U.S. markets swayed this week from fresh data, Wall Street dealings, and life-changing global events...
It's the numbers that count in this crazy world. They can tell stories that words sometimes can't.
Here's a look at some of the most fascinating, infuriating, amusing, depressing, and altogether important numbers that the world has put up on the board recently - and why you need to know them...
7: How many years it's been since the unemployment rate was this low (that is, if you believe the federal government's "official" numbers). Data out Friday morning put unemployment at 5% - the lowest level since 2008. It also showed the U.S. economy added 271,000 jobs in October. That marks the strongest pace of employment growth this year and came in nearly 100,000 jobs above the forecast.
43: The number of restaurants Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) closed in Seattle and Portland, Ore. on Sunday. Health officials reported an E. coli outbreak in those areas might be linked to the chain. About 20 people were infected, with more cases expected. CMG stock is in the toilet, down about 5.5% this week, right along with the infected. But the Chipotle public health scare pales in comparison to these five worst public health scares in U.S. history...
40%: The percentage of the global economy that will now conduct business under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). On Thursday, the White House released the TTP's text for the first time. The controversial agreement is U.S. President Barack Obama's baby, but his own party isn't a fan. Many Dems believe it will result in more jobs overseas, which will hurt labor unions. Meanwhile, many Republicans think the agreement will help the United States take on China. The premise is to open up trade between 12 countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Japan. Noticeably missing is China, the world's second-largest economy. China's economy will take a $266 billion hit from not being included...
0: There will be no Keystone XL pipeline to transport oil from Canada to the Golf Coast. In a press conference on Friday afternoon, U.S. President Barack Obama rejected the Keystone XL proposal. He cited environmental concerns and a political climate that overly hyped the Keystone's usefulness. For all the fiery rhetoric in Washington, the fate of the Keystone pipeline - one way or the other - doesn't actually make much of a difference. Here's what the media isn't saying...
10,000: How many more cars the EPA said it found had Volkswagen AG's (OTCMKTS ADR: VLKAY) emissions-cheating software, after VW admitted to installing the software in 11 million of its cars worldwide. VW is disputing the EPA's new claim, but this doesn't look good for VW's new CEO. He was hired to clean up the scandal. But... he used to be in charge of VW's Porsche unit - the cars in which the EPA alleges it found additional faulty software.
$492.40: Bitcoin reached its high point of the week on Wednesday, a level last seen in September 2014. The digital currency's recent volatility was also apparent - the low point of the week was $310.32, hit on Sunday. Do any yo-yo vendors accept Bitcoin?
$11-$13: Square announced Friday morning it expects its initial public offering to price between $11 and $13 per share. The IPO is expected to raise up to $403.7 million. The Square IPO date is set for Nov. 16, and it's going to create a bigger frenzy than Thanksgiving dinner with your extended family.
9%: The percentage of Twitter Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) employees that newly appointed CEO Jack Dorsey fired in October. On Thursday, USA Today reported the Rev. Jesse Jackson sent a letter to Dorsey sharing his concern that Twitter's layoffs disproportionately affect Hispanics and African-Americans. The news sent Twitter stock down more than 1.8% on the day. The social activist wants Twitter to disclose the number and percentage of underrepresented minorities who lost their jobs in the recent downsizing. Jackson's inquisition is the last thing Twitter needs after its disastrous 2015 Q3 earnings report...
2%: The target rate of inflation U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen told Congress on Wednesday she wants to see in order to increase interest rates. She said such a move is "a live possibility" in the central bank's meeting next month on Dec. 15-16. Yellen indicated a rate hike will follow as a result of the improving labor market, "inflation will move back up to 2%." We wondered how markets might react when the Fed finally does change rates, so we interviewed this expert...
$3.6 billion: How much Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BABA) announced on Friday it will pay to buy Chinese video site Youku Tudou. Youku is known as the "Chinese YouTube" and boasts 580 million users, according to digital marketing company DMR. We're calling this a smart move by BABA Chairman Jack Ma - the acquisition allows his company additional channels to promote its online retail site, online storefronts, and other services. And that's just the beginning...
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