| | Economic Events | | THE ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: Tomorrow, the Census Bureau will report about housing starts for March, and Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors will report about existing home sales for March. Thursday, the Labor Department will issue its initial claims report. | | | Market Mirror | Major U.S. stock indices closed mostly lower Friday as a dip in oil prices dragged energy companies lower, the Associated Press reported. The Dow closed 28.97 points (0.16%) lower at 17,897.46, the NASDAQ decreased 7.67 points (0.16%) to 4,938.22, and the S&P 500 was down 2.07 points (0.10%) at 2,080.71. The Russell 2000 was up 2.34 points (0.21%) at 1,130.92, and the Wilshire 5000 was virtually unchanged at 21,463.53.
On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares traded, with a slight lead for advancing issues. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares changes hands, with a nearly even split between advancers and decliners.
The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 12/32, decreasing its yield to 1.754%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 26/32, bringing its yield down to 2.562%.
WEEK’S WORTH: For the week ending April 15, the Dow finished 1.82% higher, the NASDAQ increased 1.80%, and the S&P 500 was up 1.62%. The Russell 2000 climbed 3.06%, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 1.86%. | | | Sponsored message from MetLife | | Pension Risk Transfer Pulse. Get the latest findings from a recent MetLife poll.Read more > | | | Compliance | | New Bill Would Address PBGC Premiums | | “The Pension and Budget Integrity Act simply moves these premiums ‘off-budget,’ and ensures that Congress is raising premiums only if and when it is appropriate,” lawmakers said.Read more > | | | Industry Voices | | Barry’s Pickings Online: They Got It Right | | Michael Barry, president of the Plan Advisory Services Group, has harshly criticized the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Conflict of Interest regulation project—suggesting that it overreached and that DOL was turning a deaf ear to valid industry criticism. Now he says, “I was wrong.”Read more > | | | Small Talk | | ON THIS DATE: In 1775, American revolutionaries Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode though the towns of Massachusetts giving the warning that the Regulars were coming out. Later, the phrase “the British are coming” was attributed to Revere even though it is unlikely he used that wording. In 1838, the Wilkes’ expedition to the South Pole set sail. In 1906, San Francisco was hit with an earthquake. The original death toll was cited at about 700. Later information indicated that the death toll may have been 3 to 4 times the original estimate. In 1924, Simon and Schuster, Inc. published the first “Crossword Puzzle Book.” In 1934, the first laundromat opened in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2002, the city legislature of Berlin decided to make actress Marlene Dietrich an honorary citizen. Dietrich had gone to the United States in 1930. She refused to return to Germany after Adolf Hitler came to power. | | SURVEY SAYS RESPONSES: Last week, I asked NewsDash readers “Are you happier and/or better off than you were a year ago?” The good news is one-third (33.3%) of responding readers said yes to both. Nearly 9% are happier, but not better off, and 6.4% are better off, but not happier. Nineteen percent indicated they are happier and better off in some ways and not others, while 7.7% indicated they are not happier and better off in some ways but not others. Nearly 13% reported they are the same as a year ago, and sadly, 10.3% are less happy and worse off. Some responding readers who left comments explained their mixed situations, and others shared where they were a year ago and where they are now. A few gave some constructive feedback about happiness, and quite a few said they were happier because they are one year closer to retirement. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “I find that the older I get the less it takes to make me happy.” Thank you to all who participated in the survey!Read more > | | Share the good news with a friend! Pass the NewsDash along—and tell your friends/associates they can sign up for their own copy.Read more > |
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