Quantitative Easing: Why We Love the Taper | Investor Beat 8/21/13 | The Motley Fool | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The market fluctuates due to uncertainty around the Fed's tapering of stimulus, while retailers experience mixed performance in July.

Key Insights

• 🌱 The market is uncertain due to the Fed's tapering plans and the overall direction of the economy.
• 😃 Consumers are becoming more selective in their purchases, leading to struggles for big box retailers.
• 👪 The recovering housing market has benefited home improvement companies like Lowe's.

Transcript

QE is coming to an end eventually investor beat starts now thanks for watching I'm Allison Southwick the market was up and down today amidst the release of the fed's July minutes and the threat of imminent tapering of stimulus we heard more good news though in the housing sector as existing home sales were up a solid 6.5% in July the highest since ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the release of the Fed's July minutes impact the market?

The minutes created more uncertainty, as experts are unsure about the timing of tapering and the overall direction of the economy. This uncertainty has contributed to market fluctuations.

Q: Are consumers becoming more selective in their purchases, affecting big box retailers?

Yes, consumers are gravitating towards more specific brands and are not as inclined to shop at traditional big box retailers like Target and Staples. These retailers are struggling as a result.

Q: How is the housing market influencing the retail industry?

The recovering housing market has positively impacted retailers like Lowe's, as more people are buying homes and renovating. Home improvement companies like Lowe's have seen increased sales as a result.

Q: Why did PetSmart experience a market sell-off despite strong earnings?

Although PetSmart had a solid earnings report, concerns about a slowdown in same-store sales and the possibility of not meeting third-quarter expectations led to a negative market reaction.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Existing home sales in July were up 6.5%, the highest since 2009, bringing positive news for the housing sector.

• The release of the Fed's July minutes added to market uncertainty, as experts are unsure about the timing of tapering.

• Big box retailers like Target and Staples are struggling due to consumers becoming more selective in their purchases.

• Lowe's, on the other hand, saw a 26% increase in second-quarter earnings as the recovering housing market trumped the retail industry.

• PetSmart reported solid earnings, but a slowdown in same-store sales and concerns about meeting third-quarter expectations led to a market sell-off.