20
Feb 12

AAM LLC - Weekly Market Wrap

Weekly Market Wrap: Stocks resumed positive momentum after a
slight drop last week.  The S&P 500
added 1.38% to finish at 1,361.  Gold
gained 0.16% to $1,722 and Oil surged 4.52% to $103.45.  The dollar moved 0.30% higher against other
major world currencies to close at $79.35.

Year-To-Date for the major indexes:

  • The S&P index +8.24%
  • The Dow Jones Index +6.00%
  • The NASDAQ Index +13.31%
  • The Russell 2000 Small cap Index +11.84%
  • EAFE International Index +9.62%
  • The 10 year treasury is currently yielding 2.01%
    and the 30 year is yielding 3.16%.  Yields
    moved higher for the week and are higher for the year.

 

Monday the S&P 500 index added 9 points on moderate
volume as Greece approves austerity spending cuts and a Euro decision looms
tomorrow.

Tuesday the market dropped 2 points on moderate volume as Moody’s
cuts several Euro debt ratings and US retail sales disappoint.

Wednesday stocks dropped 7 points on moderate volume as payments
to Greece may be delayed and Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggest a few
members think a 3rd round of stimulus (QE3) may be needed to boost
the economy.  Also, industrial production
was flat, New York manufacturing activity was up and homebuilder sentiment was up
for the 5th straight month.

Thursday the index surged 15 points on moderate volume as jobless
claims continued lower, Philly manufacturing and housing starts were up while
building starts missed and producer prices were mixed.

Friday stocks added 3 more points on moderate volume as US
leading economic indicators were up for the 4th straight month and
inflation was stable.  Also, Euro
confidence was up on the prospect of the Greek bailout approval.

 

 

 

Stocks continued to surge in 2012 on positive economic activity
and a possible deal for Greece.  So far
for 2012 risk assets have surged with the small cap stock index beating large
caps in a reversal of 2011 results.  As
long as the economy continues to improve look for this trend to continue.

Mortgage rates rose this week and continue to rise for the year.  The Schwab Bank 15-year rate is at 3.625% and
the 30-year rate is at 4.40%. These rates are as of 02/20/2012 and assume no
points, no origination fee and a $250,000 conforming rate mortgage.

 

What to watch for on the economic calendar next week:

Monday – No major economic data – markets closed

Tuesday – No major economic data

Wednesday – Existing home sales

Thursday – Weekly Jobless Claims

Friday – Consumer Sentiment / New Home Sales

 

 

Ronald J. VanSurksum, CFP®

Advanced Asset Management, LLC

February 20, 2012

 

6
Feb 12

AAM Weekly Market Wrap - February 06 2012

Weekly Market Wrap: Stocks surged forward for the 5th
straight week of 2012 added to this year’s gains.  The S&P 500 Index added 2.28% to close at 1,344.90.  Oil and Gold both moved lower
on the week.  Oil was down 1.86% to
$97.71 and Gold finished 0.82% lower to $1,725.
The dollar was slightly higher against other major world currencies
adding 0.13% to $78.96.

Year-To-Date for the major indexes:

  • The S&P index +6.94%
  • The Dow Jones Index +5.28%
  • The NASDAQ Index +11.54%
  • The Russell 2000 Small cap Index +12.17%
  • EAFE International Index +8.28%
  • The 10 year treasury is currently yielding 1.95%
    and the 30 year is yielding 3.15%.  Yields
    moved higher for the week and are higher for the year.

 

Monday the S&P 500 index dropped 3 points on moderate
volume as Greece has yet to reach an agreement with its creditors.  Markets finished well off their lows for the
day as personal income and spending data was mixed but Dallas area
manufacturing data beat expectations.

Tuesday the market lost 1 point on moderate volume as consumer
confidence, home prices and Chicago manufacturing data all missed expectations
and employment costs rose.  Portugal was
added to the Euro watch list as another possible problem area.

Wednesday stocks added 12 points on moderate volume as Auto
sales were positive, construction spending and manufacturing data beat
expectations and ADP private payrolls were up but not as much as expected.  Also, strong manufacturing data out of Europe and China helped push world stocks higher.

Thursday the index added 2 points on moderate volume as jobless
claims dropped more than expected, 4Q productivity and labor costs were up and same
store sales beat expectations for January.
Bernanke’s cautious speech in front of congress kept gains muted.

