Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 9 points or 0.02%,
• Nasdaq closed up 0.32%,
• S&P 500 closed up 0.14%,
• Gold $2,366 up $16.90,
• WTI crude oil settled at $85 down $1.14,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.358% down 0.062 points,
• USD index $104.11 down $0.030,
• Bitcoin $69,060 down $2,705 (3.76%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – April 2024 Economic Forecast: Economy Marginally Improving But Growth Will Be Weak

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased by 0.9 of a point in March 2024 to 88.5, the lowest level since December 2012. This is the 27^th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose seven points from February to a net 28% percent seasonally adjusted. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg added:

Small business optimism has reached the lowest level since 2012 as owners continue to manage numerous economic headwind. Inflation has once again been reported as the top business problem on Main Street and the labor market has only eased slightly.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Ukraine’s War Effort May Get Boost from Frozen Russian Assets
• Liberty Steel Unveils Ambitious Expansion Plans
• Energy Stocks Rally Under The Radar
• India’s Coal Consumption Rises Amid Lower Hydropower Output
• Top Commodity Trader Sees Oil in $80-$100 Range This Year
• Dow closes little changed on Tuesday as Wall Street braces for key U.S. inflation report: Live updates
• Intel unveils latest AI chip as Nvidia competition heats up
• Hedge funds are selling stocks at the fastest pace in three months and stepping up short bets
• Costco selling as much as $200 million in gold bars monthly, Wells Fargo estimates
• Boeing’s quarterly airplane deliveries drop to 83 amid safety crisis
• Bitcoin retreats below $70,000, and Binance’s new CEO discusses company culture: CNBC Crypto World
• Here’s how much Caitlin Clark and the other top picks in the historic 2024 WNBA Draft will make as pros

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 11 points or 0.03%,
• Nasdaq closed up 0.03%,
• S&P 500 closed down 0.04%,
• Gold $2,358 up $13.00,
• WTI crude oil settled at $87 down $0.27,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.424% up 0.046 points,
• USD index $104.16 down $0.140,
• Bitcoin $71,671 up $2,392 (3.75%),

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – April 2024 Economic Forecast: Economy Marginally Improving But Growth Will Be Weak

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

none today

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• AI-Driven Data Surge Challenges Infrastructure Limits
• Morgan Stanley Predicts Massive Investments in U.S. Metals and Mining
• Stainless Steel Market Sees Mixed Signals Amid Falling Nickel Prices
• More Russian LNG Being Exported to Europe Than Asia
• Bullish Sentiment Has Taken Hold of Oil Markets
• Jamie Dimon says AI may be as impactful on humanity as printing press, electricity and computers
• U.S. ready to sanction Chinese banks if they aid Russia’s war machine, Yellen says
• Bitcoin briefly crosses $72,000 for first time since mid-March and ether soars 8%: CNBC Crypto World
• The gold market hunts for answers behind bullion’s sudden surge
• Solar eclipse: Airbnb, United Airlines and other brands set to divvy up $1.5 billion ‘path of totality’ windfall

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed up 307 points or 0.80%,
• Nasdaq closed up 1.24%,
• S&P 500 closed up 1.11%, ( New high 5,265)
• Gold $2,342 up $33.20,
• WTI crude oil settled at $87 up $0.16,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.392% up 0.083 points,
• USD index $104.30 up $0.180,
• Bitcoin $67,356 down $1,404 (2.00%), – Historic high 73,798.25
• Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. -1 to 620

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – April 2024 Economic Forecast: Economy Marginally Improving But Growth Will Be Weak

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 303,000 in March 2024, and the unemployment rate changed little at 3.8 percent. Significant job gains occurred in health care, government, and construction. The household survey shows 498,000 jobs were added whilst the headline establishment survey shows 303,000 – this begins to lessen the employment gap between the household and establishment surveys which had been growing. And the household survey which is used for the headline unemployment rate added 469,000 people to the labor force [normally this would have caused the unemployment rate to grow but had little effect this month]. This is a very strong jobs report, and works against any reduction in the federal funds rate as the economy is heating up. In the graph below, the establish survey’s job gains are the blue bars whilst the establishment survey is the red bars.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Thermal Batteries: A Clean and Sustainable Alternative to Lithium-Ion Batteries
• U.S. Drilling Activity Slips Further As Oil Prices Rise
• Argentina’s President Is Going to War With Its Oil Provinces
• Brent Breaks Above $91 as Bullish Sentiment Builds
• Dow closes 300 points higher in Friday rebound, but registers worst week in 2024: Live updates
• Fed caution may be justified if the labor market starts to deteriorate. Here’s why that could happen
• Bitcoin slumps after U.S. job growth beat expectations in March: CNBC Crypto World
• McDonald’s will buy all 225 restaurants from Israel franchise following pro-Palestinian boycott fallout
• US jobs boom raises doubts about rate cuts
• Gold hits another all-time high as investors take cues from near-record buying by central banks
• 10-, 30-year Treasury yields end at highest levels since late November after blowout jobs report

