerian MLP Index tracking fund)
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits surged to near a 1½-year high last week, which could raise concerns that the labor market is slowing. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 53K to a seasonally adjusted 253K for last week, the highest level since Sep 2017, the Labor Dept said. Claims dropped to 200K in the prior week, which was the lowest level since 1969. The forecast called for claims rising to only 215K. The claims data covered the Martin Luther King holiday. While claims tend to be volatile around holidays, last week's big jump could be flagging a moderation in job growth. The surge could also reflect filings by non-federal gov workers who were temporarily unemployed during the partial gov shutdown that recently ended. The Labor Dept said no states were estimated last week. The 3-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 5K to 225 last week. The claims data has no bearing on the Jan employment report, which is scheduled for release tomorrow, as it falls outside the survey period. The forecast is for nonfarm payrolls to increase by 165K jobs in Jan after jumping 312K in Dec. The 5-week partial gov shutdown is not expected to have an impact on Jan's job growth, as workers who were furloughed will be paid retroactively together with colleagues who worked without pay. However, these workers who stayed at home during the longest gov shutdown in history are expected to temporarily push up the unemployment rate in Jan. The Federal Reserve just kept interest rates steady but said it would be patient in lifting borrowing costs further this year in a nod to growing uncertainty over the economy's outlook. The central bank removed language from its Dec policy statement that risks to the outlook were "roughly balanced." Business & consumer confidence have weakened, with some of the deterioration linked to the gov shutdown. The claims report showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid increased 69K to 1.78K last week & the 4-week moving average of continuing claims gained 8K to 1.74M.
US weekly jobless claims jump to near one-and-a-half year high
Stocks had their best Jan gain in more than 30 years, & that should mean 2019 will be a pretty good year for stocks. That's what the widely watched Jan barometer says, so goes Jan, so goes the year. According to Stock Trader's Almanac, going back to 1950, that metric predicting the year has worked 87% of the time. But the indicator also signaled a positive year last year, & the market suffered an unusual late-year sell off, wiping out all of the gains. The S&P 500 ended 2018 down 6.6%, despite rising 5.6% in January. But the S&P also defied history with a terrible Dec decline of 9.6%, the biggest loss for the final month of the year since 1931. This Jan, the S&P 500 is up 7.7% as of yesterday. That would be the best Jan performance since 1987, when it rose 13.2% . Some market pros worry the sharp snap back in stocks since the late Dec low means Jan could be stealing the gains from the rest of the year. Others believe there could be another test at lower levels in the not too distant future. Yet, forecasters have a median target of 2950 for the S&P 500 at year end, a big leap forward from the current 2700. The market has sprung back from the Dec low, with the S&P gaining 15% since Dec 26.
The best January in 30 years could mean good things for the stock market in 2019
US crude oil surged this month to post its best Jan performance on record, breaking a 3-month losing streak that saw futures lose nearly ½ of their value. Crude futures have powered through a steady flow of weak economic data from China, the world's 2nd biggest oil consumer, amid an ongoing trade dispute with the US. The energy complex has been boosted by OPEC-led production cuts aimed at draining oversupply & US sanctions on Venezuela, which threaten to disrupt global trade flows & bolster prices. West Texas Intermediate crude prices ended yesterday's session down 44¢ at $53.79 a barrel, after hitting a 2-month high at $55.37. WTI posted an 18.5% monthly gain, its biggest jump since Apr 2016 & its best Jan since the futures began trading in 1983. Intl benchmark Brent crude for Mar delivery was up 25¢ at $61.90 a barrel, on pace to rise 15% in Jan, also the best monthly gain since Apr 2016. Brent's more heavily traded Apr contract was down 1% at $60.89. Prices tumbled after the Energy Information Administration reported US oil production rose to an all-time high 11.9M barrels per day in Nov, up from 11.5M bpd in Oct. Preliminary weekly figures have long telegraphed the jump, confirmed by EIA's first monthly reading yesterday. The drop also came after Pres Trump said he wants a big trade deal with China, but may not reach an agreement by Mar 1, the deadline to prevent a rise in tariffs on hundreds of B$s in goods. An increase in trade barriers threatens to exacerbate a slowdown in Chinese growth that could dent fuel demand. Negotiators from the 2 countries are meeting in DC this week. Despite the strong monthly performance, both benchmarks remain in bear market territory, with WTI down about 30¢ from its 52-week high in Oct. The crude price collapsed to roughly 18-month lows in Q4 on growing oversupply, weak demand signals & technical trading.
