FXIS Market Insights

Here is our latest issue of market insights. Enjoy!

In This Week's Issue
• Weekly Snapshot
• Weekly Barometers
• Weekly Chart
• Recommended Read

Weekly Snapshot
• U.S. Stocks end gloomy 3rd quarter on a weak note, down 7.18% in Q3
• Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed mortgage rates at record low 4.01%
• Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.0% in September 2011
• The Euro area unemployment rate was 10.0% in August 2011, unchanged from July
• China's manufacturing improved slightly in September, for a second month of gains
• Bank of America will charge a new $5 monthly fee for the use of a debit card
• The German parliament approved increasing the size and flexibility of the ESFS
• U.S. real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.3% in the second quarter of 2011
• Durable goods in August decreased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $201.8 billion,
• U.S. Consumer Confidence Index at 45.4 (1985=100), up slightly from 45.2 in August
• U.S. home prices rose for a fourth consecutive month, up 0.9% in July over June
• U.S. new home sales in August down 2.3% from July, but up 6.1% from a year ago
• CME Group hiked margins again, on gold by 21%, silver by 16% and copper by 18%

Weekly Barometers

Weekly Chart 
It’s the end of the quarter and the end of a rather tumultuous summer for investors. September is usually the weakest month of the year, but this one was particularly unappealing at -7.18% for the month. Adding the –5.68% in August and –2.15% in July, the S&P 500 really took a chunk out of investors’ pockets.  The S&P 500 has been settling in clear bear market territory again but the index is still 67.2% above the March 2009 low. 

Not all that encouraging one could argue.  Then again, other markets felt the pinch as well.  In fact, the U.S. markets fared reasonably well compared with other markets in Europe and Asia.  Might the U.S. be in a relatively better position after all?

Recommended Read
Please consider The Price of Gold in the Year 2160.  This article puts a lighter twist on the gold mania that captured investors’ nerves recently.  Enjoy!

Good luck and good investing!

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