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Saturday’s: 9AM 1590 AM/97.9 FM KVTA
Sunday’s: 7AM K-EARTH 101 FM
After a big oil-inspired increase in November, import prices rose a scant 0.1% in the final month of 2017. Minus energy import prices fell 0.1% For the full year, import prices rose 3% to mark the biggest increase since 2011. Although that’s much higher than the 1.9% gain in 2016, it still reflects a generally
READ MOREFirst Japan, and now China, is getting markets notably the bond world stirred up. Bonds are the topic du jour, especially after the Bank of Japan got everyone a bit worked up yesterday by trimming its government bond purchases. Then this morning, Bloomberg reported China is considering cutting back on its U.S. Treasury holdings. Timing
READ MOREThe Bank of Japan’s decision Tuesday to reduce the amounts of government bonds it buys as part of its quantitative easing efforts sent the yen and Japanese bond yields higher. But analysts warned investors not to get ahead of themselves, calling the move more of a technicality than a tapering. The central bank cut its
READ MOREThe U.S. trade deficit widened 3.2% in November to $50.5 billion, the highest trade gap since January 2012. Economists polled had forecast a $50 billion gap. Imports rose 2.5% to $250.7 billion, the Commerce Department said Friday. Exports rose 2.3% to $200.2 billion. Year-to-date, the deficit is up 11.6% from the same period in 2016.
READ MOREJob growth decelerated a bit in December after two strong months. The economy gained 148,000 jobs in December after an average gain of 232,000 jobs over the past two months. Economists polled had predicted a 198,000 increase in nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, remained steady at 4.1%. Wages increased by 2.5% over the past
READ MOREPrivate-sector hiring was stronger than expected in December, according to payroll processor ADP. Employers added 250,000 jobs, more than the 188,000 jobs forecast by economists. November’s tally was revised down by 5,000, however. Almost all of the December gain was in the service-providing sector, which accounted for 222,000 of the jobs. Within services, the trade/transportation/utilities
READ MOREThe Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday its manufacturing index rose to 59.7%, the second highest reading of the year, from 58.2% in November. Readings over 50% indicate more companies are expanding instead of shrinking. The uptick in the index was better than Wall Street expected. Economists surveyed had forecast the index would slip to
READ MORETreasury yields were mixed on Friday in holiday-thinned trade as U.S. government paper looked to end at levels close to where they had started this year. The 10-year Treasury yield was mostly flat at 2.429%, from 2.432% on late Friday. The benchmark maturity began the year at 2.45%. The 2-year note yield ticked lower to
READ MOREThe U.S. goods trade deficit widened by 2.3% in November to $69.7 billion, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Commerce produces an “advance trade” deficit report that offers an early look on trade patterns during the month. The number reported Thursday was bigger than the $68.7 billion deficit consensus forecast. Exports rose a seasonally adjusted 3%
READ MOREInitial U.S. jobless claims, a tool to measure layoffs, were unchanged at 245,000 in the seven days ended December 23. Economists surveyed had forecast claims to total 239,000. The more stable monthly average of claims rose slightly, up 1,750 to 237,750, the government said Thursday. The number of people already collecting unemployment benefits, known as
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