23 Aug 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Wall Street Rises Sharply Ahead Of Fed Powell’s Comments And Closes Sharply Higher

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed up 184 points or 0.54%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 1.59%,
  • S&P 500 closed up 1.10%,
  • Gold $1,946 up $20.00,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $79 down $1.07,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.188% down 0.014 points,
  • USD Index $103.40 down $0.160,
  • Bitcoin $26,553 up $754,

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


Click here to read our Economic Forecast for August 2023


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

Sales of new single‐family houses in July 2023 were 31.5 percent above July 2022. The median sales price of new houses sold in July 2023 was $436,700. The average sales price was $513,000. The seasonally‐adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of July represents a supply of 7.3 months at the current sales rate.

It appears that imports into the US continue to worsen – this is usually a signal that the economy is slowing – but in this case, with so many varying dynamics, I would not be in a position to interpret the effect. Anyway. trade in general seems to be in a recession. Sea containers are a timely proxy for trade with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach moving 40% of all US container imports / exports. In July 2023, imports are down 26% year-over-year whilst exports are down 6%.

 

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • Innovative Electrolyzer Paves Way For Sustainable Propane Production
  • Iran Oil Exports Surge above 2 Million Bpd
  • Money Manager Sees $120 Oil Surprising Bears
  • Nasdaq extends 3-day streak, S&P closes up 1% ahead of Nvidia earnings: Live updates
  • Wagner boss Prigozhin listed as a passenger on crashed jet which killed 10 people
  • Hollywood producers take heated negotiations with writers union public, revealing latest offer
  • Binance.US turns to crypto startup MoonPay after U.S. banks sever ties: CNBC Crypto World
  • Tucker And Trump Team Up To Upstage Fox’s GOP Debate
  • Bond Report: 10-, 30-year Treasury yields end at one-week lows after batch of weak PMI data
  • Market Snapshot: Nasdaq on pace for its best day in nearly a month ahead of Nvidia results

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

Tonight, Tomorrow, Next Day, Five Days, and Intermediate-Term Outlooks for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted August 23, 2023

Here is what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term outlooks and a five-day World weather outlook.

We start with the U.S. Information. You can update this section here but these are 48 to 72-hour forecasts so if I have not been able to update this area twice daily, what is shown is still valid and the images in the body of the article update automatically but sometimes they are a bit slow to update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Wed Aug 23 2023
Valid 12Z Wed Aug 23 2023 – 12Z Fri Aug 25 2023

…Over 100 million people under heat alerts from the Midwest to the Gulf
Coast as record-breaking temperatures continue through the end of the
week…

…Scattered flash flooding threat spans across West Texas, the Southwest,
and central Great Basin over the next few days…

…Locally heavy rain and severe thunderstorms possible across the Lower
Great Lakes and Upper Ohio Valley…

 

22 Aug 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Wall Street Three Major Indexes Closed Mixed

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 175 points or 0.51%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 0.06%,
  • S&P 500 closed down 0.28%,
  • Gold $1,926 up $3.30,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $80 down $0.47,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.326% down 0.014 points,
  • USD Index $103.61 up $0.310,
  • Bitcoin $25,831 down $282,

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


Click here to read our Economic Forecast for August 2023


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

Total existing-home sales – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops – waned 2.2% from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.07 million in July. Year-over-year, sales slumped 16.6% (down from 4.88 million in July 2022). The median existing-home price for all housing types in July was $406,700, an increase of 1.9% from July 2022 ($399,000).  NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated:

Two factors are driving current sales activity – inventory availability and mortgage rates. Unfortunately, both have been unfavorable to buyers.

The Richmond Fed manufacturing index edged up from −9 in July to −7 in August 2023. Two of its three component indexes — shipments and new orders — also increased. The new orders index rose from −20 to −11. Manufacturing continues in a recession in the US.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • Global Oil Consumption Nears All-Time Highs
  • South America Struggles To Balance Oil Economy And Environment
  • Seaborne Coal Volumes Hit Record Highs In 2023
  • Oil Prices Subdued But Bearish Catalysts Loom
  • S&P 500 closes lower, weighed by declines in bank and retail shares: Live updates
  • Amazon AI scammers blew millions on Lake Como wedding and cars, FTC alleges
  • Home sales fall again in July, as supply drops to near quarter-century low
  • AMC shares crater as investors brace for stock conversion
  • Dick’s shares fall 24% as retailer slashes outlook over theft concerns
  • Coinbase just took a stake in stablecoin issuer Circle. Here’s what it could mean for the crypto exchange
  • S&P Joins Downgrade Party Of US Banks Due To “Tough” Climate
  • Older Americans will spend 12 years living with disability or disease — why are we so unhealthy?

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

Tonight, Tomorrow, Next Day, Five Days, and Intermediate-Term Outlooks for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted August 22, 2023

Here is what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term outlooks and a five-day World weather outlook.

