Brief
This report covers the 49th week of the year spanning Friday, December 1st, through Friday, December 8th, 2023. The week in numbers provides key statistics and data, economic reports, market performance and fun science stats for the week.
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Highlights
- Bitcoin (BTC) surges 14.33% and is now up 167.1% YTD
- The Crypto Total Market Cap advances 13.3% to 1.65 trillion
- US Unemployment Rate declines from 3.9% to 3.7% in November
- Government payrolls increased 49,000 in November
- The US National Debt has increased 2.35 Trillion since the National Debt ceiling was suspended on June 1st, 2023
- US Average Regular Gas price has fallen 11 consecutive weeks from $3.878 to $3.231 a gallon
- 30yr Average Mortgage rates decline for 6th consecutive week, falling from 7.79% on Oct 26th to 7.03% Dec 7th
- NASA Confirmed and Cataloged 7 new exoplanet this week
- US Stocks slightly gain this week an average of 0.27%
- The S&P500 Communication Services sector performed the best this week, gaining 1.40%
- The S&P500 Energy sector performed the worst this week, losing 3.28%
- Solana (SOL) remains the best performing major crypto YTD up 650.5%
- The 1 to 6 month US Treasuries are paying about 1% more than 30 year, providing a strong inverted yield curve
View our Economic Indicators Dashboard for up-to-date economic stats.
Economic Reports
Monday, December 4th
- No notable economic reports
Tuesday, December 5th
- ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI for November was 52.7%, more than the expected 52.4% and more than last month’s 51.8%
- JOLTS – Job Openings for October was 8.773M, less than last month’s 9.350M
Wednesday, December 6th
- Initial Jobless Claims for last week increased by 1,000 to 220,000 new claims, slightly lower than the expected 223,000
- Continuing Jobless Claims decreased by 64,000 to 1.86 million
Thursday, December 7th
- Consumer Credit for October increased $5.2B, less than the expected increase of $9.0B and less than last month’s increase of $12.2B
Friday, December 8th
- Nonfarm Payrolls for November increased 199K, more than the expected increase of 175K and more than last month’s increase of 150K
- Nonfarm Private Payrolls for November increased 150K, less than the expected increase of 155K but more than last month’s increase of 85K
- Avg. Hourly Earnings for November increased 0.4%, more than the expected increase of 0.2% and more than last month’s increase of 0.2%
- Unemployment Rate for November was 3.7%, less than the expected 3.9% and less than last month’s 3.9%
- Average Workweek for November was 34.4, more than the expected 34.3 and more than last month’s 34.3
- Univ. of Michigan Consumer Sentiment – Prelim for December was 69.4, more than the expected 62.6 and more than last month’s 61.3
Next Week’s Major Reports
- CPI – Tuesday, December 12th
- PPI – Wednesday, December 13th
- FOMC Rate Decision – Wednesday, December 13th
- Retail Sales – Thursday, December 14th
See more Economic News at Briefing.com or learn about each economic report in our knowledge hub.
