* Delta coronavirus variant is a risk factor for stocks and economy
* Surging Delta cases delay if not reverse plans to bring workers back to offices
* Scientists say plan for Covid-19 vaccine booster shots next month is premature
* China OKs sweeping privacy law that will curb data collection by tech firims
* US Philly Fed Mfg Index indicates slower growth in August
* US Leading Economic Index reports ‘another large gain in July’
* US jobless claims fell to a new pandemic low last week:
Financials and real estate investment trusts (REITs) have displaced energy stocks as the performance leaders for US equity sectors this year, through yesterday’s close (Aug. 18), based on a set of exchange traded funds.
* Republican governors favor Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge
* US troops may stay in Afghanistan past deadline, says Biden
* Pockets of resistance to Taliban rule emerge in several Afghanistan cities
* Fed preparing for tapering bond purchases later this year, minutes suggest
* Fed official warns hefty bond purchases are ill-suited for US economy
* 30yr-5yr Treasury spread suggests confidence in Fed policy outlook
* Taliban now control $1 trillion of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth
* More trouble for China tech giants after new batch of proposed regulations
* Federal judge nixes Trump administration’s Ok of Alaska oil drilling project
* US housing starts fell more than forecast in July:
Starting today, The ETF Portfolio Strategist will publish a set of total return forecasts each month for the major asset classes, based on a set of models. The goal is to focus on the average of several models in the pursuit of slightly more reliable estimates compared with relying on a single model.
The search for the holy grail in diversification never ends and, unfortunately, rarely if ever turns up productive discoveries not already widely known. Nonetheless, tracking various facets of diversification is still useful and sometimes essential. That includes monitoring return distributions, which are always in flux.
* Uncertainty reigns after Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan
* US investors trim China investments as Beijing’s tech crackdown deepens
* Revised Eurozone inflation confirmed at 2.2% annual rate, highest in 3 years
* UK inflation falling to 1-year-plus low
* US industrial output continued to rebound in July
* US consumer spending in July highlights shift to services
* US retail sales fell more than expected in July:
US economic growth is expected to slow in the third quarter, but preliminary nowcasts of GDP suggest the deceleration will be moderate.
* Biden defends chaotic collapse of Afghan government
* With rare earth metals at stake, China may align with Taliban in Afghanistan
* Five US states broke records for average number of daily new Covid cases
* US declares first-ever cuts on water use from Colorado River
* China unveils more rules to tighten grip on its tech sector
* Revised Eurozone GDP data for Q2 confirms 2% growth
* NY Fed Mfg Index points to sharply softer growth in August
* US 10-year yield resumes decline, falling to 1.26%–a seven-day low:
International real estate stocks ex-US, followed by foreign developed-market companies, topped returns for the major asset classes for the trading week through Friday, Aug. 13, based on a set of ETFs.
* Chaos at Kabul airport as Taliban take control of Afghanistan’s capital
* Biden White House on defensive as Afghanistan falls to Taliban rule
* Afghanistan’s collapse creates new set of new problems for US and its allies
* Global economic risk from shipping bottlenecks persist
* Delta variant is pinching demand and raising costs for companies
* Support within Fed is rising for announcing tapering in September
* China retail spending and industrial output are softer than expected for July
* Japan’s economy rebounded faster than expected in Q2
* Short-seller shop Hindenburg Research is having a moment
* US consumer sentiment falls to 10-year low in early August:
