Technical Update (Ahead of Jobs Report)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Technical Update (Ahead of Jobs Report)
  • Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis (Will Oil Keep Falling?)

Futures are sharply lower on more disappointing AI related tech earnings and ahead of today’s jobs report.

Broadcom (AVGO) posted disappointing guidance and became the latest AI related tech company to produce underwhelming results and that’s weighing on futures.

Economic, data was mildly disappointing overnight as German IP missed estimates while EU GDP was revised lower.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows:  Job Adds (160k), Unemployment Rate (4.2%), Wages (0.3% m/m, 3.7% y/y).  The mood in the markets has soured this week and investors are nervous about a disappointing jobs number. If that happens, look for an intense decline in stocks as hard landing chances rise.  However, if the report is “Just Right” a solid relief rally (S&P 500 up 1% or more) should materialize, especially if the Fed speakers today point to a 50-bps cut.

In addition to the jobs report, as mentioned, there are two important Fed speakers today:  Williams (8:45 a.m. ET) and Waller (11:00 a.m. ET).  If they hint at a 50-bps cut, that will help support markets regardless of the jobs report.

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Jobs Report Preview (A Significant Change)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (A Significant Change)

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news and ahead of more important economic reports.

On earnings, HPE became the latest tech company to post solid but “not as good as hoped for” earnings (the stock is down 3% pre-market).

Economically, the only notable report beat estimates as German Manufacturers’ Orders rose 2.9% vs. (E) 1.8%.

Today focus will remain on economic data and the key reports are (in order of importance):  ADP Employment Report (E: 140K), Jobless Claims (E: 230K), ISM Services PMI (E: 51.1) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 0.8%).   From a market reaction standpoint, bad data is now bad for the markets (given growth concerns), so the stronger these numbers, the better for stocks.

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Revisiting the Yield Curve

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped
  • Another Month, Another VIX Squeeze
  • Revisiting the Yield Curve Reversion
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways

Stock futures are lower again this morning as global equity markets sold off overnight following the tech-led declines in the U.S. yesterday amid mixed economic data overseas.

Economically, China’s Composite PMI was unchanged at 51.2 in August but the Services Index fell to 51.6 vs. (E) 52.1 while the EU Composite PMI rose to 51.0 vs. (E) 51.2.

Looking into today’s session, there are several economic reports due to be released including: JOLTS (E: 8.1 million), Factory Orders (E: 4.6%), and Monthly Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 15.4 million).

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today however a few late season earnings reports are due out including: DLTR (E: $1.03) and HPE (E: $0.47) which could have an impact on markets today.

Bottom line, markets began September with heavy selling pressure and broad risk-off money flows yesterday, and for stocks to stabilize here investors will need to see support at 5,500 in the S&P 500 hold today, otherwise more downside is likely ahead of the jobs report Friday.

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Why This Market Is So Resilient (Again)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why This Market Is So Resilient (Again)
  • Weekly Economic Preview – Labor Market Data in Focus

Futures are lower in sympathy with most global equity markets this morning as investors digest fresh economic data at the start of a historically volatile calendar month.

The Eurozone Manufacturing PMI was better than feared at 45.8 vs. (E) 45.6, but the sub-50 reading reminded investors the global factory sector remains deep in contraction and growth risks remain elevated.

Looking into today’s session, there are no Fed speakers on the calendar but there is one potentially market-moving economic report to start the week: the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.8). Investors will want to see evidence of stabilization in the factory sector and easing price pressures in the details of the report, otherwise growth concerns could result in renewed volatility.

There are no other major potential catalysts today, however, the Treasury will hold 3-Month and 6-Month Bill auctions at 11:30 a.m. ET and the yields awarded could shed new light on Fed policy plans in the months ahead, and in turn, impact equity markets (higher yields would weigh on stocks and other risk assets).

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The Rotation Out of Tech Continues

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Rotation Out of Tech Continues

Futures are modestly higher thanks to solid tech earnings and better than expected inflation data from Europe.

DELL and MRVL, both AI linked tech companies, posted solid earnings and guidance and that’s supporting futures.

Economically, EU HICP (their CPI) declined further to 2.8% y/y vs. (E) 2.9%, giving the ECB more room to cut rates.

Today is typically a quiet day in the markets as traders try to get a head start on the three-day weekend, but there is an important inflation report this morning:  The Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.7% y/y).  If that report is better than expected, it’ll boost expectations for a 50-bps rate cut in September (positive for stocks) while a higher-than-expected number will push back against a 50-bps cut (negative for stocks).

Other data today includes the Chicago PMI (E: 46.4) and inflation expectations in University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 2.9%, 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations: 3.0%) but barring major surprises, neither of those numbers should move markets.