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 530 points or 1.35%,
• Nasdaq closed down 1.40%,
• S&P 500 closed down 1.23%,
• Gold $2,304 down $11.10,
• WTI crude oil settled at $87 up $1.12,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.309% down 0.046 points,
• USD index $104.26 up $0.010,
• Bitcoin $68,325 up $2.434 (2.72%),

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

U.S.-based employers announced 90,309 job cuts in March 2024, up 7% from the 84,638 cuts announced in February, and virtually the same as (+0.7%) the 89,703 cuts announced in the same month last year. It is the highest monthly total since 102,943 cuts occurred in January 2023, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and leadership development and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ,” Andy Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. stated:

Layoffs certainly ticked up to round out the first quarter, though below last year’s levels. Many companies appear to be reverting to a ‘do more with less’ approach. While Technology continues to lead all industries so far this year, several industries, including Energy and Industrial Manufacturing, are cutting more jobs this year than last.

February 2024 exports were up 5.9% year-over-year. February imports were up 3.6% year-over-year.. The February increase in the goods and services deficit increased but is still down 1.7% year-over-year. Trade continues to be lower than pre-pandemic levels.

In the week ending March 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims 4-week moving average was 214,250, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 500 from 211,000 to 211,500. This is the highest level since 27January2024.

NFIB’s monthly jobs report shows a general slowdown in employment activity for small businesses in March, with a seasonally adjusted net 11% planning to create new jobs in the next three months, down one point from February and the lowest level since May 2020. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg added:

Job openings on Main Street are now in line with the levels before the pandemic. Even with the slowdown in openings, the small business labor market remains tight, and owners continue to compete to retain and recruit employees.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Baltimore Port Shutdown Sends Shockwaves Through Auto Industry
• 3 Reasons Gold Prices Continue To Climb
• Tesla Set to Explore India For Next Multi-Billion Dollar Factory
• The World Faces A Natural Gas Glut Not Seen in Decades
• U.S. Gasoline Prices Hit Highest Level in Six Months
• Dow closes 500 points lower, its fourth straight losing session: Live updates
• Bitcoin’s peak could be a harbinger of a stock market top next, Stifel says
• Ron Insana: The U.S deficit is on the rise, but Treasurys are holding up. Here’s why
• Oil Surges Over $90, Stocks Tumble After Israel Puts Embassies Around World On Maximum Alert
• Treasury yields finish lower as Fed officials raise specter of higher-for-longer interest rates

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Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 43 points or 0.11%,
• Nasdaq closed up 0.23%,
• S&P 500 closed up 0.11%,
• Gold $2,317 up $35.10,
• WTI crude oil settled at $86 up $0.42,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.351% down 0.014 points,
• USD index $104.27 down $0.550,
• Bitcoin $65,846 down $224 (0.35%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• The Next Gold Rush: Lithium Surge Creates New Investment Opportunities
• Breakthrough in OLED Technology Could Revolutionize Tech Displays
• BofA Sees Summer Oil Price Peak at $95 Per Barrel
• Gold Prices Have Surged 23.3% in the Last Six Months
• Oil Moves Higher on Fuel Inventory Draws
• Xiaomi’s EV Launch Shakes Up China’s Auto Industry
• Fed’s Powell emphasizes need for more evidence that inflation is easing before cutting rates
• Dow closes lower for a third day as stocks’ second-quarter woes continue: Live updates
• Intel drops almost 8% after chipmaker reports hefty loss in foundry business
• Private payrolls increased by 184,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says
• Long-term Treasury yields end near November highs after Fed’s Powell delivers economic outlook

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 395 points or 1.00%,
• Nasdaq closed down 0.95%,
• S&P 500 closed down 0.72%,
• Gold $2,297 up $40.00,
• WTI crude oil settled at $85 up $1.45,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.355% up 0.026 points,
• USD index $104.78 down $0.240,
• Bitcoin $66,028 down $3,404 (4.90%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

New orders for manufactured goods in February 2024 was up 3.6% year-over-year (versus the Federal Reserve’s IP which was down 0.5% year-over-year). Does this mean the manufacturing recession is ending – it will take a few months more of data to know for sure.

The number of job openings changed little at 8.8 million on the last business day of February 2024 – and as this number has been little changed over the last 5 months, one would expect little change in the rate of growth for employment. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.8 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.5 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) changed little.

