US markets close at an all-time high

24 Dec 2013 Evaluate

The US markets closed at all-time high on Monday, extending their record run as consumer-spending data reinforced perceptions that the US economic recovery is poised to accelerate in 2014. The Commerce Department reported that Consumer spending outpaced income growth in and rose by 0.5% in November. Personal income rose 0.2%. Excluding inflation, real disposable incomes rose 0.1% in November after falling 0.2% in October. The personal consumption expenditure price index was flat in November compared with October and is up 0.9% in the past year. The core rate rose 0.1% in November and is up 1.1% in the past year. Besides, a gauge of consumer sentiment rose this month to the highest level since July, led by brighter views on current conditions. The final December reading of the University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index hit 82.5, unchanged from a preliminary reading, up from a final November level of 75.1. Additionally, fueled by a jump in employment and production data, an indicator of US national economic strength jumped in November, pulling the broader three-month snapshot of the economy to a nearly 2-year high. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s National Activity Index rose to +0.60 from -0.07 in October. The more representative three-month moving average improved to +0.25 from +0.12, its highest reading since February 2012.

Meanwhile, Richard Fisher, president of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, stated that he unsuccessfully pushed his colleagues for a larger taper at the central bank’s policy-committee meeting last week. Fed’s Fisher says he pushed for $20 billion taper but the Fed voted 9-1 last week for a $10 billion taper. As a result, the central bank in January will purchase a total of $75 billion-a-month in Treasuries and mortgage-related securities, down from an $85 billion-a-month pace this year. Separately, Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, enlightened that he believes the central bank will begin raising its target policy rate in early 2015. Lacker added that his forecast for the trajectory of the fed funds rate is the third-highest among members of the Fed. He expects the rate to hit 2% by the end of 2015, from its current target of near zero. Lacker, who stated that the tapering was a slam dunk, added that he saw as a base case that the Fed will shrink its monthly bond buys by an additional $10 billion each meeting, but could pause if economic data warranted.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 73.47 points or 0.45 percent to 16,294.61, the S&P 500 was up 9.67 points or 0.53 percent to 1,827.99, while Nasdaq gained 44.16 points or 1.08 percent to 4,148.90.

Indian ADRs closed in green on Monday; HDFC Bank was up 0.46%, Tata Motors was up 0.22%, ICICI Bank was up 0.20%, Wipro was up by 0.12% and Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.07%.

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