Most U.S. stock indices were weaker WoW, except for the small/mid cap Russell 2000 which has strung together some amazing gains YtD (+7.9%). Other global equity indices were generally positive. USTs lost ground, and both gold and Bitcoin pushed higher. This all happened in a backdrop in which the U.S. president introduced a series of populist and interventionist proposals that are drifting wider and wider from Republican principals.

The weekly update covers NVDA's excellent earnings; the A.I. shine which is wearing off; the minutes from the last FOMC meeting (Oct); and the fall of Bitcoin.

A.I. featured large again last week, mainly because it was the key talking point as five of the Mag 7 companies released earnings with mixed results. The FOMC decision also went as expected, although Mr Powell threw some caution into the wind. Global stock markets took it in stride, but the US Treasury market was less happy as yields rose across the curve. Gold was weaker again, and the US Dollar strengthened.

The melt up continued in risk markets until late Friday morning, when a post of Mr Trump's Truth Social website reported that the U.S. would impose additional 100% tariffs on Chinese imports into the U.S. starting Nov 1st because of further restrictions by China on their export of critical earth minerals. In any event, this one way trajectory up needed a pause. Monday will be interesting!

Markets largely slid sideways in the usually quiet end of the month of August. There was news though, including the last of Mag 7earnings (NVDA), political turmoil in France, PCE for July, and th usual list of Trump matters.

Let’s face it – nothing can slow the “risk on” sentiment currently charactering equity markets.  SPACs were the first to reappear a few...

Earnings for S&P 500 companies have been "better-than-expected" so far. Does this tell the whole story? Stocks are ripping anyway!

The five mega-tech FAMAG names start reporting their quarterly earnings ended Dec 30th, 2022, this week. I also included TSLA.

The consensus view is that stocks will rise modestly in 2023. History has proven one thing – analysts will be wrong!