US Stocks
| Index | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 36,247.87 | 2.37 | 0.01% | 36,010.85 | 36,296.20 | 9.35% | ||
| Nasdaq | 14,403.97 | 98.94 | 0.69% | 14,058.52 | 14,416.92 | 37.62% | ||
| S&P 500 | 4,604.37 | 9.74 | 0.21% | 4,546.50 | 4,609.23 | 19.92% | ||
| Wilshire 5000 | 45,468.25 | 120.57 | 0.27% | 44,909.38 | 45,468.25 | 19.42% |
| Index | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Services | 237.50 | 3.27 | 1.40% | 230.45 | 237.87 | 49.02% | ||
| Consumer Discretionary | 1,369.43 | 15.49 | 1.14% | 1,347.65 | 1,369.43 | 36.20% | ||
| Consumer Staples | 737.75 | -9.30 | -1.24% | 737.75 | 747.79 | -5.31% | ||
| Energy | 623.22 | -21.14 | -3.28% | 616.35 | 641.40 | -7.31% | ||
| Financials | 598.79 | -0.68 | -0.11% | 593.43 | 599.46 | 5.10% | ||
| Health Care | 1,535.68 | 3.11 | 0.20% | 1,532.92 | 1,535.76 | -3.14% | ||
| Industrials | 918.97 | 1.90 | 0.21% | 911.04 | 918.97 | 10.53% | ||
| Information Technology | 3,302.74 | 24.12 | 0.74% | 3,231.75 | 3,302.74 | 52.05% | ||
| Materials | 513.85 | -8.99 | -1.72% | 508.74 | 516.63 | 4.96% | ||
| Real Estate | 236.99 | -0.94 | -0.40% | 236.99 | 239.20 | 1.99% | ||
| Utilities | 319.56 | -0.95 | -0.30% | 316.65 | 321.02 | -10.86% |
Global Stocks
| Index | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK FTSE 100 | 7,554.47 | 25.12 | 0.33% | 7,460.21 | 7,581.32 | 1.38% | ||
| France CAC 40 | 7,526.55 | 180.40 | 2.46% | 7,313.71 | 7,545.68 | 16.26% | ||
| Spain IBEX 35 | 10,223.40 | 82.60 | 0.81% | 10,113.90 | 10,301.30 | 24.24% | ||
| Germany DAX 40 | 16,759.22 | 361.70 | 2.21% | 16,386.80 | 16,782.72 | 20.37% | ||
| India BSE Sensex | 69,825.60 | 2,344.41 | 3.47% | 68,274.47 | 69,893.80 | 14.77% | ||
| China Shanghai Comp | 2,969.56 | -62.08 | -2.05% | 2,949.14 | 3,038.98 | -3.87% | ||
| HK Hang Seng 50 | 16,334.37 | -495.93 | -2.95% | 16,157.98 | 16,941.91 | -17.43% | ||
| Japan Nikkei 225 | 32,307.86 | -1,123.65 | -3.36% | 32,205.38 | 33,452.13 | 23.81% | ||
| Australia ASX 200 | 7,194.90 | 121.70 | 1.72% | 7,041.10 | 7,194.90 | 2.22% |
Currencies
| Currency | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAD Canadian Dollar | 1.3585 | 0.0087 | 0.64% | 1.3480 | 1.3622 | 0.23% | ||
| MXN Mexican Peso | 17.3551 | 0.1673 | 0.97% | 17.1734 | 17.5658 | -10.94% | ||
| ARS Argentinian Peso | 363.92 | 3.07 | 0.85% | 358.51 | 364.57 | 105.91% | ||
| COP Colombian Peso | 3,982.00 | 19.50 | 0.49% | 3,964.24 | 4,043.00 | -17.87% | ||
| BRL Brazilian Real | 4.9320 | 0.0515 | 1.06% | 4.8772 | 4.9662 | -6.68% | ||
| GBP British Pound Sterling | 0.7969 | 0.0102 | 1.30% | 0.7859 | 0.7999 | -3.59% | ||
| EUR Euro | 0.9291 | 0.0104 | 1.13% | 0.9176 | 0.9324 | -0.57% | ||
| CHF Swiss Franc | 0.8801 | 0.0109 | 1.25% | 0.8666 | 0.8822 | -4.86% | ||
| CZK Czech Koruna | 22.6506 | 0.3359 | 1.51% | 22.2973 | 22.7354 | 0.37% | ||
| NOK Norwegian Krone | 10.8998 | 0.1948 | 1.82% | 10.6534 | 10.9877 | 11.12% | ||
| SEK Swedish Krona | 10.4671 | 0.0710 | 0.68% | 10.3639 | 10.5195 | 0.29% | ||
| RUB Russian Ruble | 92.16 | 0.93 | 1.02% | 88.87 | 93.56 | 24.96% | ||
| SAR Saudi Riyal | 3.7505 | -0.0009 | -0.02% | 3.7480 | 3.7540 | -0.20% | ||
