The Jackson T. Stephens Cup (“The Stephens Cup”), today announced the fourteen teams set to compete in the 2023 championship being held at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas, October 9 -11. The Stephens Cup is a national collegiate golf tournament, named in honor of the late Jackson (Jack) T. Stephens, the former Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club.

The Labor Department reported that <strong>initial jobless claims</strong> rose last week, continuing their gradual climb since the beginning of the year. The gains reflect cuts from tech and financial firms and come mostly from California. Claims in regular state programs climbed 11,000 to 239,000 for the week ending April 8th. The four-week moving average increased to 240,000 from 237,750 the prior week. Both initial and continuing claims are above their pre-pandemic averages, signaling that labor market conditions are cooling. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, fell by 13,000 to 1.810 million for the week ending April 1st.

Kura Sushi USA Follow-on Offering | $59.4 Million | 04/10/2023

The Labor Department reported that <strong>initial jobless claims</strong> fell last week, but the data reflects updated seasonal factors that raise the level of underlying claims. Claims numbers have been artificially low stemming from pandemic-related problems in seasonally adjusting the data. Claims in regular state programs fell 18,000 to 228,000 for the week ending April 1st, but that is after the prior week’s figure was revised up by 48,000 to 246,000. The four-week moving average declined to 237,750 from 242,000 the prior week. Both initial and continuing claims are above their pre-pandemic averages, signaling that labor market conditions are cooling. The total number of people continuing to receive regular ongoing state benefits, a report which is lagged one week, increased by 6,000 to 1.823 million for the week ending March 25th.

It’s quite apparent that interest rate increases, from early 2022 to the most recent meeting of the Federal Reserve, are having the impact that the Fed would like: Housing starts have slowed down.

Refunding and Construction Bonds, Series 2023 | $13,100,000 | 04/12/2023

The Labor Department reported that <strong>initial jobless claims</strong> edged higher last week, but remained at a level that indicates a tight labor market. Despite major layoff announcements and some banking collapses, there is not any evidence of a negative impact on the labor market just yet. Claims in regular state programs rose 7,000 to 198,000 for the week ending March 25th, after reporting 191,000 initial claims the prior week. The four-week moving average climbed to 198,250 from 196,250 the prior week. The total number of people continuing to receive regular ongoing state benefits, a report which is lagged one week, increased by 4,000 to 1.689 million for the week ending March 18th.

Stephens, an independent and family-owned investment bank, has continued the expansion of its European advisory capabilities with the addition of a highly experienced business services sector banker Brian Robertson.

Stephens begins our 90th year of business, and although a lot has changed, much has remained the same. We provide unvarnished advice and precise execution on the full array of investment banking services.