Liferep.net

August 20, 2015

// August 20th, 2015 // Daily News

Wall Street set to sell off as oil approaches $40

CNBC.com

U.S. stock index futures indicated a sharply lower open on Thursday, with Dow futures down as much as 160 points, as oil prices extended losses and investors digested Wednesday’s Fed minutes and more volatility in Chinese markets.
Wednesday’s Fed minutes left the markets wanting, with enough nuance to keep Wall Street divided over whether the first rate hike comes in September or later.
That means the scrutiny of each piece of data, and particularly job-related or inflation data, will be intense.
In oil markets, Brent crude traded at just under $47, down more than 1 percent, while U.S. crude hovered just above $40 a barrel, recovering from a fresh six-and-a-half-year low.
Traders were also keeping an eye on a range of U.S. jobs data and China’s continuing rollercoaster ride, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite closing 3.4 percent lower, down 128.53 points.
Thursday will see initial claims data released at 8:30 a.m. ET, with existing home sales, the Philadelphia Fed survey and leading indicators all released at 10 a.m. ET.
The Philly Fed survey will be key, after the Empire State survey earlier in the week plunged to a 2009 low.
On the earnings front, Madison Square Garden, Sears Holdings and The Buckle are all expected before the bell.
Sears lost an adjusted 67 cents per share for its latest quarter, smaller than the loss of $2.50 estimated by the lone analyst providing an estimate. Profit margins improved at both the Sears and Kmart chains, but same-store sales declined.
Walt Disney—Bernstein downgraded Disney to “market perform” from “outperform,” saying valuations for media stocks need to be adjusted because of an increased risk premium regarding affiliate fees.
In Europe, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 1.3 percent lower, with investors taking in the latest Fed minutes and concerns over Chinese growth continuing.

Today’s Inspiration

Growing Into Maturity

by Joyce Meyer – posted August 20, 2015

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
– 2 Corinthians 4:18

Even though Paul went through tremendous trials and tribulations, he did not become discouraged because he looked not to what was seen, but to what was unseen. We need to follow his example. Instead of looking at what we see around us, we need to look at what the Holy Spirit is doing.

He will lead us to focus on God’s answers instead of our problems. Two people can read the Word and the person with carnal, fleshly ears will hear it differently than a person with spiritual ears. For example, 3 John 2 says, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.

Less mature, carnal Christians (still lured by physical pleasures and appetites) may get excited about the promise of prosperity and healing, because that is all they hear in this verse. They think, Wow! Praise God! He wants us to prosper and be in health!

But mature believers that are sensitive to God’s holy intent for their lives will also hear the part of the verse that says, “even as…your soul keeps well and prospers.” They hear with understanding that God is going to give them prosperity and healing in correlation with how their souls are prospering. Pray that you will have ears to truly hear what God is saying and that you will grow progressively into maturity as you continue to walk with God.