Salient to Investors: Since 1976, the S&P 500 has risen 11 percent on average in the 12 months following a government shutdown versus an average return of 9 percent over 12 months. There have been 17 shutdowns since 1976, with 5 occurring within 3 months of each other – in
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: The economic expansion shows signs of lasting almost twice as long as average, with few of the excesses that often presage the start of contractions – inflation is slowing, not quickening, household debt is shrinking, not expanding, and the labor market is slack, not tight. Robert Gordon
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: JPMorgan Chase now predicts US home prices will rise 7 percent in 2013 and over 14 percent through 2015, and Bank of America predicts prices will now rise 8 percent in 2013 as homebuyers and investors rush to acquire a dwindling supply of properties and the Fed lowers mortgage rates. Samantha McLemore at Legg Mason
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Mark Zandi at Moody’s Analytics said businesses have shrugged off the effect of the tax increases and the spending cuts and are hiring as job growth has improved, stock prices are aT record-high, housing values are surging, and gas prices have started to decline. Gregory Hayes at United
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Climbing home prices are lifting household wealth and boosting the purchasing power of consumers. Declining mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures are giving banks greater leeway to lend. Rising property-tax revenue is alleviating pressure on state and local governments to cut budgets. Mark Zandi at Moody’s Analytics said the housing
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Nigel Gault at IHS Global Insight said the drop in GDP in Q4 2012 was driven by temporary corrections in defense spending and inventories and is not a harbinger of recession – expects 2 percent growth in Q1 2013. Mark Zandi at Moody’s Analytics said the expansion will remain on course thanks
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Economic Outlook said Sandy reconstruction and related purchases and hiring may increase US economic growth by 0.5 percentage point in 2013. Bernard Baumohl at Economic Outlook said construction costs will be more than replacement because much of the work will involve fortifying structures. Goldman Sachs said Sandy may reduce economic growth by
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Alice Rivlin at Brookings said the lesson of Europe is, don’t wait until you’re in a crisis to act and austerity is not a good prescription for weak economies. Rivlin said the US has the luxury the Europeans don’t, no pressure in the financial markets. Mohamed El-Erian at Pimco said the fiscal cliff would
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: A strengthening economy will boost the president’s second term.The easy-money policy of the past four years is likely to continue throughout Obama’s second term. Job growth will increase tax revenue and help shrink the budget deficit while keeping taxes low and preserving essential spending – all without any magic from
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Mark Gertler at NYU said Obama’s activism reflects a much larger federal-government role 80 years after Hoover, as well as the development of macroeconomics, giving officials more tools now to combat a slump. Gertler said Obama’s policies in this crisis are the mirror image of what happened during the Depression. Hugh
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