Let's get to Kevin Green who joins me for the data download this morning. And I'm just wondering if that consumer confidence is showing any improvement off the back of that 12-year low we saw last time around KG. >> Yeah, you actually did see a pretty decent bounce for consumer confidence.Now, this is going to be the February print that came in at 91.2%. The street was looking for 87.4% and we did see a revision for last month's print up to 80 89 here. Now the optimism or the current situation index for the ...

Consumer spending is tilting toward services as spending on goods softens.Consumers continue to shoulder the expansion of the U.S. economy, even as late-year data reveal a more deliberate spending posture and a softer pace of overall growth.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy u ...

Home equity rates fell this week, reaching their lowest levels in about three years. The $30,000 home equity line of credit fell one basis point to 7.31%, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the five-year $30,000 home equity loan fell three basis points to 7.89%. While rates can influence the home equity product you decide to take, they’re not the only factor at play. Homeowners generally hold substantial equity, but growth is moderating in some parts of the country, says Kenon ...

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Core Viewpoint - U.S. stocks experienced a significant rebound on February 6, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 50,000 for the first time, indicating a recovery in investor confidence despite previous market volatility [1][2]. Market Performance - The Dow closed up 2.47%, gaining 1,206.95 points to reach 50,115.67, while the S&P 500 rose 1.97%, or 133.90 points, to 6,932.30. The Nasdaq increased by 2.18%, or 490.627 points, to 23,031.213 after a prior decline of 4.5% over three sessions [3]. - Bitcoin saw a rebound of approximately 12%, rising to $70,287.83 after previously dropping below $61,000, marking a significant recovery from its record high of $126,000 [4]. Economic Indicators - The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey reached its highest level since August, and short-term inflation expectations dropped to 3.5%, the lowest in over a year, contributing to the market's positive momentum [2]. - Bank of America reported continued payroll growth and a leveling off of unemployment payments, suggesting an improving labor market at the start of 2026 [6]. Corporate Earnings Outlook - Jeff Buchbinder from LPL Financial expressed confidence in corporate earnings growth, citing an improving manufacturing outlook that could support double-digit earnings growth for at least the next two quarters [6].

Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) recovered from a 1.25-year low today and is up by more than +9% to lift cryptocurrency-exposed stocks. Bitcoin is recovering from a selloff that briefly dragged it down more than 50% from its October record high. According to Coinglass data, investors pulled $434 million from US Bitcoin ETFs on Thursday, and about $2.1 billion in long positions in cryptocurrencies were liquidated over the past 24 hours.Hawkish comments today from Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic were bearish for stocks ...

Consumer Sentiment - Consumer sentiment data for February came in at 57.3%, exceeding expectations of 55 and improving from last month's 56.4% [2] - One-year inflation expectations decreased to 3.5% from 4%, indicating a significant downward adjustment in inflation outlook [2] - Current conditions improved to 58.3%, surpassing the expected 54.9% and last month's figures [3] Market Performance - Approximately 82% of S&P 500 stocks are currently in the green, indicating a positive market trend [6] - The MAG 7 stocks, particularly Apple and Nvidia, are contributing to market gains, with Nvidia up over 5% [7] - Despite some positive movements, Amazon's stock is down 9% following disappointing quarterly results [10] Capital Expenditure Trends - Amazon's capital expenditure is projected to reach $200 billion this year, contributing to a total of $650 billion from major tech companies including Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet [11] - Concerns are rising regarding the sustainability of free cash flow for companies if capital expenditure continues at this rate [13] - The market is experiencing a rolling correction, with significant adjustments in multiples for tech stocks like Microsoft [14] Agricultural Commodities - Soybean prices are trending upward, with a 1% increase today, driven by optimism about potential purchases from China [16] - There is speculation that USDA data may indicate undisclosed purchases by China, contributing to a bullish sentiment in the soybean market [17] - Agricultural stocks have been performing well over the past couple of months, reflecting positive market conditions in this sector [18]

No movement in home equity rates, as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its first meeting of 2026. The $30,000 home equity line of credit and the five-year $30,000 home equity loan were flat for the week, remaining at 7.44% and 7.92%, respectively, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. As home equity rates hover at a three-year-low, Bankrate’s senior industry analyst Ted Rossman explains why conditions are improving for home equity borrowers. “The current HELOC average, 7 ...

Economic Indicators - December pending home sales are expected to decline by -0.5% month-over-month [1] - Initial weekly unemployment claims are projected to increase by +12,000 to 210,000 [1] - Q3 GDP is anticipated to remain unchanged at +4.3% quarter-over-quarter annualized [1] - November personal spending is expected to rise by +0.5% month-over-month, while personal income is projected to increase by +0.4% month-over-month [1] - The November core PCE price index is expected to rise by +0.2% month-over-month and +2.8% year-over-year [1] - January S&P US manufacturing PMI is expected to increase by +0.2 to 52.0 [1] - The final University of Michigan January US consumer sentiment index is expected to remain unchanged at 54.0 [1] Stock Market Movements - US natural gas-producing stocks surged as natural gas prices increased by more than +26% to a three-week high [2][16] - Gold and silver mining stocks experienced significant gains due to safe-haven buying, with prices reaching all-time highs [2][15] - Stock indexes fell sharply, with the S&P 500 down -2.06%, Dow Jones down -1.76%, and Nasdaq 100 down -2.12% [4] - The Magnificent Seven technology stocks saw declines, with Nvidia and Tesla down more than -4% [13] - Defensive beverage makers rose amid the broader market decline, with Monster Beverage and Constellation Brands both up more than +4% [17] Earnings Reports - Q4 earnings season has begun positively, with 88% of the 33 S&P 500 companies that reported beating expectations [5] - S&P earnings growth is expected to increase by +8.4% in Q4, while excluding the Magnificent Seven, growth is expected at +4.6% [5] Bond Market - Rising bond yields impacted stocks, with the 10-year T-note yield reaching a 4.75-month high of 4.31% [3][8] - The 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose to a 27-year high of 2.359% due to fiscal concerns [3][9] - The markets are currently discounting a 5% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut at the next FOMC meeting [6] International Markets - Overseas stock markets closed lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50 down -0.57% and China's Shanghai Composite down -0.01% [7]

Core Viewpoint - A group of former Federal Reserve chairs, Treasury secretaries, and prominent economists expressed support for Fed Chair Jerome Powell, alarmed by the Justice Department's threat of criminal prosecution against the central bank, which they view as an unprecedented attack on its independence [1][2]. Group 1: Concerns Over Central Bank Independence - The criminal inquiry into Fed Chair Jay Powell is seen as an attempt to undermine the Federal Reserve's independence, which is crucial for effective monetary policy [2]. - Janet Yellen emphasized that the investigation compromises the central bank's independence and described the situation as "extremely chilling" for financial markets [3]. - Concerns about the erosion of central bank independence could lead to higher bond yields, increasing borrowing costs for consumers, particularly affecting mortgage rates [4][5]. Group 2: Market Reactions and Predictions - Following the news of the investigation, markets showed volatility, with stocks wavering and slight declines in the dollar, Treasurys, and US equities futures [3]. - Predictions suggest that the criminal investigation may unify the Federal Reserve around Powell, potentially isolating any new nominee for Fed chair and complicating future monetary policy [7][8].