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Is Market Momentum Faltering?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is Market Momentum Faltering?
  • Oil Outlook Updated

Futures are slightly higher as better than expected EU inflation metrics offset slightly underwhelming NVDA earnings.

Spanish and German regional CPIs declined more than expected and that’s increasing ECB rate cut expectations and reminding investors of the global rate cutting cycle.

With NVDA results behind us, focus turns back to data and the important reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 232K), Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) and Final Q2 GDP (E: 2.8% y/y saar).  Of the three, jobless claims are most likely to move markets as a jump in claims will slightly increase hard landing worries, while a drop will further reinforce soft landing expectations.  There is also one Fed speaker today, Bostic (3:30 p.m. ET), but unless he says he supports a 50 bps cut, he’s unlikely to move markets.

Turning to earnings, NVDA was the highlight of the week but there are still several important reports today that will give us important insight on tech and consumer spending.  Notable reports today include: DELL (E: $1.68), MRVL (E: $0.30), BBY (E: $1.15), DG (E: $1.79), , LULU (E: $2.93),  ULTA (E: $5.49).

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Renewed Rotation Risks (Smart Money Is Getting Defensive)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Recent Sector Performance Points to Smart Money Getting Defensive
  • Chart – 10Y-2Y Yield Curve Spread Revisits the Zero-Bound

U.S. equity futures are slightly higher after a mostly quiet night of news as traders look ahead to NVDA earnings.

There was no economic data overnight but the BOJ’s Deputy Governor, Himino, reiterated that policy makers would continue raising rates with the “utmost vigilance,” which supported a modest bid in equity markets and other risk assets overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker after the close: Bostic (6:00 p.m. ET).

There is a 5-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and given the strong performance in the belly of the duration curve since the start of August, traders will be looking for demand to remain solid to confirm the recent drop in yields is sustainable.

Finally, likely the biggest catalyst of the week will come after the close today with NVDA earnings ($0.65) due shortly after the bell. Other notable companies reporting quarterly results today include CRM ($2.35) and HPQ ($0.86) but the main focus will be on NVDA as options traders are pricing in a volatile 10%+ reaction (up or down) to the earnings release and given the stocks heavy weight in the major indexes, a move of that magnitude will have an impact on the broader market in the back half of the week.

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Tech Weakness Amid Bullish Investor Sentiment

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Was Tech So Weak Yesterday?
  • How Bullish Is Investor Sentiment? (Very Bullish)
  • Chart – A Concerning Pattern in the SOX

U.S. stock futures are little changed this morning after a mostly quiet night of news as investors look ahead to NVDA earnings tomorrow.

Economically, German GDP rose to 0.0% vs. (E) -0.1% while the German GfK Consumer Climate Index fell to -22.0 vs. (E) -17.9, both of which are reinforcing growth concerns for the Eurozone right now.

Today, there are multiple economic releases to watch including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 6.9%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 5.7%), Consumer Confidence (E: 100.1), and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -14.0). Most of the releases are “second tiered” and lesser followed reports but investors will still want to see evidence of stabilizing growth and disinflation trends continuing.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could shed light on investor expectations for Fed policy in the months ahead in the wake of Powell’s Jackson Hole commentary. An auction with demand that is “too strong” could rekindle recession fears while an auction that is “too weak” could trigger hawkish money flows.

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What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Powell and Uedas’ Friday Comments Mean for Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview:  A Big Week for Tech Earnings (Including NVDA on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  A Most Quiet Week But Thursday/Friday Are Important

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend, thanks to momentum from Friday’s rally as investors digest Powell’s promise of coming rate cuts.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was the German Ifo Business Expectations and it slightly beat estimates (86.8 vs. (E) 86.5).

Geopolitically, a cease fire was not reached this weekend between Israel and Hamas although investors remain optimistic that a deal is close.

Today the only notable economic report is July Durable Goods (E: 4.0%) and markets will want to see stability in the data (so close to expectations) to ensure the recent plateau in business spending isn’t becoming a decline.  If Durable Goods is in-line, expect a continuation of the early rally.

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Powell Speech Preview (What’s Expected, Dovish If, Hawkish If Scenarios)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Powell Speech Preview (What’s Expected, Dovish If, Hawkish If Scenarios)

Futures are solidly higher ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s speech thanks to not hawkish commentary from BOJ Governor Ueda.

Ueda stated that rates would continue higher but that increases would be data dependent and in conjunction with monitoring market conditions (meaning the yen spike from last month won’t be repeated, which is a good thing).

Economically, Japanese CPI rose 2.7% y/y, as expected and that’s further reducing hawkish BOJ concerns.

Today focus will be on Fed Chair Powell’s speech (10:00 a.m. ET) and as long as he removes any lingering doubts about a September rate cut, this rally can continue.

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