The Finish Line Commentaries: Last Week In Review
Author: Danny Popescu | October 18, 2021
Last week we saw the first all-green week since August. Equities rose 1.5% to 2.5% with the major indices approaching or setting new 52-week highs. The Canadian dollar rose along with the price of oil. Oil has doubled in the past year, which is good news for Energy investors, but will increase consumer and producer inflation. Gold which gained last week is still down more than 7% in the past year. The positive performance for stocks and oil was achieved despite the mixed news that was announced:
– The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released is “World Economic Outlook” with the headline “Global recovery continues, but the momentum has weakened, and uncertainty has increased”. The slowdown has been attributed in part to supply disruptions in advanced economies and worsening pandemic conditions in developing countries. IMF’s World Economic Outlook
– Consumer inflation rose 5.4% in September. The Federal Reserve has been maintaining that the higher inflation rate situation is temporary. Concern is growing that inflation may not be as transitory as hoped based on recent data from the housing market.
– Expectations to taper Federal Reserve bond purchases, which would increase the cost of long-term borrowing is continuing to grow. The move to taper is being driven by increasing inflation, but also potentially delayed by stalling Gross Domestic Product and employment numbers. Based on the Fed’s announcements an increase to the benchmark interest rate is not expected until 2022 or 2023. https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcminutes20210922.pdf
What’s ahead for this week and beyond?
In Canada, September inflation through the Consumer Price Index will be released, which will heavily influence Bank of Canada actions. The central bank’s Business Outlook Survey, housing starts, manufacturing sales are all on the calendar.
In the U.S., industrial production, capacity utilization, building permits and housing starts and existing home sales for September will be released. A number of Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs) that predict upcoming business and wholesale activity are also on the schedule.
Globally, important economic indicators from China will be announced with real Gross Domestic Product, trade balance, retail sales and industrial production scheduled for announcement. Japan’s CPI and Eurozone inflation and consumer confidence will also be announced.
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