Markets closed out another positive week, driven upward by a better-than-expected GDP report and a reminder that the Fed won't be pulling the plug on bond purchases this month. Nervousness ahead of a Fed policy meeting and the monthly jobs report contributed to volatility, but the rally pushed the S&P 500 to a new historic high.[1]
The big economic news last week was the July jobs report and a first look at second quarter GDP. The initial GDP report shows that the economy grew 1.7% in Q2, handily beating economists' estimates of 1-1.1% growth. A buildup of business inventories was enough to offset the effects of sequestration, thus accounting for the surprising jump. On the whole, we view the report as a positive, showing that the economic recovery is gaining momentum.[2]
The jobs report was a mixed bag; hiring slowed in July, with the addition of only 162,000 new jobs, the smallest gain in four months. However, July employment numbers are notoriously unreliable, due to seasonal factors like factory closings. All things considered, it is worth noting that the month's job gains were enough to drive the headline unemployment rate down to 7.4%. These mixed signals could make the Fed cautious about tapering bond purchases too soon, and some analysts now believe it could be October or December before we see tapering begin.[3]
The Federal Reserve FOMC met last week but announced no policy changes, meaning that current quantitative easing programs will continue for the near future. The meeting announcement (which provides a brief summary of the meeting) offered little additional guidance about future Fed moves.[4] In a separate interview, a top Fed official stated that the recent drop in the unemployment rate took the country one step closer to the 7% unemployment threshold set by Fed chairman Ben Bernanke as the point around which the central bank would likely end its QE bond purchases.[5]
With earnings season wrapping up, a light calendar of economic data, and a few solid weeks of growth behind us, it's possible that we may see a short-term decline as traders take profits and wait for news from the Fed. In any case, we hope you enjoy your week, and that you don't spend too much time focusing on every Fed announcement and piece of economic news. In the words of Edmund Burke, "If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed."
ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Monday: ISM Non-Mfg. Index
Tuesday: International Trade
Wednesday: EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday: Jobless Claims
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[1] http://briefing.com/investor/markets/weekly-wrap/weekly-wrap-for-july-29-2013.htm
[2] http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-31/gdp-growth-beats-expectations-remains-soft
[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/02/us-usa-economy-idUSBRE96A0G320130802
[4] http://www.businessinsider.com/july-30-31-fomc-meeting-statement-2013-7
[5] http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/02/us-usa-fed-bullard-unemployment-idUSBRE97112A20130802