| AED UAE Dirham | 3.6723 | -0.0001 | 0.00% | 3.6720 | 3.6730 | -0.01% | ||
| INR Indian Rupee | 83.44 | 0.26 | 0.31% | 83.19 | 83.74 | 0.83% | ||
| THB Thai Baht | 35.55 | 0.66 | 1.89% | 34.67 | 35.61 | 2.69% | ||
| SGD Singapore Dollar | 1.3421 | 0.0086 | 0.64% | 1.3319 | 1.3435 | 0.09% | ||
| MYR Malaysian Ringgit | 4.6650 | -0.0080 | -0.17% | 4.6530 | 4.6780 | 5.90% | ||
| CNH Chinese Yuan | 7.1855 | 0.0613 | 0.86% | 7.1219 | 7.1897 | 3.81% | ||
| HKD Hong Kong Dollar | 7.8094 | -0.0052 | -0.07% | 7.8076 | 7.8222 | 0.04% | ||
| KRW South Korean Won | 1,317.80 | 22.94 | 1.77% | 1,294.00 | 1,327.42 | 4.43% | ||
| JPY Japanese Yen | 144.95 | -1.86 | -1.27% | 141.74 | 147.50 | 10.55% | ||
| AUD Australian Dollar | 1.5195 | 0.0211 | 1.41% | 1.4943 | 1.5326 | 3.71% | ||
| NZD New Zealand Dollar | 1.6332 | 0.0232 | 1.44% | 1.6069 | 1.6385 | 3.71% |
* Rates are quoted as the amount of local currency to buy 1 US Dollar.
Commodities
- Average US Regular Gas Price – decreased 5.1 cents or -1.55% this week to $3.238 a gallon. See more about US Regular Gas Prices.
- EIA Crude Oil Inventories – decreased by 4.6M barrels last week compared to prior week increase of 1.6M
- EIA Natural Gas Inventories – decreased 117 bcf last week compared to prior week increase of 10 bcf (billion cubic feet)
| Commodity | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2,014.50 | -75.20 | -3.60% | 2,010.60 | 2,152.30 | 10.31% | ||
| Silver | 23.28 | -2.58 | -9.98% | 23.25 | 26.34 | -3.18% | ||
| Platinum | 919.80 | -16.30 | -1.74% | 890.00 | 949.60 | -15.06% | ||
| Palladium | 951.60 | -58.80 | -5.82% | 926.50 | 1,021.00 | -47.07% |
| Commodity | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Oil | 71.23 | -2.84 | -3.83% | 68.80 | 75.03 | -11.25% | ||
| Natural Gas | 2.5810 | -0.2330 | -8.28% | 2.4890 | 2.7860 | -37.11% | ||
| Gasoline | 2.0498 | -0.0713 | -3.36% | 1.9980 | 2.1662 | -17.29% |
| Commodity | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber | 530.50 | 5.00 | 0.95% | 520.50 | 535.50 | 41.96% | ||
| Steel (HRC) | 1,070.00 | 31.00 | 2.98% | 1,028.00 | 1,080.00 | 43.82% | ||
| Copper | 3.8305 | -0.1010 | -2.57% | 3.7290 | 3.9265 | 0.52% |
| Commodity | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 4.8550 | 0.0075 | 0.15% | 4.8125 | 4.9375 | -28.45% | ||
| Wheat | 6.3175 | 0.2900 | 4.81% | 6.0025 | 6.4950 | -20.23% | ||
| Soybeans | 13.0400 | -0.2100 | -1.58% | 12.9200 | 13.3075 | -14.44% | ||
| Coffee | 1.7715 | -0.0720 | -3.91% | 1.7505 | 1.8570 | 5.89% | ||
| Sugar | 0.2336 | -0.0173 | -6.90% | 0.2280 | 0.2598 | 16.57% | ||
| Cocoa | 4,271.00 | 70.00 | 1.67% | 4,098.00 | 4,291.00 | 64.27% | ||
| Cotton | 0.8144 | 0.0202 | 2.54% | 0.7859 | 0.8313 | -2.31% |
| Commodity | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 1.6573 | -0.0340 | -2.01% | 1.6240 | 1.7000 | 4.96% | ||
| Lean Hogs | 0.6898 | -0.0113 | -1.60% | 0.6725 | 0.7193 | -21.35% | ||
| Feeder Cattle | 2.1530 | 0.0088 | 0.41% | 2.0915 | 2.1740 | 17.20% |
Interest Rates
- Federal Funds Effective Rate – has remained the same this week at 5.33% with the target rate rage increasing to 5.25-5.50% since the July 26th, 2023 increase of 25 basis points. See more about the Federal Funds Rate.
