The weekly U.S. jobless claims fell to lowest level since September. This sent the U.S. market futures skidding lower.
Around 204,000 people applied for first-time unemployment benefits last week - down from the previous week's total of 225,000, less than expectations also of 225K, and below the pre-pandemic weekly average of 218,000. #CoSoFinance https://www.kitco.com/news/2023-01-05/U-S-weekly-jobless-claims-drop-to-204-000.html

The U.S. #TradeDeficit in November 2022 plungesd 21% to $61.5 billion. #Exports down 2.0% to $251.9 billion. #Imports down 6.4% to $313.4 billion (seasonally adjusted). Americans are tightening their belts and buying less made-in-China junk. November's trade deficit was the lowest since September 2020 ($59.1billion) #CoSoFinance https://t.co/ELorSSWR1y

There is a recession -- in big tech. Amazon is laying off 18,000 workers. Salesforce says it will cut 10% of its workforce. Google plans to fire 6% of employees. #CoSoFinance https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/5-things-to-know-before-the-stock-market-opens-thursday-january-5.html

Shorter Federal Reserve minutes: The beatings will continue until morale worsens. #CoSoFinance https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-crash-fed-interest-rate-cuts-december-meeting-minutes-2023-1

2 snapshots of where U.S. dividend paying stocks are now. 2022-Q4 is the most negative for dividend-paying firms since the aftermath of the Coronavirus Recession. Energy, real estate and finance are taking the most hits. #CoSoFinance https://seekingalpha.com/article/4568004-dividends-december-2022-2022-q4

American Lithium (OTCQB: LIACF) has received approval to list its common shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market, with trading scheduled to commence on January 10, 2023 under the symbol "AMLI." #CoSoFinance

Should be bullish news for copper and other base metals.
China's southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou plans 1,722 projects in 2023 worth more than 6.5 trillion yuan ($945 billion), state media CCTV reported on Thursday, after the city was hit by stringent COVID-19 curbs in late 2022. #CoSoFinance https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/chinas-southern-manufacturing-hub-guangzhou-plans-projects-worth-$945-bln

My latest interview on the Korelin Economics Report https://www.kereport.com/2023/01/04/sean-brodrick-commodities-outlook-for-2023-energy-precious-metals-and-base-metals/ #CoSoFinance

Even if the U.S. avoids a recession in 2023, American consumers and investors could face a grinding slowdown that likely won’t let up until 2024, according to Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, who this kind of protracted downturn a “slowcession”. My question: If the consensus anticipates a recession, doesn't that raise the odds we'll avoid one? #CoSoFinance https://www.marketwatch.com/story/forget-recession-the-u-s-is-heading-for-a-slowcession-that-could-last-all-year-moodys-warns-11672784240

"Many journalists might be liberal in their personal lives, but their reporting seldom if ever reflects a liberal agenda or bias. Indeed, many news outlets, such as NBC News, CNN, and CBS deliberately slant their guest bookings, not to mention how they question those guests, rightward in order to overcompensate against the accusation of a liberal bias." #CoSoPolitics

This story was written by Bob Cesca, and appeared on the Banter on Substack, but CoSo won't let me link.

Gold futures tally a 4th straight session gain as the dollar weakens, yields retreat. Though gold did give up some ground after the release of the Fed minutes. #CoSoFinance https://marketwatch.com/story/gold-hits-fresh-6-month-high-as-dollar-weakens-yields-retreat-11672839177

None of the 19 top Federal Reserve officials expect it will be appropriate to cut interest rates this year, according to the minutes of the central bank’s December policy meeting released Wednesday.

Fed officials welcomed recent inflation data that showed reductions in the monthly pace of price increases, but wanted to see a lot more evidence of progress to be convinced inflation was on a sustained downward path, the minutes said. #CoSoFinance https://www.marketwatch.com/story/no-fed-official-expects-interest-rate-cuts-will-be-appropriate-this-year-minutes-show-11672859007

As of November, there were 1.7 openings per unemployed worker.

Between the '01 Recession & Great Recession, there were 0.5 openings per unemployed worker on avg.

As of November '22, the industries with the highest vacancy rates were Accomodation & Food Services (8.9%) and Health Care (8.5%).

The industries with the lowest vacancy rates: Federal Gov't (2.6%) and Gov't Education (3.1%).
Hat-tip Steve Rattner #CoSoFinance

Man, I am seeing a lot more e-bike ads. My wife and I are enjoying ours a LOT, and took a trip to Cocoa Beach/New Smyrna over the weekend to ride them. If you buy one, I highly recommend ride before you buy, and pay up for quality.