Perspectives

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | November 27, 2023

Nov 27, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims declined last week as employers retained workers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The rising trend in continuing claims though suggest unemployed workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find new jobs. Claims in regular state programs decreased 24,000 to 209,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 233,000 for the week ending November 18th. The four-week moving average dropped to 220,000 from 220,750 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, decreased 22,000 to 1.840 million for the week ending November 11th.

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | November 20, 2023

Nov 20, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims rose to the highest level since August 19th, with continuing applications climbing to the highest level in almost two years. The gains in applications indicate the labor market is cooling and raises the likelihood of an economic slowdown. Claims in regular state programs increased 13,000 to 231,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 218,000 for the week ending November 11th. The four-week moving average climbed to 220,250 from 212,500 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, increased 32,000 to 1.865 million for the week ending November 4th. This is the eighth straight increase in continuing claims.

Latest Consumer Price Index Update

Nov 15, 2023

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | November 13, 2023

Nov 13, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims edged lower last week, while recurring applications for unemployment benefits rose for a seventh straight week to the highest level since April 15th. The labor market is becoming increasingly vulnerable as the climbing continued jobless claims signal a weakening labor sector. Claims in regular state programs decreased 3,000 to 217,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 220,000 for the week ending November 4th. The four-week moving average climbed to 212,250 from 210,750 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, increased 22,000 to 1.834 million for the week ending October 28th.

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | November 6, 2023

Nov 6, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims increased last week, while recurring applications for unemployment benefits rose for a sixth straight week to the highest level since April. Companies are adding jobs at a healthy pace and the unemployment rates remain low, but the pace of hiring is losing steam, making it more difficult for some job seekers to find work. Claims in regular state programs increased 5,000 to 217,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 212,000 for the week ending October 28th. The four-week moving average climbed to 210,000 from 208,000 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, increased 35,000 to 1.818 million for the week ending October 21st.

Market Trends

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady

Nov 1, 2023

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | October 30, 2023

Oct 30, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims edged higher last week from very low levels, but continuing unemployment insurance claims surged indicating layoffs are low but workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find new jobs. Claims in regular state programs increased 10,000 to 210,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 200,000 for the week ending October 21st. The four-week moving average climbed to 207,500 from 206,250 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, increased 63,000 to 1.790 million for the week ending October 14th.

Market Trends

Latest GDP Commentary

Oct 26, 2023

Market Trends

Overview of Transatlantic Deal Activity: Q3 2023

Oct 18, 2023

The nine quarters up to the end of Q1 2020 – the onset of the Covid pandemic – averaged 196 US acquisitions in Europe per quarter. The level of quarterly dealmaking activity naturally dropped sharply as Covid hit, but then consistently and dramatically increased on a quarterly basis to a peak of 493 US acquisitions of European companies in Q1 2022. However, the level of US acquisitions in Europe has since fallen back towards pre-pandemic average levels (233 in Q3 2023).

Market Trends

Weekly Economic Review | October 16, 2023

Oct 16, 2023

The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims remain stable even as the United Auto Workers strike approached the one-month mark. Claims in regular state programs remained unchanged at 209,000 for the week ending October 7th. The four-week moving average declined to 206,250 from 209,250 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, increased 30,000 to 1.702 million for the week ending September 30th.