- 30 Year Average US Mortgage Rates – decreased this week to 7.03% from 7.22% last week. Learn more about 30 year mortgage rates.
- MBA Mortgage Applications Index – increased by 2.8% this week compared to the prior week increase of 0.3%
| Maturity | Week Close | Week Change | Low | Week Range | High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 1 Month | 5.388% | 0.000% | 5.355% | 5.412% | ||
| US 3 Month | 5.380% | 0.000% | 5.356% | 5.456% | ||
| US 1 Year | 5.118% | 0.079% | 5.027% | 5.142% | ||
| US 5 Year | 4.243% | 0.109% | 4.100% | 4.280% | ||
| US 10 Year | 4.230% | 0.030% | 4.102% | 4.298% | ||
| US 30 Year | 4.306% | -0.080% | 4.208% | 4.464% |
Cryptocurrencies
- Total Crypto Market Cap – increased 13.32% or 194.0B this week to 1,650B
| Rank* | Crypto | Week Close | Week Change | Change % | Low | Week Range | High | YTD Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTC | 44,199.33 | 5,541.27 | 14.33% | 38,641.63 | 44,614.01 | 167.11% | ||
| 2 | ETH | 2,365.79 | 277.65 | 13.30% | 2,091.15 | 2,391.08 | 97.68% | ||
| 3 | BNB | 239.07 | 10.46 | 4.57% | 226.58 | 239.79 | -2.96% | ||
| 4 | XRP | 0.6732 | 0.0600 | 9.79% | 0.6088 | 0.6739 | 98.07% | ||
| 5 | SOL | 74.75 | 14.98 | 25.06% | 59.24 | 74.98 | 650.54% | ||
| 6 | ADA | 0.5462 | 0.1621 | 42.21% | 0.3832 | 0.5658 | 121.59% | ||
| 7 | DOGE | 0.1015 | 0.0177 | 21.14% | 0.0835 | 0.1053 | 44.46% | ||
| 8 | AVAX | 30.69 | 8.83 | 40.38% | 21.30 | 30.69 | 181.58% | ||
| 9 | TRX | 0.1069 | 0.0033 | 3.22% | 0.1026 | 0.1074 | 96.08% | ||
| 10 | MATIC | 0.9056 | 0.1071 | 13.41% | 0.7853 | 0.9098 | 19.40% |
* Rank is based on market cap of non-stablecoins.
Fascinating Stats
US National Debt
The US National Debt decreased 31.1 billion (Wednesday, November 29th to Wednesday, December 6th), to a total debt of $33,818,111,305,391.33 according to the Treasury Department. The National Debt Ceiling of 31.381 trillion has been suspended as of June 1st, 2023 until January 1st, 2025. See the Debt to the Penny.
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276.3
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305.6
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253.2
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532.2
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179.1
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-60.6
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| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Chart data updated through October 11th, 2023
Space Weather – Solar Sunspots
The number of solar Sunspots (magnetic storms on the surface of the sun facing Earth) has decreased this week to 121 from 138 last week, the sun has had 0 spotless days in 2023. We are about 2 years into a 5 year solar cycle known as Solar Maximum where sunspots are in constant very high numbers. See more about Sunspots and space weather.
Exoplanet Discoveries
NASA has cataloged 7 new exoplanets this week, the total has increased to 5,557 confirmed and catalogued Exoplanets across 4,270 confirmed Planetary Systems. 316 Exoplanets have been confirmed this year so far and there are 10,028 Exoplanet Candidates being evaluated for confirmation. Learn about all of the Exoplanets from NASA’s Exoplanet Catalog.