The KUIK Morning Market Report for Thursday, December 29:
Markets are mixed.
Index
Direction
Change
Units
Time
Dow
Up
22
points
19,856
7:15 AM
S&P500
Up
0.1%
percent
2,251
Nasdaq Composite
Down
-0.1%
percent
5,435
30 Year Treasury
Up
1
Basis Points
3.09
Annual Yield
The Labor Department reports that new applications for unemployment benefits last week fell by 10,000 to 265,000. Eonomists expected a seasonally adjusted 270,000. Continuing claims rose by 63,000 to 2.1 million in the week ended December 17. Initial claims have been under 300,000 for 95 straight weeks.
The trade deficit increased 5.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual $65.3 billion, according to the Commerce Department. That was larger than the $62.5 billion forecast by economists. Exports rose 1.0% to $121.7 billion, while imports totaled $187.0, up 1.2% from October.
Marketwatch reports President-elect Trump is considering changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs that would allow some veterans to bypass the VAsystem completely and get care exclusively from private-sector hospitals and clinics. It would give veterans full choice over their health care. Many veterans groups argue that it would be the first step toward privatization and would reduce the quality of health care over the long term.
Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for 1360 KUIK.
