Weekly Market Update | Week 34, 2024


After falling over 8% earlier in the quarter, the market ended last week with the S&P back over 5600 and not far below July’s record highs. The rebound in confidence about a soft-landing outcome and the path back to 2% inflation has also been assisted by some positive takeaways from a number of recent earnings releases, with several major retailers reporting consumers continuing to spend. But while the path of least resistance has seemed to tilt to the upside, there remain concerns about the pace of labor-market softening, the underlying health of the consumer, and whether the Fed’s rate response will be productive in helping to avoid broader economic pain.

The equal-weight S&P outperformed the market weight index and closed Friday at a new all-time high. Small caps also rallied and are near all time highs once again. Treasuries were firmer across the curve amid Fedspeak consistent with consensus expectations for a September start to a rate-cut cycle. The 2Y yield ended back below 4% with the inverted 2/10 spread again moving a bit back toward flat. The DXY dollar index was down 1.7%, its fifth straight weekly decline and the seventh week down of the past eight. Gold was slightly higher, rising 0.3% for the week and while setting fresh record highs. Despite a Friday bounce, WTI crude settled down 0.9% for the week, logging its fifth decline of the prior six weeks amid Gaza ceasefire headlines and continued China growth concerns. 

The big focus of the week was on the Fed’s policy path forward, with expectations firm for some sort of easing in September but still a fair bit of uncertainty about the magnitude and pace given worries about the labor market and the ongoing debate about a soft vs hard economic landing. Despite some mixed commentary from Fed officials, the market was really waiting on Friday’s Jackson Hole appearance. While there were no expectations for any kind of explicit signaling about September moves, the market did categorize the remarks as dovish given his statements about the Fed focus on labor-market weakness, saying policymakers do not welcome further cooling. And he said labor concerns and diminished upside risks to inflation, “the time has come for policy to adjust.” In the wake of the speech, futures pricing did reflect some degree of increased bets on a 50bp September cut, but consensus still remains firm for 25bp. 

These comments also came alongside Wednesday’s release of the minutes from the July FOMC meeting. These seemed to solidify expectations for a September move, noting the “vast majority” believed a cut then would likely be appropriate (and noting that several were prepared to cut in July). At the same time, the minutes served as another reminder that labor-market health had become more prominent in members’ minds. 

There was also attention on the preliminary annual benchmark revision to non-farm payrolls data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While normally not a top-tier item, this showed a downward revision of 818K jobs through March 2024, the largest downward revision since the GFC and near the higher end of analyst expectations. But commentators were also quick to note that these were not a complete surprise and that they were generally consistent with what was already being seen as a slowing labor market. 

The economic calendar was fairly thin. The week’s in-line initial jobless claims number got some attention given labor-market concerns, though continuing claims hit their highest level since November 2021. Preliminary US services PMI unexpectedly increased while manufacturing remained languid. A notable economic bright spot was a big 10.6% m/m increase in July new-home sales (also seeing June’s level revised upward). 

The most anticipated event for this week is NVDA’s earnings release, due out post-close on Wednesday 28-Aug. On the economic calendar there will be July durable orders today; August consumer confidence and Richmond Fed manufacturing on Tuesday; weekly initial claims and July pending home sales on Thursday; and on Friday July core PCE and the final UMich consumer sentiment report for August. 

Fixed Income:

Yield Curve:

July  FOMC Statement   June Minutes   Credit, Liquidity and Balance Sheet    Federal Reserve Dot Plots  

Treasury.gov yields    FOMC Policy Normalization Statement     Longer- Run Goals Jan 2024

Foreign Exchange Market –

Energy Complex-  

The Baker Hughes rig count  was down 1 this week. There are 585 oil and gas rigs operating in the US – Down 47 from last year. 

Metals Complex-   

 Employment Picture 

Weekly Unemployment Claims Released Thursday 8/22/2024 – In the week ending August 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 236,000 a decrease of 750 from the previous week’s revised average.

