The big government monthly job report says the economy added 156,000 new jobs in December.  The private sector added 144,000 of those jobs – the balance were new government additions.  Unemployment rate is 4.7%. (Labor Dept.)

Employers cut 33,627 jobs in December in the US, up 25% from November's low.  Layoffs this December was up 42% from last year, which was the lowest monthly total in over 15 years. In 2016, companies posted 526,915 job cuts, down 12% from 2015. The top 5 job-cutting sectors of 2016 – energy, computer, retail, industrial goods, and financial. Texas, California, Arkansas, New York, and Illinois were the hardest states hit by layoffs. (Challenger, Gray & Christmas)

Stanley Black & Decker is buying Sears Craftsman tool brand for $900 million. Sears will continue to offer Craftsman-branded products through a perpetual license from Stanley Black & Decker. Stanley Black & Decker expects Craftsman to generate about $100 million of for the next 10 years. (Reuters)

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With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.