The Market Week in Review - Week Ending Oct. 25, 2019

The U.S. stock market ended the week higher amid U.S. and China trade optimism and better than expected corporate earnings. Interest rates also moved higher due to the U.S. and China trade optimism as the 10-year treasury yield rose from 1.76% last week to 1.80% today.The price of gold rose 0.9% to $1,508 an ounce amid expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut next week.Meanwhile the price of crude oil jumped 5.6% to $56.71 a barrel as a potential U.S. and China trade deal eases concerns of global economic growth.

This Week's Economic Highlights

• Approximately one year ago the ISM manufacturing index was over 60% but has since dropped to 47.8% as manufacturers experience their biggest contraction since the 2008-2009 recession.(Readings below 50% indicate worsening manufacturing conditions.)The decline in the index reflects a slowdown in global economies and worsening trade between the U.S. and China.

• The ISM non-manufacturing index, a measure of service-orientated companies, dropped form 56.4% in August to 52.6% in September, its lowest reading in three years.Much like the ISM manufacturing index, the ISM non-manufacturing index has been falling from its high of 60.8% last year but still remains above 50%.  (Readings below 50% indicate worsening manufacturing conditions.)

• Initial unemployment claims rose by 4,000 to 219,000 for the week ending September 28^th.Meanwhile the more stable four-week average of initial claims was unchanged at 212,500.Continuing unemployment claims, which lags initial claims by a week, fell by a slim 5,000 to 1.65 million.Both initial and continuing unemployment claims remain near historic lows.

• The U.S. added 136,000 jobs in September, coming in below the expected 150,000.Despite the relatively low monthly increase in September, both August’s and July’s jobs numbers were revised upward for a combined 45,000.Meanwhile the unemployment rate dropped from 3.7% to 3.5% and the wage growths year-over-year rate fell from 3.2% to 2.9%.

Quote

“The market can only know what is knowable.  It can’t resolve uncertainties that are unresolvable.  So, when there is a large amount of economic uncertainty out there, there’s going to be a large amount of volatility in prices.”

 – Eugene Fama