Forté Capital’s Selected Statistics

Chart 1

Non-Farm Payroll

The November labor market data was mixed: the unemployment rate dropped 0.2%, to 4.2%. But there were only 210,000 new positions added in the month, lower than expected, indicating that businesses remained either cautious or unable to find workers. This trend, when coupled to higher inflation and rising rates, should be monitored in the new year.

U.S. & World Equity Indexes; 12/17/21; YTD Return S&P 500; 4,653; 23.90% Dow Jones Industrials; 35,573; 16.23% Nasdaq Composite; 15,257; 18.38% Shanghai Composite (China); 3,673; 4.59% S&P BSE Sensex (India); 58,062; 19.39% Nikkei Stock Avg (Japan); 28,904; 4.01% CAC 40 (France); 6,926; 24.77% DAX (Germany); 15,531; 13.21% FTSE 100 (U.K.); 7,269; 12.53%
Selected Interest Rates; 12/17/21; Prior Period 15-Year Mortgage; 2.34%; 2.27% 30-Year Mortgage; 3.12%; 2.98% 5-Year Treasury Bond; 1.19%; 1.08% 10-Year Treasury Bond; 1.44%; 1.46% 30-Year Treasury Bond; 1.87%; 1.83%
Key Economic Statistics; Most Prior; Recent Month National Producer Price Index; 0.80%; 0.60% Consumer Price Index; 0.80%; 0.90% Unemployment Rate; 4.60%; 4.60% ISM Manufacturing Index; 61.10; 60.80 ISM Services Index; 69.10; 66.70 Change in Non-farm Payroll Emp.; 210,000; 531,000 New York State Consumer Price Index - NY, NJ, CT; 0.30%; 0.30% Unemployment Rate; 6.60%; 6.90% Empire State Manufacturing Survey; 31.90%; 19.00%

Chart 2

Annualized Inflation

It bears repeating that inflation has emerged as one of the most important economic issues of 2021. The most recent report showed a 39-year high in the rate of CPI inflation. This is problematic for the Federal Reserve, which has a 2% long term inflation target and will face pressure to take action should this rate of inflation persist.

Equity Market Statistics; Most Recent; Prior Month Dow Jones Industrials; 12/17/21; 11/17/21 Dividend Yield; 1.89%; 1.81% Price/Earnings (12-Mth Trailing); 20.82; 22.47 Price/Earnings (Projected); 17.84; 18.74 S&P 500 Index; 12/17/21; 11/17/21 Dividend Yield; 1.35%; 1.33% Price/Earnings (12-Mth Trailing); 27.07; 27.07 Price/Earnings (Projected); 21.45; 21.60

The information herein was obtained from various sources believed to be accurate; however, Forté Capital does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. This report was prepared for general information purposes only. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes an offer to buy or sell any securities, options, or futures contracts. Forté Capital’s Proprietary Market Risk Barometer is a summary of 30 indicators and is copyrighted by Forté Capital LLC. For further information, visit www.fortecapital.com, send a message to info@forte-capital.com, or call 866-586-8100 and ask for David W. Henion, CPA, or Larry H. Rabinowitz, CPA/PFS.