* Israel resumes war in Gaza after week-long truce expires
* Pressure rises to phase out fossil fuels at climate summit in Dubai
* Fed officials remain cautious on talking about rate cuts
* 60/40 stock/bond portfolio benchmark set for best monthly return in 3 years
* US jobless claims edge higher as continuing claims at 2-year high
* Chicago PMI rises to 17-month high in November, signaling expansion
* US consumer spending and inflation cooled in October:
Investors are increasing their collective bets that the Federal Reserve will soon start cutting interest rates – a bet that went into overdrive this week and ignited the strongest rally in bonds in 40 years.
* Here are the conditions that would foster rate cuts in 2024
* US bonds on track for best monthly performance since 1985
* US mortgage rates fell last week for the fourth time in five weeks
* China factory activity falls for second month in November
* Eurozone inflation decelerates more than expected in November
* US Q3 GDP revised up to +5.2% seasonally adjusted annual rate:
Financial “wisdom” is said to be cyclical rather than cumulative, but that’s unfair. At least in the dominion of portfolio management and design, academics and money managers have made great strides in decoding Mr. Market’s cryptic signals over the past half century. The challenge, having led the proverbial horse to water, is making him drink.
* Fed official suggests central bank is done with rate hikes
* Global economy will slow in 2024, OECD predicts
* US car dealers say consumer demand for electric vehicles is weak
* Amazon announces new AI chatbot for businesses
* US home prices rise to a new record high in September
* US consumer confidence rebounds in November after 3 monthly declines
* US 10-year Treasury yield falls to two-month low on Tuesday:
The recession that was widely predicted when the year began has only been postponed, some forecasters warn. The US is likely to contract at some point in the new year, runs the updated outlook. Maybe, but 2023 remains on track to exit this year in a growth mode, according to the latest nowcasts.
* Will emerging markets rally in 2024 if interest rates peak?
* US liquidity is rebounding, providing support for stock market
* US gasoline prices fall for 60 straight days
* Sticky US core inflation will keep rates high, economists predict
* US median price for new houses sold fell 17.6% in Oct–deepest slide on record:
The US stock market remains on track to be the performance leader in 2023 for the major asset classes – by a wide margin. The key reason: Big-tech shares are running hot. Take out these companies from the mix and US equities’ year-to-date results fade to a mediocre performance in line with the return on money-market funds.
* Investors see rising odds of rate cut within four months
* Black Friday spending rises to record $9.8 billion, up 7.5% vs. last year
* Is the surge in money-market fund balances a bullish signal for markets?
* Another study reaffirms that buy-and-hold investing is tough to beat
* Are economists flying blind due to sliding response rates to official surveys?
* US economic activity remains weak in November via PMI survey data:
It’s only Tuesday on the calendar, but the holiday week has already started at The Capital Spectator’s world headquarters. But we shall return. Come Monday, Nov. 27, the lights will once again burn bright. Meanwhile… Happy Thanksgiving!