Having now plunged for three straight months, Markit's PMI surveys for Manufacturing and Services plunged back below pre-election lows in April, crushing the dreams of 'soft' survey hopers as Markit notes the latest data "suggest the US economy lost further momentum at the start of the second quarter."
The Composite flash PMI for April printed 52.7 - the lowest since September 2016.
What happens next?
France holds the first round of its Presidential election this weekend.
The big worry for the markets is the fact that anti-Euro candidate Marin Le Pen could potentially win.
Now, the polls show Le Pen as having NO chance of becoming Prime Minister.
Of course, the polls also showed that BREXIT would not happen and Hillary Clinton had a 98% of becoming President.
We all know how those turned out.
Silver, Platinum and Palladium as Safe Haven Investments
Global markets were oddly calm on Friday, the last day of trading before the first round of France's closely fought presidential election, with European stocks posting modest declines ahead of Sunday's main event, Asian shares rising, and set for first weekly gain in the past month, while U.S. futures were unchanged. French bond yields hit three-months low even as the euro has seen some recent weakness.
Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones has a message for Janet Yellen and investors: Be very afraid.
Echoing a number of recent high profile managers' warnings...
Guggenheim Partner’s Scott Minerd said he expected a "significant correction" this summer or early fall, citing as potential triggers President Donald Trump’s struggle to enact policies, including a tax overhaul, as well as geopolitical risks.