<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The big risk with the latest U.S. jobs report is if it turns out to be a “head fake” says Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz.” data-reactid=”16″>The big risk with the latest U.S. jobs report is if it turns out to be a “head fake” says Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz.
“That’s the nightmare scenario,” El-Erian told Yahoo Finance after the US unexpectedly added 2.5 million jobs in May as states started re-opening and easing COVID-19 shelter in place measures.
“The big risk … is that this is a head fake, a major head fake that we are picking up the impact of both data distortions, and policy distortions,” said El-Erian.
“No one was looking for an uptake in jobs.” said El-Erian. “It may be that the economy has picked up in a major way. That’s the hope. And that’s certainly what the market has embraced.”
“Or it may be two other things: that government policies were very effective in reducing those who were officially unemployed. Or it may be that the data is very, very noisy,” he added.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser of Allianz appears on a segment of “Mornings With Maria” with Maria Bartiromo on the FOX Business Network at FOX Studios on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)
“What is really striking is if you look at continuing claims, they went up, not down. So every other indicator you look at suggest that the labor market is not as healthy as these numbers,” said El-Erian.
If indeed the report is a “head fake,” El-Erian warns “the political process may have moved away from relief and repair.”
“We’ve got to understand these numbers better, and we’ve got to continue with the message to Congress that there is still a big hole we find ourselves in, even if you believe these numbers,” he added.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The jobs report sent stocks soaring on Friday, with the Dow (^DJI) gaining more than 3%, and the Nasdaq (^IXIC) rallied to a record high.” data-reactid=”37″>The jobs report sent stocks soaring on Friday, with the Dow (^DJI) gaining more than 3%, and the Nasdaq (^IXIC) rallied to a record high.
“In the equity market, there’s nothing more comforting than the notion that someone with a printing press in the basement and an unlimited ability and willingness to buy is your backstop,” said El-Erian.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content=" "What we want is fundamentals to improve and validate asset prices. That’s how this is an orderly outcome. If that doesn’t happen at some point, fundamentals will assert themselves,” he added.” data-reactid=”40″> “What we want is fundamentals to improve and validate asset prices. That’s how this is an orderly outcome. If that doesn’t happen at some point, fundamentals will assert themselves,” he added.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
