The Independent Market Observer

Economic Release Snapshot: Housing Sales Slow in October

November 27, 2023

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

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What Mattered This Week? Fed Minutes, Consumer Sentiment

November 24, 2023

Here's a quick update for this holiday-shortened week! From my perspective, two things mattered this week:

  1. The release of the FOMC meeting minutes
  2. The latest consumer sentiment reading
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Thanksgiving Food for Thought: The Parable of the Turkey

November 22, 2023

Once upon a time, a turkey hatched in the dead of winter. He lived in a nice warm coop, had plentiful corn and seeds to eat, and spent much of his poult-hood playing with all of the other little turkeys.

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Q3 2023 Earnings: A Little Taste of Everything This Thanksgiving

November 21, 2023

Everyone has their Thanksgiving favorites, whether that’s the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the stuffing, or the gravy. For me, it’s the pie—blueberry with my mom’s homemade whipped cream.

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Economic Release Snapshot: Inflation Moderates in October

November 20, 2023

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

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What Mattered This Week? Progress on Inflation, Markets Bounce

November 17, 2023

This was a week of good news pretty much across the board, which doesn't happen all that often. Congress managed to kick the can down the road again on spending, avoiding a governmental shutdown. Inflation was down across the board. And with both those risks subsiding, interest rates dropped—pushing markets higher. We continue to close in on a soft landing for the economy, and markets keep reacting to that.

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The Federal Deficit and Debt: A Painful Problem to Solve

November 16, 2023

Today, I want to discuss a topic that has somewhat fallen off the radar: the federal deficit and debt burden. It has been off the radar screen for a decade, since the last debt panic. The reason for that is that the panic led to real reforms that largely solved the problem. That episode—the fiscal cliff and the sequester—has a lot to tell us about today’s situation. Let's take a closer look.

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Monthly Market Risk Update: November 2023 [SlideShare]

November 15, 2023

Equity markets continued to drop in October, with all three major U.S. indices down for the third consecutive month. The S&P 500 lost 2.10 percent during the month, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.26 percent in October. The Nasdaq Composite saw the largest declines, with the technology-heavy index dropping 2.76 percent for the month. Rising long-term rates weighed on valuations, leading to negative returns for stocks.

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Economic Release Snapshot: Consumer Sentiment Sours in November

November 13, 2023

Each week, we break down the latest U.S. economic reports, including what the results mean for the overall health of the economy. Here, you will find how economists’ forecasts compare with actual results, key takeaways to consider, as well as a list of what’s on tap for the week ahead.

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What Mattered This Week? Economy and Markets Remain Resilient

November 10, 2023

It’s been a quiet week, so this will be a short post. You’re welcome.

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