REVIEW
The bull market made news highs this week, after the FOMC meeting, statement, and press conference. For the week the SPX/DOW were +1.3%, the NDX/NAZ were +1.0%, and the DJ World index was +1.0%. On the economic front positive reports continue to outpace negative ones. On the uptick: the NY/Philly FED, industrial production, the NAHB, the CPI, leading indicators, and weekly jobless claims improved. On the downtick: housing starts, building permits, and the WLEI. Next week we get reports on Q1 GDP, Personal income/spending, and the PCE.
LONG TERM: bull market
This bull market continues to unfold. But has recently reached the point where investors feel the Central Banks of the world have their back, and they have nothing to fear. Volatility is at its lowest level since 2007, and risk premiums on sovereign debt are also at similar lows. After a multi-year bull market this is typically the calm before…