For the week the Dow lost -2.39%, the S&P 500 -1.81%, Nasdaq -1.27%, and the Russell 2000 -0.78%. Markets around the world also offered poor weekly returns with the one key exception in Russia which soared +9%.
GROWTH: The US economy grew by +0.6% (in size) during the 1st quarter of 2008 (i.e., quarter-over-quarter change expressed as an annualized result). The change in the size of our economy from the 1st quarter of 2007 to the 1st quarter of 2008 was +2.5%. By comparison, China’s economy grew by +10.6% for the 1st quarter of 2008 when compared to the first quarter of 2007 (Commerce Department, Financial Times).
MORE INSIGHT ON ECONOMIC PREDICTIONS:
According to a recent report by USA Today, of those economists who believe the US is either already in a recession or will enter into one later this calendar year, 89% of this group anticipates that the economic downturn will be short and shallow in duration and intensity as opposed to long and deep. The Wall Street Journal ran a report at the end of 2007 in which a variety of seasoned financial experts were asked where the markets were headed in 2008. The predictions were mostly bullish – Dow 14,000 – Dow 15,000 – Dow 16,000. A couple more accurately predicted flat markets in the face of staggering oil prices and a weak housing market. But none of the experts expected a 10% decline in the first quarter alongside a massive credit crisis. Keep Reading...