Retail sales burst higher in January as consumers use stimulus checks to spend heavily
Consumers flocked to spend their stimulus checks in January, sending retail sales for the month up 5.3% in a blockbuster start to 2021, according to a government report Wednesday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were expecting a rise of just 1.2%. Excluding autos, sales rose 5.9%, also far ahead of the 1% estimate in a […]
The Fed’s new focus on employment above inflation has important investing implications
The Federal Reserve has long been thought of as first and foremost an inflation fighter, using its power over interest rates to maintain price stability in the U.S. economy. At least for the foreseeable future, that role is taking a backseat to a larger effort at getting America back to work. Under the central bank’s new […]
A historic decline in volatility sets the stock market up for more gains ahead, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee says
By Matthew Fox February 04, 2021 A near 40% decline in volatility this week suggests the stock market has more room to the upside, according to Fundstrat. The volatility decline was likely sparked by extreme de-leveraging due to the GameStop short-squeeze. The stock market has historically been higher 87% of the time in the months […]
U.S. construction spending hits record high in December
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. construction spending raced to a record high in December as historically low mortgage rates powered outlays on private projects. The Commerce Department said on Monday that construction spending increased 1.0% to $1.490 trillion, the highest level since the government started tracking the series in 2002. Data for November was revised higher […]
Apple Credit Research
(Bloomberg Intelligence) — RECENT EVENT REACTION: Apple is returning to the bond market, even with $196 billion of cash on hand, which we believe suggests the pace of shareholder returns is likely to rise to new highs. With 1Q returns exceeding $30 billion, and net cash $84 billion above its target, Apple’s near-zero weighted cost […]
From an underwater warehouse to a drone tower, these Amazon patents show what future deliveries may look like
By Claire SicardJanuary 29, 2021Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in 2019. MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images Amazon files dozens of patents every year at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Many of them paint a futuristic picture of Amazon’s delivery service, with ideas like an underwater warehouse and accordion-like drone chute. Should these patents turn into […]
Half of retailers plan a digital makeover as e-commerce sales boom amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Natasha Dailey January 29, 2021 Woman online shopping. Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed/Getty Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed/Getty Images 48% of retailers are planning a digital transformation in 2021 as a result of the pandemic, BDO said. Their focus will be e-commerce, including social and mobile shopping. 44% of consumers say they will continue online shopping post-pandemic, ESET […]
Apple Takes Top Spot in Phone Market With Record Shipments
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 09:17 PM By Bloomberg News Huawei falls out of the top 5, according to market researchers In shadow of 5G iPhone, Samsung also sees double-digit decline (Bloomberg) — Record iPhone shipments pushed Apple Inc. to the No. 1 position in the global smartphone market as Samsung Electronics Co.and Huawei Technologies Co. lost significant ground, market research […]
The 1920s Roared After a Pandemic, and the 2020s Will Try
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 01:00 AM By Peter Coy (Bloomberg Businessweek) — The day was cold and windy. Standing outside the Capitol, the just-sworn-in president called for “a new unity of spirit and purpose” to bind together a nation that had been wracked by a pandemic and high unemployment. His predecessor wasn’t on stage. The inauguration […]
World’s Economic Recovery Delayed by Slow Vaccine Rollouts
By Enda Curran IMF set to update outlook after World Bank trims estimate Federal Reserve and global leaders set to address the outlook (Bloomberg) — The world economy is facing a tougher start to 2021 than expected as coronavirus infections surge and it takes time to roll out vaccinations. While global growth is still on course to rebound […]