Understanding Why Stocks Hit New Highs

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why Stocks Hit New Highs
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does Goldilocks Growth and Inflation Data Continue?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: September Flash PMIs Tuesday, Core PCE Price Index Friday are Key Reports

Futures are modestly lower as markets digested last week’s new highs following a mostly quiet weekend of news.

Politically, the U.S. government could shut down this Friday and that is weighing slightly on markets, although we don’t view any temporary, partial shutdown as a risk to the rally.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today the only economic report is the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (E: -0.19) and it’s unlikely to move markets, so focus instead will be on the Fed.

There are several Fed speakers today and the most important of them is Williams at 9:45 a.m. ET.  If Williams embraces two additional rate cuts this year, that should help support markets.  More broadly, markets will want to see dovish tones from most Fed speakers going forward, confirming the Fed intends several more rate cuts.  Other Fed speakers today include: Musalem (10:00 a.m. ET), Hammack (12:00 p.m. ET) and Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET).

 

What Would Charles Dow Say About This Market?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would Charles Dow Say About This Market?

Futures are little changed as investors digest Thursday’s new highs and await results of the Trump/Xi phone call.

The BOJ made no change to rates, as expected, but the decision was hawkish as two members voted for a rate hike and that is weighing modestly on Japanese shares.

Economically, data largely met expectations as Japanese CPI, UK Retail Sales and German PPI were in-line with expectations.

Today focus will be on the Trump/Xi phone call (approximately around 9:00 a.m.) and if a broader trade deal with China is announced it’ll be an additional market positive.  Beyond trade headlines, there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker, Daly at 2:30 p.m. ET

 

What the Fed Rate Cut Means for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Rate Cut Means for Markets (A Vote for the Run Hot Economy)

Futures are moderately higher following a mostly quiet night of news as investors digest Wednesday’s rate cut and the prospect of even lower rates in the future.

Economic data underwhelmed overnight as Japanese Machine Orders dropped (–4.6% vs. (E) -3.5%) while Australian employment fell –5,400 vs. (E) 22k.

Today we get a rate decision from the Bank of England (no change is expected) and some notable economic reports: Jobless Claims (E: 246K), Philly Fed (E: 3.0) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.1%).  With the Fed now cutting rates, stable and solid economic data is needed to support a further rally in stocks.  If economic data begins to roll over, however, that will be a new negative for markets because it’ll imply the Fed waited too long to begin to cut.

On the earnings front, some notable reports include:  DRI ($1.99), FDX ($3.65), LEN ($2.12).

 

What Would a “Run Hot Economy” Mean for Markets?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Would a “Run Hot” Economy Mean for Markets?
  • Retail Sales Data Takeaways – Consumer Resilience Persists

Futures are slightly lower ahead of the Fed decision after the Chinese government ordered tech companies to halt purchases of all AI chips from NVDA (-1.5% pre-market).

Economically, Eurozone Core HICP (CPI equivalent) held steady at 2.3% in August, meeting expectations which is helping tamp down worries about a potential resurgence in global inflation pressures.

Looking into today’s session, there is one economic report due to be released this morning: Housing Starts & