Ask Rande

Top 1639. Aug 3, 1999 8:26 PM

» TONYBRIG - Laser Surgery

Somehow I dont know if I would want to risk it.
How bout you?

VBOLHH

-- posted by TONYBRIG

Top 1640. Aug 4, 1999 12:08 AM

» mathguy - Friday's job numbers

Rande: Can you explain the significance of Friday's job numbers? What's expected? What would constitute "good" numbers from a market perspective? What would cause a major sell-off? Thanks for any insights!

-- posted by mathguy

Top 1641. Aug 4, 1999 6:03 AM

» RandeS - Tony,

Tony,

I hear it's supposed to be totally painless and very effective, but I agree -- gives me the creeps to think about anything like a laser touching my eye. Fortunately, I don't need glasses. Might consider it if I had to hassle with contacts.

-- posted by RandeS

Top 1642. Aug 4, 1999 6:10 AM

» RandeS - mathguy,

mathguy,

If the non-farm payroll report shows something in the area of 200,000 to 250,000 new jobs created, it shouldn't send the markets reeling in one direction or the other (would only continue the nervousness). Anything materially above that would be negative and anything below would be un-negative (notice how I didn't say positive -- seems the market only reacts to bad news these days).

Hourly wages will be an important part of the report. Anything at .3% or lower would be good.
Above that level, on top of last week's ECI, and a rate hike by the Fed on 8/24-5 would probably be a done deal.

Productivity numbers come out tomorrow. Would love to see something close to the 3%+ annual rate of the first quarter, but mid-twos may be more likely. Still good. Productivity is so hard to measure these days, have to take this one with a grain of salt.

-- posted by RandeS

Top 1643. Aug 4, 1999 6:28 AM

» KirkL - T-Bill Price & Yields

Economic Signals

Rande, sometimes I wonder if it would be good to have one more scary number just to send the market lower and get a full blown correction over with?

6.15% looks pretty tempting....

-- posted by KirkL

Top 1644. Aug 4, 1999 6:29 AM

» KirkL - T-Bill Price & Yields

T-Bill Price & Yields

Rande -What is your favorite site these days for checking on interest rates? One URL I kept expired and I want to add a good one to Kirk's Financial Links in the "Market Indicator Links" Box so it is easy for all to use. You will see that right now I have a place holder but no working LINK (this is to remind me to ask you!).

thanks

-- posted by KirkL

Top 1645. Aug 4, 1999 6:34 AM

» KirkL - Economic Signals

Economic Signals

Rande, sometimes I wonder if it would be good to have one more scary number just to send the market lower and get a full blown correction over with?

6.15% looks pretty tempting...

-- posted by KirkL

Top 1646. Aug 4, 1999 6:45 AM

» RandeS - Kirk,

Kirk,

Yes, we haven't seen a big blowoff on heavy volume that would indicate a broad capitulation. However, do we need one? The market, despite it's negative tone right now, appears to remain strong in the face of great economic uncertainty. The future of this bull market depends on a continuation of the balanced economic picture we've come to love in the past few years -- solid growth with tame inflation. Rates, as you point out, have backed up pretty well and must come down over the next 6-9 months for the market to continue in an upward direction (current prices fully expect this). In any event, we continue to see a shakeout in the more speculative areas of the market and perhaps this will be sufficient (healthy) given a clearer and more positive tone on the economic/interest rate front.

-- posted by RandeS

http://www.bondsonline.com/treasquoteind...

Top 1647. Aug 4, 1999 6:47 AM

» RandeS - Kirk,

Kirk,

Here's a good site for rates (Bonds Online):

BTW, one of the best "one stop shops" for a multitude of useful financial sites is The Syndicate:

http://www.moneypages.com/syndicate/inde...

As for 6.15% on the long bond -- yes, it's attractive to me to. Still, no action for me unless rates get to six and a quarter.

-- posted by RandeS