US companies increased payrolls by a strong 275,000 (seasonally adjusted) in December, according to this morning’s employment report from the Labor Department. The gain beat the consensus forecast by a wide margin and introduces a timely round of optimism after a bearish start for markets so far in the new year.
Continue reading →

The US stock market this week suffered its worst four-day start to a new year in history through yesterday’s close (Jan. 7). In other words, expected return posted its biggest gain ever over the latest four-day January kick-off. It’s hard to say exactly how much expected return increased or when or if such a theoretical shift in ex ante peformance will translate into real money. But at a time of heightened volatility (again) in markets around the world, the antidote to fear is a sober helping of perspective and a reasonable plan for managing risk.
Continue reading →

● Applications for Jobless Benefits in US Decreased Last Week | Bloomberg
● Dec job cuts in US fall to 15-year low: Challenger | CNBC
● Percentage of US adults working full time ticks up to 45.3% in Dec | Gallup
● Consumer confidence in the US climbs to a 12-week high | Bloomberg
● German Industrial Production Falls Unexpectedly In Nov | MNI
● Can US Remain an Island of Stability in Global Economy? | NY Times
● China stocks up on Friday | Reuters