Growth Report – Monday, August 28, 2017

SUMMER SLOWDOWN HITS HOUSING MARKET
Low inventory and high prices are taking a toll on existing home sales. They declined 1.3% in July, according to the National Association of Realtors, making a second straight monthly retreat. In the past 12 months, the number of existing homes on the market has shrunk 9.0%, while the median sale price has risen 6.2% to $258,300. While resales were up 2.1% year-over-year, the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate reached a 2017 low in July. Census Bureau data showed new home sales falling 9.4% last month.1,2

GASOLINE FUTURES RISE, BUT OIL FUTURES FALL
On the NYMEX, unleaded gasoline gained 2.6% last week, with prices briefly reaching a 5-month peak. Even as oncoming Hurricane Harvey posed a threat to Gulf Coast oil output, crude lost 1.6% last week to settle at $47.87 Friday.3

ORDERS FOR DURABLES DECLINE
Hard goods orders retreated 6.8% for July; the decrease was 7.8% with defense orders factored out. However, core orders (which do not include transportation equipment purchases) were up 0.5% last month.1

STOCKS ADVANCE
August could end up being a down month for the S&P 500, but the index was up for the week. It rose 0.72% in five days to 2,443.05. The Dow and Nasdaq also advanced last week: the blue chips added 0.64% to close at 21,813.67 Friday, and Wall Street’s top tech benchmark gained 0.79% to 6,265.64.4

THIS WEEK: Nothing major is slated for Monday. Tuesday, the latest Conference Board consumer confidence index appears, along with the June S&P/Case-Shiller home price index and earnings from Bank of Montreal, Best Buy, and H&R Block. On Wednesday, Wall Street scrutinizes ADP’s August payroll report, the second estimate of Q2 GDP, and earnings news from Analog Devices, Bob Evans Farms, Chico’s FAS, Five Below, and Shoe Carnival. Thursday sees the release of July personal spending data, the Federal Reserve’s July PCE price index, the August Challenger job-cut report, the NAR’s July pending home sales index, new initial claims numbers, and earnings from Campbell Soup, Dollar General, Land’s End, and Lululemon Athletica. The Department of Labor’s August jobs report, the final August University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, and the August ISM factory PMI all arrive on Friday.

% CHANGE Y-T-D 1-YR CHG 5-YR AVG 10-YR AVG
DJIA +10.38 +18.24 +13.16 +6.30
NASDAQ +16.39 +20.21 +20.82 +14.32
S&P 500 +9.12 +12.45 +14.63 +6.51
REAL YIELD 8/25 RATE 1 YR AGO 5 YRS AGO 10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS 0.42% 0.09% -0.60% 2.40%

Sources: wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov – 8/25/174,5,6,7
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.

WEEKLY QUOTE

“Knowledge is love and light and vision.”

– Helen Keller

WEEKLY TIP

In retirement, arranging income distributions with an eye on tax efficiency could help your savings last longer. Smaller, tax-deferred account distributions will make your annual income taxes more bearable.

WEEKLY RIDDLE

Jon drove past the college at 60 mph, but he wasn’t pulled over or cited, even though a police officer was right behind him. Why?

Last week’s riddle:
I follow you during the daytime, but at night I can’t be seen. What am I?

Last week’s answer:
Your shadow.

Citations.
1 – investing.com/economic-calendar/ [8/25/17]
2 – inman.com/2017/08/24/existing-home-sales-dip-for-second-month-in-a-row/ [8/24/17]
3 – marketwatch.com/story/gasoline-ends-barely-higher-after-touching-a-5-month-high-2017-08-25 [8/25/17]
4 – markets.wsj.com/us [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F25%2F16&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F25%2F16&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F25%2F16&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F24%2F12&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F24%2F12&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F24%2F12&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F24%2F07&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F24%2F07&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F24%2F07&x=0&y=0 [8/25/17]
6 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [8/25/17]
7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [8/25/17]

This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., for Mark Lund, Mark is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, The Financial Advisor, The Financial Planner and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. an independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Stonecreek is located in Salt Lake City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, and American Fork City in Utah.

Category: Blog, Growth Report

About the Author ()

Mark K. Lund is the author of The Effective Investor, a #1 Best Seller, and founder of Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. an independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisory firm. He has provided articles for or been quoted in: The Wall Street Journal, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Enterprise Newspaper, The Utah Business Connect Magazine, US News & World Report, and Newsmax.com, just to name a few.  Mark publishes two newsletters called, “The Mark Lund Growth Report” and “Mark Lund on Money.”  Mark provides CPE (continuing professional education) courses for CPAs.  You may also have seen him on KUTV Channel 2, or as a guest speaker at a local association or business. Mark provides investment and retirement planning services for individuals and 401(k) consulting for small businesses. In his book, The Effective Investor, Mark exposes the false narrative magazines, media, big Wall Street firms, and most advisors want you to believe. The good news is that Mark will show you that you don’t need their speculative ways of investing in order to be a successful investor. Get a free copy when you schedule your initial consultation.

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