New jobless claims rose last week, taking some of the wind out of yesterday’s inspiring rebound in ADP’s November employment report. Filings for unemployment benefits increased 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 402,000—the first time in a month that the numbers have settled above the 400k mark. But it’s too soon to argue that the labor market is headed for a reversal of fortunes.
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Major Asset Classes | Nov 30, 2011 | Performance Update
November was a rough month for asset returns, but it would have been a lot rougher without yesterday’s buying frenzy in the wake of the news of a coordinated central bank intervention on behalf of the eurozone. Even so, most risky assets suffered hefty losses in November, reversing a large slice of October’s rally. Hardest hit in November: emerging market stocks, which sank 6.7%. The only winner among our broadly defined list of major asset classes: Inflation-indexed Treasuries, which advanced 0.8% last month.