June Jobs Report –  BLS Summary – Released 8/2/2024 –The US Economyadded 114k nonfarm jobs in July and the Unemployment rate increased 0.2% to 4.3%. Average hourly earnings increased 8 cents to $35.07.  Hiring highlights include +55k Healthcare, +25k Construction, and +14k Transportation and Warehousing. 

  • Average hourly earnings increased 8 cents/0.2% to $35.07.
  • U3 unemployment rate increased 0.2% to 4.3%. U6 unemployment rate increased 0.4% to 7.8%.
  • The labor force participation rate was little changed at 62.7%. 
  • Average work week declined 0.1 to 34.2 hours.

Employment Cost Index– Released 7/31/2024 –Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.9% for the 3-month period ending in June 2024. Wages and salaries increased 0.9% and benefit costs increased 1.0% from March 2024. The 12-month period ending in June 2024 saw compensation costs increase by 4.1. The 12-month period ending June 2023 increased 4.5%. Wages and salaries increased 4.2 percent over the 12-month period ending in June 2024 and increased 4.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2023. Benefit costs increased 3.8 percent over the 12-month period ending June 2024 and increased 4.2 percent for the 12-month period ending in June 2023. This report is published quarterly

Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey JOLTS – Released 7/30/2024 – The number of job openings was unchanged at 8.2 million on the last business day of June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the month the number of hires and total separations was little changed at 5.3 million and 5.1 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.3 million) and discharges (1.5 million) changed little.

This Week’s Economic Data- Blue links take you to data source

New Residential Sales –Released 8/23/2024 – Sales of new single‐family houses in July 2024 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 739,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  

This is 10.6 percent above the revised June rate of 668,000 and is 5.6 percent above the July 2023 estimate of 700,000. The median sales price of new houses sold in July 2024 was $429,800.  The average sales price was $514,800.  

Existing Home Sales  Released 8/22/2024 – Existing home sales in July increased 1.3% from June but fell 2.5% year over year. Existing home sales increased to 3.95 million in June seasonally adjusted. The median price of existing homes for sale increased to a record high of $422,600. 

Recent Economic Data – Blue Links bring you to data source

Housing StartsReleased 8/16/2024 – July housing starts came in at 1,238,000, 6.8% below the June estimate but is 16.0% below the July 2023 rate. Building permits were 4.0% below the June rate at $1,454,000 and is 7.0% below the July 2023 rate. 

Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization  Released 8/15/2024 –Industrial production decreased 0.6% in July. Early July shutdowns concentrated in the petrochemical and related industries due to Hurricane Beryl held down the growth of industrial production by an estimated 0.3%. Manufacturing decreased 0.3%. Utilities output decreased 3.7%. Mining was flat. Total industrial production in July was 0.2% lower than its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization decreased to 77.8% in July, a rate that is 1.9% below its long-run average.

Retail Sales – Released 8/15/2024 –Headline retail sales exceeded expectations, up 1.0% in July and are up 2.7% above July 2023. 

Consumer Price Index – Released 8/14/2024 – The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.2% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, after declining 0.1% in June. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. 

Producer Price Index – Released 8/13/2024 – The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.1 percent in July, seasonally adjusted. Final demand increased 0.2 percent in June. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand moved up 2.2 percent for the 12 months ended in July.

Consumer Credit – Released 8/7/2024 – Consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.4 percent in the second quarter and increased at 2.1 percent in June. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 1.2 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 2.9 percent.

U.S. Trade Balance – Released 8/6/2024 –The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the goods and services deficit was $73.1 billion in June, down $1.9 billion from $75.0 billion in May. June exports were $265.9 billion, $3.9 billion more than May exports. June imports were $339.0 billion, $2.0 billion more than May imports. The June decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected an decrease in the goods deficit of $2.5 billion to $97.4 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $0.6 billion to $24.2 billion.

PMI Non-Manufacturing Index Released 8/5/2024 – Economic activity in the services sector expanded in July for the second time in four months. The Services PMI® registered 51.4 percent, 2.6 percentage higher than June’s reading of 48.8 percent. 