Friday stocks surged 19 points on moderate volume as 243,000
jobs were added in January beating expectations.  The ISM non-manufacturing report also beat
expectations and factory orders rose but fell short of expectations.  Also adding to the day’s optimism, the Euro
purchase index moved into positive territory for the first time since August.

 

 

Stocks posted another good week of gains on positive news both
here in the US and overseas.  The US jobs
machine may have finally kicked into gear as the gains are starting to be more
consistent and growing from month-to-month.
Manufacturing and auto sales also are growing and adding to the positive
momentum.

When the markets move like they have this year it is easy to
forget that debt problems around the world still exist and nothing has been
fixed.  We need a solid plan to turn around the fiscal mess we have gotten ourselves into before we can be confident that we will hold onto these gains.

Mortgage rates were flat this week.  The Schwab Bank 15-year rate is at 3.47% and
the 30-year rate is at 4.25%. These rates are as of 02/03/2012 and assume no
points, no origination fee and a $250,000 conforming rate mortgage.

 

What to watch for on the economic calendar next week:

Monday – No major economic data

Tuesday – Consumer Credit

Wednesday – No major economic data

Thursday – Weekly Jobless Claims

Friday – Consumer Sentiment / International Trade

 

 

Ronald J. VanSurksum, CFP®

Advanced Asset Management, LLC

February 06, 2012

 

30
Jan 12

AAM Weekly Market Wrap - January 30 2012

Weekly Market Wrap: Stocks continued to move upward in 2012 and
extended its weekly winning streak to 4 weeks.
The S&P 500 index eked out a 0.07% gain to end the week at
$1,316.  Oil and Gold moved higher as
well.  Oil ended up 1.12% to close at
$99.56 and Gold surged adding 4.40% to $1,739.40.  The dollar was lower against other major
world currencies dropping 2.82% to $78.86.

Year-To-Date for the major indexes:

  • The S&P index +4.67%
  • The Dow Jones Index +3.63
  • The NASDAQ Index +8.11%
  • The Russell 2000 Small cap Index +7.82
  • EAFE International Index +5.88%
  • The 10 year treasury is currently yielding 1.90%
    and the 30 year is yielding 3.06%.  Yields
    dropped for the week and have moved higher on the year.

 

Monday the S&P 500 index added less than a point as
Greece continued debt negotiations and no major economic news came out of the
US.

Tuesday the market dropped 2 points on moderate volume as
mid-Atlantic regional manufacturing beat expectations and Greece debt talks hit
a snag.

Wednesday stocks added 12 points on moderate volume as the
Fed announced that it is likely to keep rates low through 2014 and targeted an
inflation rate of 2% as part of monetary policy.  Also, US pending home sales and mortgage
applications missed expectations and Apple blew through earnings expectations
and raised future guidance giving markets a boost of confidence.

Thursday stocks dropped 7 points on moderate volume as
durable goods orders beat expectations but new home sales, jobless claims
missed and leading economic indicators rose less than expected.

Friday stocks dropped another 2 points on moderate volume as
4th Quarter GDP rose from the previous quarter but less than
expected at 2.8%.  3rd Quarter
GDP was 1.8%.

 

 

Europe continued to move the markets this week as Greece was back
in focus while they negotiate with their creditors to determine at what rate
they will pay back the debts they still owe.
Negotiations are hitting snags on the amount needed to keep creditors
satisfied.

In the US slow progress continues despite numbers not quite
hitting expectations, they continue to improve.

Mortgage rates moved modestly higher this week.  The Schwab Bank 15-year rate is now at 3.47%
and the 30-year rate is at 4.25%. These rates are as of 01/27/2012 and assume
no points, no origination fee and a $250,000 conforming rate mortgage.

 

What to watch for on the economic calendar next week:

Monday – Personal Income and Outlays

Tuesday – Consumer Confidence / S&P Case Shiller Home Prices / Chicago PMI

Wednesday – ISM Manufacturing / ADP Employment / Motor Vehicle Sales /
Construction Spending

Thursday – Weekly Jobless Claims / Productivity and Costs

Friday – Employment Situation / Factory Orders / ISM Non-Manufacturing Index

 

 

Ronald J. VanSurksum, CFP®

Advanced Asset Management, LLC

January 30, 2012