Macro
Search catalysts, news stories, and pressures, or browse the trust-weighted news feed below.
month values ▾
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.10 | +0.10 | +0.10 | +0.10 | +0.10 | +0.00 | -0.10 | -0.18 | -0.30 | -0.30 | -0.30 | -0.30 |
The August Budget Control Act hung a $500B sequestration sword over the sector, and the Iraq withdrawal and bin Laden's death signaled the War on Terror winding down and the drawdown beginning.
How this mood is scored ▾
U.S., French, and British forces launched cruise missile strikes on Libyan military targets in Operation Odyssey Dawn to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone and protect civilians from Moammar Gadhafi's offensive. The actions signal significant military intervention with potential market volatility in energy and defense sectors due to regional instability and increased defense spending.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen warned that automatic $500 billion defense cuts under the debt-ceiling deal's sequestration would severely harm national security. The Pentagon and military leaders oppose across-the-board reductions, stressing strategic, not arbitrary, cuts are needed to protect military readiness. Markets may face defense sector volatility if sequestration triggers major contract and spending disruptions.