In 2017, major asset classes experienced an uninterrupted bull market, fueled by comprehensive gains across various segments of global markets. Even cash saw a modest increase.
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Kim Jong Un declares “the button for nuclear weapons is on my table”: CBS News
North Korea reaches out to South Korea: CNN
Iranian protests escalate, prompting a government crackdown: Reuters
North Korean hackers are commandeering computers for cryptocurrency mining: Bloomberg
China’s manufacturing growth hits a four-month high in December, according to PMI: Reuters
Eurozone Manufacturing PMI concludes 2017 at a record high: IHS Markit
Trump announces significant cuts in military aid to Pakistan: Fox
What can we anticipate from Trump in 2018? The Hill
Will deregulation in the U.S. stimulate business investment? NY Times
Consultancy forecasts an increase in U.S. store closings in 2018: Business Insider
And thus it begins. Wishing everyone a prosperous new year! Cheers!
Last week, we reviewed the first segment of a curated list of notable publications that appeared in The Capital Spectator’s weekly Book Bits column throughout 2017. Below is the continuation of the year-end roundup highlighting books worthy of another read.
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With an abundance of research papers and limited time, how do you differentiate the valuable from the irrelevant? Start with these five significant economic and financial papers that featured in The Capital Spectator’s Research Review column during 2017. Among the vast array of new studies released in the past year, these works stand out as deserving of a second look.
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China refutes claims of selling oil to North Korea in response to Trump’s remarks: USA Today
U.S. jobless claims stable at a low 245,000 last week: Bloomberg
Most Bank of Japan members see no reason for further monetary stimulus: MNI
U.S. inflation remains low due to excessively tight monetary policy: Scott Sumner
Zillow reports U.S. housing stock values increased by 6.5% in 2017: Bloomberg
A brief list of risk factors to keep an eye on for 2018: MarketWatch
Chicago PMI in December rises to its highest level since 2011: ISM Chicago
In the closing installment1 of our evaluation of the recent performance of the U.S. stock market, we utilize three alternative risk metrics: the Sterling Ratio, the Calmar Ratio, and the Omega Ratio. To ascertain if the current return is indeed extreme, we analyzed data over two rolling periods: five years and twenty years. Depending on your chosen timeframe, the market’s present performance could be seen as average or exceptionally high compared to historical benchmarks.
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Turkey’s president labels Syria’s Assad as a “terrorist” and calls for his resignation: CNN
Venezuela’s state oil company, a key producer, risks collapse: NY Times
U.S. holiday sales are anticipated to set new records: Reuters
South Korea is considering stringent new regulations to curb bitcoin trading: CNN Money
U.S. Consumer Confidence Index decreased in December from its 17-year high: AP
Pending Home Sales Index for the U.S. increased in November: Reuters
U.S. 10-year minus 2-year Treasury yield curve is nearing a decade low: Bloomberg
Earlier this month, I examined the performance of the U.S. stock market in search of context to determine if recent returns appear excessive. The findings suggest that, over a rolling ten-year period, the numbers are quite standard. The next query is how the S&P 500 performs when adjusted for risk using various metrics.
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Democrats are looking towards a political resurgence in 2018 with hopes for the House elections: The Hill
U.S. housing prices surged in October at the fastest rate in over three years: Bloomberg
Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index climbs to an 11-year high in December: American Statesman
Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index declines in December, indicating moderate growth: Richmond Fed
Crude oil prices rise to their highest levels in over two years: CNN Money
Reflecting on the events and economic trends of 2017, the year was marked by remarkable performances across major asset classes and significant geopolitical developments. As we transition into 2018, the landscape continues to evolve with new challenges and opportunities awaiting in both financial markets and global affairs.
