Updated Market Outlook (Post Earnings, Trade Truce and Fed Decision)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Market Outlook (Post Earnings, Trade Truce and Fed Decision)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will the Shutdown End This Week? (If Not, Possible Market Headwind)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  ISM PMIs and ADP Are Important This Week

Futures are solidly higher mostly on momentum following a generally quiet weekend of news.

There was no disruptive news over the weekend so investors focused on the results of last week:  1) Continued AI Enthusiasm, 2) Trade truce and 3) Fed rate cut/end of QT.

Economically, EU and UK manufacturing PMIs met expectations (50 and 49.7 respectively).

Today we do get some potentially important economic data via the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 49.4) and markets will want to see stability (so not falling too far from 50).  On the Fed front, there are two speakers today, Daly (12:00 p.m. ET) and Cook (2:00 p.m. ET) and the more dovish their commentary, the better for markets (given recent uncertainty around a December rate cut).

Finally, on the earnings front, ON ($0.59), PLTR ($0.12) and two moderately important AI linked tech companies, so markets will want to see solid results from both.

 

Five Concerning Market Breadth Developments

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Five Concerning Market Breadth Developments

Futures are modestly higher thanks to better than expected tech earnings.

APPL and AMZN both beat estimates and the stocks are rallying 2% and 12% respectively pre-market and pushing futures higher.

Economically, Chinese PMIs were mixed as the manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (49 vs. (E) 49.6).

There are no economic reports today but there are two Fed speakers, Logan (9:30 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET) and given Powell’s hawkish surprise earlier in the week, markets will want to hear a dovish tone from both.

On earnings, the heart of the season is now over but there are still some notable reports today including: XOM ($1.78), CVX ($1.66) and ABBV ($1.77).

Finally, with President Trump back in the U.S., focus will shift to the government shutdown and any chatter about a resolution will be a mild market positive.

 

Bullish Argument

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Did the Fed Just Weaken the Bullish Argument?

Futures are slightly lower following a busy night of news, as major tech earnings were mixed while the Trump/Xi summit met widely held expectations.

On earnings, META, MSFT and GOOGL posted mixed results.  GOOGL beat earnings and the stock is up 8% pre-market while META and MSFT slightly underwhelmed.

Geopolitically, the Trump/Xi summit resulted in expected tariff reduction, soybean purchases and rare earth exports but didn’t contain any surprisingly positive breakthroughs.

Today focus will be on earnings with the last of the major tech firms reporting, including AAPL ($1.73), AMZN ($1.58) and, on the consumer spending front, MA ($4.31).

 

Fed Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Abbreviated FOMC Preview
  • Housing Data Takeaways

Futures are trading at all-time highs ahead of the Fed decision and multiple Mag-7 earnings releases due out after the close as President Trump made optimistic remarks about his three-hour meeting with President Xi tomorrow.

Economically, Australian CPI jumped to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.0%, up 1.1% from Q2’s reading of 2.1%.

Today, there are a few “second-tiered” economic reports due to be released including International Trade in Goods (E: $-90.0B), Wholesale inventories (E: -0.2%), and Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) but their market impact should be limited given the looming Fed decision.

It’s Fed Day with the FOMC Meeting Announcement due to hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Aside from the Fed decision, which could have a material impact on markets today despite the looming Trump-Xi meeting tomorrow, we are getting into peak earnings season with quarterly results due from major U.S. companies including VZ ($1.19), BA (-$2.46), CVS ($1.36), CAT ($4.52), META ($6.61), MSFT ($3.65), GOOGL ($2.26), and CMG ($0.28).

 

FOMC Preview: Is a Dovish Surprise Looming?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview – Is a Dovish Surprise Looming?
  • Chart: An End to QT Means More Liquidity, More Stimulus

Futures are flat while most international markets are modestly lower as traders digest the sizeable two-day rally in stocks ahead of the October Fed meeting decision and several Mag-7 earnings releases.

Today, there are a handful of private-sector economic releases to watch including the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 1.9%), the FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.1%), the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -14), and Consumer Confidence (E: 93.4).

With the October FOMC meeting getting underway, expect a growing sense of Fed paralysis in equity markets to begin to take hold, however there is a 7-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and shake up stocks on an intraday basis.

Earnings season continues to peak this week with notable reports today including SOFI ($0.09), UNH ($2.80), PYPL ($1.19), UPS ($1.31), V ($2.97), BKNG ($96.10), and RCL ($5.67).

Bottom line, positive earnings and upbeat economic data would offer equity market tailwinds today with a Fed rate cut all but a certainty tomorrow, however, the trade war situation remains a “wildcard” risk that could spark risk-off money flows into tomorrows FOMC decision.

 

Why the Crypto ETF Floodgates May Open Soon

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Crypto ETF Floodgates May Open Soon
  • Weekly Market Preview: Fed Decision and the Most Important Week of Earnings
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Does Data Stay Goldilocks?