We start with the U.S. Information. You can update this section here but these are 48 to 72-hour forecasts so if I have not been able to update this area twice daily, what is shown is still valid and the images in the body of the article update automatically but sometimes they are a bit slow to update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Tue Aug 22 2023

Valid 12Z Tue Aug 22 2023 – 12Z Thu Aug 24 2023

…Extremely dangerous heat will persist across a widespread region
spanning from the Midwest to Gulf Coast this week…

…Heavy rain and gusty winds associated with Tropical Storm Harold to
impact South Texas today…

…Scattered flash flooding concerns exist across parts of the Great Basin
and Southwest…

 

21 Aug 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Treasury Yields Show A 10-Year Rate Highest Since 2007, Nasdaq Rises For The First Time In Five Sessions, Dow Closes Down

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 37 points or 0.11%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 1.56%,
  • S&P 500 closed up 0.69%,
  • Gold $1,924 up $7.20,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $81 down $0.44,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.340% up 0.089 points,
  • USD Index $103.33 down $0.050,
  • Bitcoin $26,096 down $38,

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


Click here to read our Economic Forecast for August 2023


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

No releases today.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • An Increasing Number Of Americans Want Nuclear Power
  • Ruble Plunge Sends Waves Across Central Asia’s Economies
  • Kinder Morgan Unit Declares Force Majeure At Tennessee Gas Pipeline
  • Russia Retains Position As China’s Top Oil Supplier
  • Nasdaq snaps 4-day losing streak, tech shares rise despite higher yields: Live updates
  • Mortgage rates hit their highest point since 2000
  • American workers are demanding almost $80,000 a year to take a new job
  • Tilray is buying beverage brands from Molson Coors, Anheuser-Busch as cannabis industry struggles
  • Altcoins slide to begin the week while bitcoin and ether stabilize
  • Treasury Yields Soar To 16 Year High As 30Y Mortgage Rates Near 21st Century High
  • The Fed: Jackson Hole meeting: When is Jerome Powell’s speech? What investors need to know.
  • Market Extra: Treasury yields are surging as investors see no likely return to historically low interest rates

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

Tonight, Tomorrow, Next Day, Five Days, and Intermediate-Term Outlooks for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted August 21, 2023

Here is what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term outlooks and a five-day World weather outlook.

We start with the U.S. Information. You can update this section here but these are 48 to 72-hour forecasts so if I have not been able to update this area twice daily, what is shown is still valid and the images in the body of the article update automatically but sometimes they are a bit slow to update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
407 PM EDT Mon Aug 21 2023

Valid 00Z Tue Aug 22 2023 – 00Z Thu Aug 24 2023

…There is a Slight of excessive rainfall over parts of the Western U. S.
on Monday and Tuesday and southern Texas on Tuesday…

…There are Air Quality Warnings over the parts of the Pacific Northwest,
Central Rockies, and Mid-Atlantic…

…Excessive Heat Warnings and Advisories from parts of the Plains, the
Mississippi Valley, and Central/Western Gulf Coast…

 

Tonight, Tomorrow, Next Day, Five Days, and Intermediate-Term Outlooks for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted August 20, 2023

Here is what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term outlooks and a five-day World weather outlook.

We start with the U.S. Information. You can update this section here but these are 48 to 72-hour forecasts so if I have not been able to update this area twice daily, what is shown is still valid and the images in the body of the article update automatically but sometimes they are a bit slow to update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
358 PM EDT Sun Aug 20 2023

Valid 00Z Mon Aug 21 2023 – 00Z Wed Aug 23 2023

…There is a Slight to High Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of
Southern California, the Great Basin, and the Northern Intermountain
Region…

…There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of
Southeastern California…

…There are Air Quality Warnings over the parts of the Pacific Northwest
and Northern/Central Rockies…

…Excessive Heat Warnings and Advisories from parts of the Plains, the
Mississippi Valley, and Central/Western Gulf Coast…

 

[Image of WPC Flash Flooding/Excessive Rainfall Outlook]

Taking Another Look at the NOAA Seasonal Outlook – What about this Coming Winter? Published on August 19, 2023

On the third Thursday of the month right on schedule NOAA issued their updated Seasonal Outlook which I describe as their Four-Season Outlook because it extends a bit more than one year into the future.

Usually, we pay the most attention to the Mid-Month forecast for the next month which is September, the three-month Outlook for September through November and the Seasonal Drought Outlook.

Tonight I want to focus on the months beyond September through November 2023  In particular I want to focus on the winter months.

 NOAA is showing a warmer than normal Northern Tier and equal chances for the rest of CONUS other than Florida

 

 

 NOAA is showing a dry extreme Northern Tier and a mostly wet Southern Tier and the Southeast.   But what about the Colorado River Basin?  Pretty much a normal year?  What about New Mexico? If the Jet Stream is so far south that there will only be normal precipitation for Northern New Mexico and Colorado? That is not a good scenario for New Mexico.

 

Tonight, Tomorrow, Next Day, Five Days, and Intermediate-Term Outlooks for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted August 19, 2023

Here is what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term outlooks and a five-day World weather outlook.

We start with the U.S. Information. You can update this section here but these are 48 to 72-hour forecasts so if I have not been able to update this area twice daily, what is shown is still valid and the images in the body of the article update automatically but sometimes they are a bit slow to update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Aug 19 2023

Valid 12Z Sat Aug 19 2023 – 12Z Mon Aug 21 2023

…Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding likely over portions of the
Southwest…

…Dangerous heat expanding over the central U.S…..

 

 

[Image of WPC Flash Flooding/Excessive Rainfall Outlook]