Zillow Q2 2020 Home Price Expectations Survey – Summary & Comments

by

On June 4, 2020, the Zillow Q2 2020 Home Price Expectations Survey results were released.  This survey is done on a quarterly basis. An excerpt from the press release: Coronavirus and subsequent stay-at-home orders resulted in lower-than-expected transaction volume during what was primed to be a busy spring home shopping season. While it was thought the spring … Read more Zillow Q2 2020 Home Price Expectations Survey – Summary & Comments

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

by

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI2) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the May 28, 2020 update (reflecting data through May 22, 2020) is .1198. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and … Read more Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

VIX Weekly And Monthly Charts Since The Year 2000 – June 2, 2020 Update

by

For reference purposes, below are two charts of the VIX from year 2000 through Monday’s (June 1, 2020) close, which had a closing value of 28.23. Here is the VIX Weekly chart, depicted on a LOG scale, with the 13- and 34-week moving averages, seen in the cyan and red lines, respectively: (click on chart … Read more VIX Weekly And Monthly Charts Since The Year 2000 – June 2, 2020 Update

Charts Of Equities’ Performance Since March 9, 2009 And January 1, 1980 – June 2, 2020 Update

by

In the March 9, 2012 post (“Charts of Equities’ Performance Since March 9, 2009 And January 1, 1980“) I highlighted two charts for reference purposes. Below are those two charts, updated through the latest daily closing price. The first is a daily chart of the S&P500 (shown in green), as well as five prominent (AAPL, IBM, … Read more Charts Of Equities’ Performance Since March 9, 2009 And January 1, 1980 – June 2, 2020 Update

Main U.S. Stock Market Indices – Four Ultra Long-Term Charts

by

StockCharts.com maintains long-term historical charts of various major stock market indices, interest rates, currencies, commodities, and economic indicators. As a long-term reference, below are charts depicting various stock market indices for the dates shown.  All charts are depicted on a monthly basis using a LOG scale. (click on charts to enlarge images)(charts courtesy of StockCharts.com) The … Read more Main U.S. Stock Market Indices – Four Ultra Long-Term Charts

U.S. Dollar Decline – June 1, 2020 Update

by

U.S. Dollar weakness is a foremost concern of mine.  As such, I have extensively written about it.  I am very concerned that the actions being taken to “improve” our economic situation will dramatically weaken the Dollar.  Should the Dollar substantially decline from here, as I expect, the negative consequences will far outweigh any benefits.  The negative impact of a substantial … Read more U.S. Dollar Decline – June 1, 2020 Update

Substantial Peril Inherent In The U.S. Economic Situation

by

Various surveys, economic growth projections, and market risk indicators portray a short period (through mid-2020) of substantial U.S. economic decline, followed by a sustained significant economic rebound and then financial system stability for the foreseeable future. However, there are various indications – many of which have been discussed on this site – that this very … Read more Substantial Peril Inherent In The U.S. Economic Situation

Consumer Confidence Surveys – As Of May 29, 2020

by

Advisor Perspectives had a post of May 29, 2020 (“Michigan Consumer Sentiment: May Final Mostly Unchanged“) that displays the latest Conference Board Consumer Confidence and Thomson/Reuters University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index charts.  They are presented below: (click on charts to enlarge images) – There are a few aspects of the above charts that I find … Read more Consumer Confidence Surveys – As Of May 29, 2020

Corporate Profits As A Percentage Of GDP

by

In the last post (“1st Quarter 2020 Corporate Profits“) I displayed, for reference purposes, a long-term chart depicting Corporate Profits After Tax. There are many ways to view this measure, both on an absolute as well as relative basis. One relative measure is viewing Corporate Profits as a Percentage of GDP.  I feel that this … Read more Corporate Profits As A Percentage Of GDP

1st Quarter 2020 Corporate Profits

by

Today’s (May 28, 2020) GDP release (Q1 2020, Second Estimate) was accompanied by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Corporate Profits report (preliminary estimate) for the 1st Quarter. Of course, there are many ways to adjust and depict overall Corporate Profits.  For reference purposes, here is a chart from the St. Louis Federal Reserve (FRED) … Read more 1st Quarter 2020 Corporate Profits