U.S. annual home price growth remained mostly consistent with numbers seen since last fall in February but finally slowed as the residual impact of comparing gains with weak 2022 home prices wore off. CoreLogic projects that year-over-year home price gains will continue to rise at a slower pace for the rest of 2024, which suggests more certainty for potential homebuyers who have been waiting to get a foot in the door. Dr. Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic noted:

Home price growth pivoted in February, as the impact of the January 2023 Home Price Index bottom finally faded.  As a result, the U.S. should begin to see slowing annual home price gains moving forward. Nevertheless, with a 0.7% increase from January to February 2024, which is almost double the monthly increase recorded before the pandemic, spring home price gains are already off to a strong start despite continued mortgage rate volatility. That said, more inventory finally coming to market will likely translate to more options for buyers and fewer bidding wars, which typically keeps outsized price growth in check. Still, despite affordability challenges, homebuyer demand appears to favor already expensive, coastal markets with a limited availability of properties for sale.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Geopolitical Risk Looms Over Commodity Markets
• Russia’s Oil Exports By Sea Hit New 2024 Record
• Princeton Scientists Unveil Breakthrough in Fusion Reactor Technology
• Brent Closes in on $90 as Geopolitical Risk Climbs
• Ukrainian Drones Hit Russia’s Third-Largest Oil Refinery
• Dow tumbles nearly 400 points, falling for a second day in rough start to new quarter: Live updates
• Fed officials still expects rate cuts this year, but not anytime soon
• U.S. crude oil cracks $85 to hit highest level since October as geopolitical tensions mount
• Bitcoin slides 5% as Treasury yields spike to highest level since November: CNBC Crypto World
• Hey NASA! ISS Space Junk May Have Ripped Through South Florida Home
• Tesla ‘disaster’ with fewest deliveries since 2022
• 10-, 30-year Treasury yields end at highest levels since November on strength of U.S. data

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed down 241 points or 0.60%,
• Nasdaq closed up 0.11%,
• S&P 500 closed down 0.20%,
• Gold $2,262 up $23.80,
• WTI crude oil settled at $84 up $0.75,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.321% up 0.127 points,
• USD index $104.98 up $0.430,
• Bitcoin $69,680 down $1,245   (1.72%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

Construction spending during February 2024 was 10.7% above February 2023. Construction has been one of the bright spots in the economy.

The ISM Manufacturing PMI^® registered 50.3 percent in March, up 2.5 percentage points from the 47.8 percent recorded in February.  This is the first time in over 18 months that manufacturing has been in positive territory. Could it be that the manufacturing recession is over? Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management^® (ISM^®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee stated:

The Supplier Deliveries Index figure of 49.9 percent is 0.2 percentage point lower than the 50.1 percent recorded in February. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM^® Report On Business^® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.) The Inventories Index increased 2.9 percentage points to 48.2 percent following a reading of 45.3 percent in February. The New Export Orders Index reading of 51.6 percent is the same reading as registered in February. The Imports Index continued in expansion territory, registering 53 percent, the same figure as in February. Both indexes repeated their highest readings since July 2022, when the New Export Orders Index registered 52.6 percent and the Imports Index registered 54.4 percent.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Permian Oil Producers Eye Next-Gen Nuclear to Cleaner Drilling
• Oil Prices Up as Iranian Embassy in Syria Leveled in Airstrike
• Argentina Discusses Natural Gas Exports to Brazil via Bolivia
• The U.S. Was the World’s Top LNG Exporter in 2023
• Dow closes more than 200 points lower to begin April as Treasury yields pop: Live updates
• Railroad CSX adding new freight route on Tuesday to avoid Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse
• Bitcoin drops below $70,000 to kick off April: CNBC Crypto World
• Amazon is trying to get rid of its signature brown boxes. The retail shipping giant has a long way to go
• Gold prices are at an all-time high—but experts like Warren Buffett don’t always recommend investing
• Fears over persistent inflation resurface in U.S. Treasury market, ushering in volatility
• Treasury yields post biggest one-day leap in over a month as traders react to latest U.S. data

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Summary Of the Markets Today:

• Gold $2,255 up $42.10,
• WTI crude oil settled at $83 up $1.76,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.206% up 0.010 points,
• USD index $104.52 down $0.030,
• Bitcoin $69,676 up $1,135 (1.61%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

The number of CEO changes at U.S. companies surged to 248 in February, up 28% from the 194 CEO exits recorded in January. It is a 49% increase from the 167 CEO exits that occurred in the same month one year prior. February’s total is the highest monthly total on record. The previous record was set in January 2020, when 219 CEOs left their posts. Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. stated:

This suggests CEOs who took the position temporarily in 2019 extended their tenures due to the pandemic, and are deciding to leave their posts now.

