Tag: Dow Jones

Companies are Slashing Away at Debt as Surging Inflation Casts Shadow over Interest Rate Cuts

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Many companies are looking to cut down on their debts as recent high inflation reports have made borrowing more expensive as the prospect of interest rate cuts by central banks diminishes, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Even companies with already high credit outlooks are deleveraging to boost their rating with top agencies and reduce debt costs that have increased along with interest rates, while firms with lower ratings are needing to cut debt to maintain profitable operations, according to the WSJ. Investors have had to adjust their view about when interest rates might decline in recent weeks as persistently high levels of inflation have made it less likely that central banks around the world, including in the U.S., will cut interest rates, reducing the cost of holding debt.

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U.S. Retail Sales Rose in November Despite Expected Decline

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U.S. retail sales rose 0.3% in November compared to the previous month, the Commerce Department said Thursday, despite the Dow Jones estimate that sales would decline by 0.1%. 

The 0.3% estimated increase in U.S. retail and food service sales outpaced inflation from October to November, which was 0.1%. The retail sales are also up 4.1% when compared to the same time last year, the department said, which is still above the inflation rate of 3.1% from November 2022 to November 2023.

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Jobless Claims Decrease by 15,000

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The number of Americans who filed new unemployment claims decreased to 214,000 in the week ending March 12, the lowest level since the beginning of 2022, the Department of Labor announced Thursday.

The Labor Department figure showed a decrease of 15,000 compared to the week ending March 5, when new claims numbered just 227,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The week’s claims were below predictions of economists surveyed by Dow Jones, who estimated that new claims reported Thursday would total 220,000.

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Wholesale Price Inflation Reaches Double Digits

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The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures the prices suppliers charge businesses and other customers, surged 0.8% on a month-over-month basis as of February as consumer demand continues to spur inflation, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced Tuesday.

The PPI grew 10% on a year-over-year basis as of February, the BLS reported Tuesday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimated wholesale prices would increase 0.9% on a monthly basis in the latest report.

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Consumer Spending Surged in January as Inflation Reached Near 40-Year High

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Consumer spending surged in January amid soaring inflation, the Commerce Department announced Wednesday.

Retail sales grew 3.8% in January, far exceeding the 2.1% Dow Jones estimate, the Commerce Department announced Wednesday. January’s figure represents the largest monthly increase since March 2021 and a significant snapback from December 2021 when sales decreased by 2.5%.

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Private Job Growth Surges in December, Doubling Expectations

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Private firms’ payrolls increased by 807,000 in December, more than doubling expectations as COVID-19 cases rise, according to a major employment report.

The 807,000 jobs added marks a significant increase from the 505,000 jobs added in November, according to the ADP National Employment Report. December’s figure far exceeds the Dow Jones estimate of 375,000, according to CNBC.

“December’s job market strengthened as the fallout from the Delta variant faded and Omicron’s impact had yet to be seen,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, CNBC reported. “Job gains were broad-based, as goods producers added the strongest reading of the year, while service providers dominated growth.”

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Retail Sales Grew in October as Shoppers Faced Higher Prices Entering the Holiday Season

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U.S. retail sales increased in October as shoppers faced the largest price increase in 30 years entering the holiday season.

Retail sales, a measure of how much consumers spent on goods, increased 1.7% in October, far exceeding September’s 0.7% figure, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday. Core sales, excluding autos, jumped 1.7% in October.

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Private Payrolls Added 571,000 Jobs in October as Hiring Heats Up

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Private firms’ payrolls increased by 571,000 in October, far exceeding experts’ expectations as hiring throughout the country heats up, according to a major employment report.

The 571,000 jobs added is a slight increase from the 523,000 jobs added in September, the ADP National Employment Report showed. The Dow Jones estimate predicted companies would add 395,000 jobs in October, CNBC reported.

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Stocks Roar Back from Coronavirus Plunge to Biggest One-Day Gain Since 2009

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by Mary Margaret Olohan   The stock market came roaring back Monday following a steep decline propelled by anxieties over the coronavirus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 5.1% or 1,293 points higher while the S&P 500 rose 4.6%  and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 4.5%, CNBC reports. The stocks’ gains come after seven days of losses for both Dow and S&P 500. Stocks rose sharply at the close after a volatile day of trading. The Dow gained more than 1,100 points, or 5%, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rose more than 4%. https://t.co/9N2VoIP60P pic.twitter.com/9AnT5qMjEi — CNBC (@CNBC) March 2, 2020 The Dow Jones surge is the biggest percentage gain since March 2009, according to USA Today, and the largest ever point gain for the blue-chip average. The surge in stocks comes after stocks sank more than 3,500 points amidst anxieties over the spreading coronavirus. The Dow had sunken more than 1,000 points, according to CNBC. “The market has been conditioned to buy on any weakness,” portfolio manager at GLOBALT Keith Buchanan told CNBC. “I think we’ll look back at these past few years at some point as some level of complacency.” “Buying the dip takes more bravery now,” Buchanan added. Despite government-issued travel warnings and restrictions, the coronavirus continues…

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