Futures are moderately higher on trade optimism following positive comments on U.S./China trade negotiations.

Treasury Secretary Bessent said U.S./China trade talks went “very well” this weekend, reducing fears of additional tariffs and raising hopes for tariff relief.

Economically, German IFO Businesses Expectations were better than estimates (91.6 vs. (E) 89.4).

Today we do get two economic reports, Durable Goods (E: 0.01%) and New Home Sales (E: 710k) and markets will want to see in-line numbers to keep the Goldilocks data trend in place.

Beyond today, this is a potentially important week that contains a Fed decision (possibility of a dovish surprise) but, more importantly, key Tech/AI earnings and markets need to see a dovish Fed and strong AI earnings to keep the rally going.

Some earnings we’re watching today include: KDP ($0.54), CAR ($8.11), and WHR ($1.41).

An Interesting Chart to Show Clients

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • An Interesting Chart to Show Clients

Futures are little changed despite an underwhelming night of earnings and higher oil prices.

Earning overnight were disappointing, as TSLA, IBM and SAP all missed earnings or cut guidance.

Geo-politically, the U.S. sanctioned Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, causing a 5% spike in oil prices.

Today we do get some economic data via the Chicago Fed (E: -0.12) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.06 million).  Neither report is normally a market mover, but given the lack of other data, the reports have the potential to move markets.  Solid readings (so in line with expectations) that show stable growth will be the best case for stocks.

Earnings season continues and after a very strong start last week, results this week have been much more mixed.  Reports we’re watching today include:  INTC ($-0.12), AAL ($-0.27), FCX ($0.41), HON ($2.56),  NEM ($1.29), F ($0.38),and  TMUS ($2.42).

Are Rare Earth Materials the New AI?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Rare Earth Materials the New AI?
  • Precious Metals Update – Is the Gold Rally Over?

Futures are steady this morning amid a mostly quiet macroeconomic backdrop with tech shares lagging after NFLX (-6.5%) and TXN (-7.7%) missed on earnings after the close yesterday.

Economically, U.K. CPI was unchanged at 3.8% vs. (E) 4.0% y/y in September, further easing global inflation worries.

There are no economic reports today and just one Fed official scheduled to speak later in the day: Barr (4:00 p.m. ET).

The Treasury will hold auctions for 4-Month Bills (11:30 a.m. ET) and 20-Yr Bonds (1:00 p.m. ET) which could impact fixed income markets and subsequently move equities amid an otherwise mostly quiet day today.

Finally, on the earnings front, we will get quarterly results from GEV ($1.78), T ($0.55), TMO ($5.50), TSLA ($0.41), IBM ($2.43), KMI ($0.28), and CME ($2.63) today with TSLA being in the spotlight as the first Mag-7 member to release earnings this season.

 

Are Negative Trade War Headlines a Risk to the Rally?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Are Negative Trade Headlines a Risk to the Rally

Futures are modestly lower amid light profit taking after a mostly quiet night of news as traders await more important earnings releases due out this week.

There were no notable economic reports overnight and no material developments on either the U.S.-China trade front or the government shutdown negotiations.

There are no economic reports today, however the Treasury will hold 4-Week, 6-Week, 8-Week, and 4-Month T-Bill auctions between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. ET. Bill auctions typically do not warrant much attention, but yesterday’s strong short-term Treasury auctions did coincide with a slowdown in the S&P 500’s intraday advance as economic angst seems to be building in the absence of major data recently.

There is one Fed speaker to watch today with next week’s October FOMC meeting coming into view: Waller (9:00 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.) and anything less than the dovish-leaning tone of recent could weigh on stocks.

Finally, earnings season continues with: KO ($0.78), GE ($1.46), LMT ($6.33), MMM ($2.10), NFLX ($6.89), ISRG ($1.99), and COF ($4.20) all due to report today, and investors will want to continue to see net positive surprises on both the top and bottom line to support optimism surrounding strong and resilient corporate financials in H2’25.

 

Should We Really Be Worried About Banks/Credit?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Should We Really Be Worried About Banks/Credit?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Focus Shifts to Earnings (And Tech Earnings Need to Be Strong)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Flash PMIs on Friday the Key Report

Futures are modestly higher on China optimism and as investors look ahead to an important week of earnings.

Chinese GDP beat estimates (1.1% vs. (E) 0.8%) implying that global growth is stable, while a meeting between Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier Lifeng on Friday could lower U.S./China trade tensions.

Politically, there was no substantive progress towards ending the shutdown over the weekend.

Today there is only one economic reading, Leading Indicators (E: 0.01%) but it shouldn’t move markets.

Turning to earnings, there are two notable reports today, CLF ($-0.48) and CCK ($1.98), but the key reports come later this week (NLFX, TSLA and INTC all report this week among other notables).