Charts & Chat - March 8, 2026

This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses:

1. surprising weak job report; weaker healthcare employment, lower participation, manufacturing employment, productivity higher, unit labor costs in check

2. ISM services sector looking better - orders, employment, order backlog - although Fed's survey of conditions remains sluggish

3. metals prices higher - possible rotation from resources consuming areas of the market (tech) to resources producing (energy, materials)

4. energy price impact of Iran conflict - supply constraints from Strait of Hormuz, shipping prices, higher gasoline prices and low strategic oil reserves

5. potential oil price shocks on inflation and economic growth

6. yield curve shifts up last week, decreased probabilities of short term rate changes - conundrum of lower employment coupled with higher possible inflation