Oil surges more than 18 percent this month for its best January on record
A survey of business conditions in the Chicago area that’s seen as a proxy for the broader US economy cooled off in Jan, falling to the lowest level in 2 years & providing more proof that 2019 has gotten off to a slow start. Although any reading over 50 to an improving economy, the index has taken a big tumble lately. Just 3 months ago, the index stood at 66.4. New orders fell to a 2-year low & production was the weakest in 10 months. Customers were put off in part by higher prices, execs told MNI. Stable inventory growth suggested strong sales in the months ahead, though. Employment was little changed & some companies would like to hire, but can't find enough skilled workers, especially in blue-collar trades. The Chicago survey gives a good idea of what's happening with manufacturers & other large US companies, including many with expansive global operations. It is viewed as a leading indicator of how well the US & even global economies are performing. The US & global economies appear to have slowed. Jobless claims surge to 16-month high of 253K. The US, buoyed by a strong labor market, is still growing steadily. That’s not the case for Europe, though & China is also struggling to expand as much as its economy usually does. The festering trade fight with the US is part of the reason. The Federal Reserve is worried enough that it's tabled plans to raise interest rates until it gets a better handle on what's going on.
Chicago economy grows at slowest pace in 2 years and not just due to a polar vortex
Gold futures settled higher, tallying a 4th straight monthly gain, after the Federal Reserve left interest-rates unchanged & employed language hinting at a momentary pause in monetary tightening, bullish development for bullion prices. The most-active Apr gold contract climbed $9.70 (0.7%) to settle at $1325 an ounce, after settling at $1315 an ounce before the Fed's updated policy statement. The Federal Reserve on Wed left a key interest rate at a range of 2.25% to 2.50% & Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank would be “patient” about further interest-rate moves, adding that it was open to slowing the pace of the runoff of its $4T balance sheet if needed. Of particular note to market participants, the Fed removed a reference to “further gradual rate increases” in its policy statement, leaving many to believe that future rate hikes were on hold until further notice. The policy update marked a decidedly dovish shift for the Fed, even if the market had anticipated a more moderated stance on the pace of monetary normalization. This position has put downward pressure on the $, which skidded lower late Wed, providing a runway for commodities priced in the currency to trade higher. The yellow metal had already been in an uptrend prompted by earlier communications of the Fed's softening stance on rate increases & uncertainty about a resolution of a protracted tariff spats between the US & China. Pres Trump said yesterday trade talks in DC are going well, but that he doesn't expect to reach a final deal until he & Chinese Pres Xi Jinping meet “in the near future.” Meanwhile, a report today from the World Gold Council showed that 2018 gold demand edged up by 4% to 4.345 metric tons, as central bank buying climbed to 651 metric tons, its highest in 50 years. Tracking the most-active contracts, gold futures ended 3.3% higher for the month.
Gold prices settle higher, up a 4th month in a row
Jan was an out standing month for stocks, oil & ALSO GOLD. The Dow rose 1700 after a horrible Dec. Oil had a similar story. Bargain hunters returned in Jan to bid up prices. Meanwhile, nervous Nellie investors put their money in gold & the buying came in the last 5 trading days of Jan. Stocks continue overbought even though background data is very weak (US-China trade talks, another possible gov shutdown, a drab housing market, etc.). Feb will test the the strength of the bulls to control the stock market.
Dow Jones Industrials
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