Dow Rejoices Following Excellent Jobs Report
Mr. Market couldn't be happier this morning, as the S&P 500 and the Dow JonesIndustrial Average soar, riding high after a jobs report that shows an economy finally rising from the depths of the Great Recession. As of noon, the Dow had gained nearly 157 points, as fears of the Federal Reserve tapering its bond-buying program recede into the background.
A sea change for employment
The November jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was a real gem, showing a drop to 7% in the national unemployment rate from the previous 7.3%. The 203,000 new jobs created last month were ahead of market expectations of 180,000, and the jobless rate was a nice surprise against the consensus of 7.2%.
Also, the labor force participation rate ticked upward by 0.2 percentage points, coming in at 63%, versus last month's 62.8% -- though it is still lower than September's rate of 63.2%.
Meanwhile, the University of Michigan survey found a jump in consumer confidence to 82.5 for the first part of December, compared to the prior 75.1. This is the highest reading since July and blew past estimates of a mere 75.5. The expectations index was also up to 72.7, a six-point increase from the previous reading.
Everybody's a winner
There are really no losers on the Dow today, as every component is in shiny green territory less than an hour from noon. Both JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs are riding the wave, despite concerns regarding the implementation of the Volcker rule, complete with its ban on portfolio trading. The tougher trading rules are expected to hit Goldman hardest, since it derives approximately 50% of its revenue from trading activity.
In other banking news, Citigroup and Wells Fargo have been charged with discriminatory mortgage lending practices in Los Angeles. The L.A. City Attorney's office yesterday sued the two banks for what it called "a continuous pattern" of discrimination in mortgage lending in the city "since at least 2004."
The lawsuit alleges that the onerous mortgage terms imposed on certain borrowers helped cause the foreclosure crisis in Los Angeles, costing the city millions in lost tax revenue. In July 2012, Wells Fargo settled another mortgage discrimination suit with the U.S. Department of Justice, in which it paid $175 million to resolve charges that it steered Hispanic and African-American borrowers into pricier subprime loans between 2004 and 2009.
A great bank investor want to share his wisdom with you!
Warren Buffett has made billions through his investing and he wants you to be able to invest like him. Through the years, Buffett has offered up investing tips to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Now you can tap into the best of Warren Buffett's wisdom in a new special report from The Motley Fool. Click here now for a free copy of this invaluable report.
The article Dow Rejoices Following Excellent Jobs Report originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Amanda Alix has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