Disposable personal income (DPI), personal income less personal current taxes, increased 1.7% year-over-year in February 2024- down from 2.1% in January. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased 2.4% year-over-year – up from 2.o% in January. The PCE price index was little changed at 2.5% year-over-year –  excluding food and energy, the PCE price index also was little changed at 2.8%. The bottom line is that inflation is no longer subsiding.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Chinese Solar Companies Skimp on Quality As Price War Escalates
• South Sudan’s Oil Revenues Plunge as Ruptured Pipeline Stalls Exports
• U.S. Drilling Activity Slips Again
• Fisker Slashes Prices of Its Ocean SUV by 39%
• Indonesia to Quadruple Battery-Grade Nickel Output by 2030
• Key Fed inflation gauge rose 2.8% annually in February, as expected
• Tesla’s awful quarter has Wall Street on edge ahead of delivery numbers
• Russia launches barrage of 99 drones and missiles on Ukraine’s energy system, officials say
• Investors are focused ‘overwhelmingly’ on bitcoin over other cryptocurrencies, BlackRock says
• The Meltdown Of Commercial Real Estate
• Tupperware sounds another warning for investors with more filing delays

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed up 47 points or 0.12%,
• Nasdaq closed down 0.12%,
• S&P 500 closed up 0.11%, ( New high 5,265)
• Gold $2,241 up $28.30,
• WTI crude oil settled at $83 up $1.62,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.206% up 0.010 points,
• USD index $104.54 up $0.190,
• Bitcoin $70,903 up $2,265 (3.27%), – Historic high 73,798.25
• Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. -3 to 621 Canada -18 to 151

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

The third estimate of 4Q2023 Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 3.1% year-over-year – up from the third quarter real GDP of 2.9% year-over-year. The GDP implicit price deflator (inflation seen withing GDP) improved from 3.2% to 2.6% year-over-year.

In the week ending March 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims 4-week moving average was 211,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 500 from 211,250 to 211,750.

The Chicago Business Barometer^™ declined 2.6 points to 41.4 in March.  This is the fourth consecutive monthly decrease, pushing the index further into contractionary territory, and marking the lowest print since May 2023.  We also note that this print is 4 points below the 2023 average. The Chicago PMI is used by pundits as an early indicator of the national PMI. There is little question that manufacturing is in a recession in the U.S.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – increased to 75.6 in February. Year over year, pending transactions were down 7.0%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated:

While modest sales growth might not stir excitement, it shows slow and steady progress from the lows of late last year. Ongoing job gains are clearly increasing demand along with more inventory.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Gold Recycling Goes Green with Biodiesel Innovation
• Citigroup Says 42% of Clients Have No Energy Transition Plan
• Russian Warships Enter The Red Sea amid Houthi Attacks
• Over 20% of the World’s Oil Refining Capacity Is at Risk of Closure
• FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years for crypto fraud, to pay $11 billion in forfeiture
• S&P 500 closes at a fresh record, posts strongest first quarter performance since 2019: Live updates
• The wealth of the 1% just hit a record $44 trillion
• Appeals Court Extends Block On Texas Arrests Of Illegal Immigrants
• The S&P 500 and Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ are both up in 2024. Should investors be worried?
• Oil ends higher, with U.S. prices up 16% for the quarter

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Summary Of the Markets Today:

• The Dow closed up 478 points or 1.22%,
• Nasdaq closed up 0.51%,
• S&P 500 closed up 0.86%,
• Gold $2,212 up $13.20,
• WTI crude oil settled at $82 up $0.07,
• 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.190% down 0.044 points,
• USD index $104.30 up $0.010,
• Bitcoin $68,641 down $1,000 (0.10%),

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

When asked between February 20 and March 8 to rate optimism about the overall U.S. economy on a scale from 0 to 100, the average rating from CFOs was 60.6, up from 58.1 in the fourth quarter. Optimism about their own firm’s prospects remained higher than economic optimism, at an average of 68.5, up from 67.5 in the fourth quarter.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

• Western Wind Turbine Manufacturers Struggle to Compete with Chinese Pricing
• Investigators To Examine Whether Dirty Fuel Caused Baltimore Bridge Crash
• Nickel Prices Expected to Drop Further in 2024
• Nissan Unveils New Strategy to Combat Influx of Competitive Chinese EVs
• Baltimore Coal Exports Blocked After Bridge Collapse
• Pump Prices Set to Hit $4 a Gallon
• Dow surges more than 450 points, S&P 500 closes at a fresh record: Live updates
• Amazon spends $2.75 billion on AI startup Anthropic in its largest venture investment yet
• Ron Insana’s new firm aims to bring AI-powered trade ideas to individual investors
• AMC’s stock on pace for biggest gain in a month

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.