US Light Vehicle Sales Released 8/2/2024 –U.S. light vehicle sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 15.817 million units in July.

U.S. Construction Spending – Released 8/1/2024 – Construction spending during June 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,148.4 billion, 0.3 percent below the revised May estimate of $2,154.8 billion. The June figure is 6.2 percent above the June 2023 estimate of $2,023.0 billion.

PMI Manufacturing Index  Released 8/1/2024 –The July Manufacturing PMI registered 46.8 percent, down 1.7 percent from 48.5 percent in June. The manufacturing sector contracted in July for the fourth consecutive month and the 20th time in the last 21 months. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 51st month after one month of contraction in April 2020. The New Orders Index remained in contraction territory at 47.4 percent, 1.9 percentage points lower than the figure of 49.3 percent recorded in June. The Production Index reading of 45.9 percent is a 2.6-percentage point decrease compared to June’s figure of 48.5 percent.

Chicago PMI Released 7/31/2024 –Chicago PMI remained in contraction territory in July and decreased to 45.3 points down from 47.4 points in June. The latest reading indicated that Chicago’s economic activity contracted for the eighth consecutive month in July. 

Consumer Confidence Released 7/30/2024 – Consumer Confidence increased from 97.8 to 100.3 in July. The expectations index improved from 72.8 to 78.2. The Expectations Index has been below 80 (the threshold which usually signals a recession ahead) for six consecutive months. Confidence increased in July, but not enough to break free of the narrow range that has prevailed over the past two years. Consumers remain relatively positive about the labor market, they still appear to be concerned about elevated prices and interest rates, and uncertainty about the future. Compared to last month, consumers were somewhat less pessimistic about the future. Expectations for future income improved slightly, but consumers remained generally negative about business and employment conditions ahead.

Personal Income  Released 7/26/2024 –Personal income increased $50.4 billion (0.2 percent at a monthly rate) in May. Disposable personal income (DPI)—personal income less personal current taxes—increased $37.7 billion (0.2 percent). Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $57.6 billion (0.3 percent).

Advance Estimate of 2nd Quarter 2024 GDP  Released 7/25/2024 – Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the second quarter of 2024, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 1.4 percent. The GDP “advance” estimate is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision. The increase in real GDP primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, private inventory investment, and nonresidential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased. 

Durable Goods  Released 7/25/2024 – New orders for manufactured durable goods in June, down following four consecutive months on increases, decreased $18.6 billion or 6.6 percent to $264.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 0.1 percent May increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 7.0 percent. Transportation equipment, down two of the last three months, led the decrease, $19.6 billion or 20.5 percent to $75.8 billion.  Shipments of manufactured durable goods in June, up four of the last five months, increased $3.5 billion or 1.2 percent to $288.1 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent May decrease. Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $3.5 billion or 3.8 percent to $95.3 billion.

This week we get data on Durable Goods, the 2nd Estimate of 2nd Quarter GDP, Personal Income, Consumer Confidence, and Chicago PMI. 

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Data Sources: 

Conference Board Economic Indicators   Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)   Congressional Budget Office (CBO)     U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)    Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED Charts)

CME Fed Watch   U.S. Treasury – Yields   U.S. Census Bureau    Institute for Supply Management (ISM)    Weekly DOL Employment Data    BLS Monthly Jobs Report    JOLTS      All capital in one visualization 2020

US Energy Admn (EIA)   BLS Consumer Price Index CPI      BLS Producer Price Index PPIAtlanta Fed GDPNOW    NY Fed Nowcast GDP     US Census Bureau Housing Starts   U.S. Energy Admn

Consumer Credit  USCB Retail Sales   Construction Spending      Federal Reserve Dot Plots 2017   NY Empire Index    Philadelphia Federal Reserve   P/E Ratio Data -Yardeni Research

Technical Analysis Info: Koyfin.com  StockCharts.com – Financial Charts    Exponential vs Simple Moving Average

Other links: 1973 Arab Oil Embargo    Hunt Brothers Silver    Asian Contagion   Long-Term Capital bailout