Companies in the US added 196,000 workers in January, according to this morning’s report from the Labor Department. The gain beat expectations for a 172,000 increase, according to Econoday.com’s consensus forecast. The stronger print for the private sector isn’t really a surprise, considering the upbeat gain in the ADP Employment Report for January that was released earlier in the week. Today’s results reflect ongoing strength in the labor market, but the annual trend continues to signal that job growth, while still healthy, continues to decelerate.
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Momentum-based investing strategies may be one of the most reliable drivers of alpha, but like all sources of excess return this factor premium waxes and wanes through time. Accordingly, deciding when to exit the trade (or reduce exposure to it) is no less critical than determining when to jump on the gravy train.
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Analysts expect firmer job growth in today’s gov’t report for Dec: Reuters
GOP intel memo creates political firestorm in Washington: The Hill
US jobless claims fell to a low 230,000 last week: MarketWatch
US job cuts jump 38% in Jan vs. Dec but slip 2.8% in y-o-y change: CG&C
Severe winter weather pinches US car sales in January: USA Today
ISM Mfg Index for US slips in Jan but remains above 2017 avg: MarketWatch
US Mfg PMI in Jan signals strongest growth in three years: IHS Markit
US productivity ends 2017 with an unexpected decline in Q4: CFO
US workers rank health care as the country’s most critical issue: EBRI