A Day of Positive Fundamentals.

Goods Trade Deficit (November 2015)

– Deficit Balance  $60.5 Billion.  Previous was $63.0 billion

Imports of industrial supplies and materials and capital goods fell indication that domestic manufacturing is weak and not improving.  Volatile commodity and currency prices have as much to do with the net numbers that the actual amount of stuff imported or exported.

 

 

Redbook Chain Store Sales (week ended 12/26/2015)

– Store Sales year/year  2.5%.  Previous was +1.8%

 

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (October 2015)

– 20-city, seasonally adjusted month/month +0.9%.  Previous was +0.6%
– 20-city, not seasonally adjusted month/month +0.1%.  Previous was +0.2%
– 20-city, not seasonally adjusted year/year  +5.5%.  Previous was +5.5%

This is an index of Existing Home Prices and shows strength. This increase is largely the result of low supply rather than increased demand.

 

Consumer Confidence (December 2015)

– Consumer Confidence  96.5.  Previous was 90.4.

This is the metric from the Conference Board and is derived from a survey. It is supposed to be a leading indicator of Consumer Spending in the next 90 days.

The increase in December represents a recovery from a lower reading in November.  The low November reading indicated the perception of a weak jobs market.

State Street Investor Confidence Index (December 2015)

– State Street Investor Confidence Index  108.3. Previous was 106.8

This measures directly investor holdings of risk assets which essentially means equities.