Economic data point–hesitantly–to stronger economy

Economic data point–hesitantly–to stronger economy

Treasuries are down today and the U.S.dollar up on the release of the ISM Manufacturing Index. At 51.5 for September, the index was up from 49.4 in August and above the consensus of 49.4 among economists surveyed by Briefing.com. Remember that a reading of 50 in this index marks the difference between contraction and expansion so with today’s 51.5 number, this index moves firmly into the economic expansion camp

Economic data point–hesitantly–to stronger economy

Today’s economic news–with its worries about growth–is an anxious set up for tomorrow’s August jobs report

Manufacturing activity in the United States contracted, unexpectedly, in August, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index released today. The index fell to 49.4 in August from 52.6 in July. That was the biggest drop in the index since January 2014 and was enough to push the index below the 50 level that separates contraction from expansion. The median forecast among economists was for reading of 52.

U.S. stocks mark time waiting for Friday’s jobs report for May

With U.S. stocks bumping up against the top of the recent trading range of 2100 on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index–and near the May 2015 all-time high for the index at 2135–markets need good news to push stock prices higher. But every piece of good news also increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its June 15 or July 27 meetings

Is U.S. economic growth showing signs of slowing?

To subscribe to JAM you need to fill in some details below including, ahem, some info on how you'll pay us. A subscription is $199 (although if you're subscribing with one of our special offers it will be lower) for a year for ongoing and continuing access to the...