1) Several high profile companies have missed their third quarter earnings, making analysts worry if a long feared earnings recession may be getting closer. Earnings missed from expectations are FedEx by 3%, McDonald’s 5%, Caterpillar 8% and Boeing 30%. Texas Instruments has given a very poor revenue guidance for the fourth quarter of 11% below consensus. This quarter, 83% of reporting companies have beaten expectations by 4.2% average, so earnings misses by large companies is fairly rare.
2) Walmart will start its holiday sales earlier this year, starting this Friday at midnight. This is about a week earlier than last year. Retailers are facing a short holiday shopping season this year, which is just 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is about a week shorter than the same period last year.
3) Car prices have been rapidly increasing, leaving consumers having a hard time affording new vehicles. This forces buyers to take out long term auto loans making a further burden on hard pressed consumers. The average new car purchase price in the U.S. is $36,718 with interest rates at about 6%, which is up 2% from 2017. A decade ago, the average price for a new car was $23,900, while average wages has remained static.
4) Stock market closings for – 23 OCT 19:
Dow 26,833.95 up 45.85
Nasdaq 8,119.79 up 15.50
S&P 500 3,004.52 up 8.53
10 Year Yield: down at 1.76%
Oil: up at $55.88