Signs continue to emerge that the United States’ economy is past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic economic downturn, as official figures for August show the unemployment rate fell considerably, and nonfarm payroll employment also rose.
Dow Jones
If last year was any indication of what financial markets will look like in 2019, we are in for a very bumpy ride. Last December alone, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell and rose more than 8 percent as finance experts struggled to make heads or tails of a bizarre political climate, unsteady interest rates and global tariffs.
U.S. banks are highly profitable and supporting of economic activity, as they were prior to the 2008-09 financial crisis. It is important to remember how quickly conditions can change. As a result of post-crisis prudential reforms, banks have bolstered their capital and liquidity. It is essential to preserve these hard-won improvements. It would be a mistake to assume that a severe downturn or crisis cannot happen again.
The battle between the globalists and the populists has captivated people around the world, including investors, who are today inclined to place political news ahead of the more tried-and-true economic indicators in making decisions. Despite the turmoil in politics, though, many leading economies, especially that of the US, are doing rather well, with no major storms on the visible horizon.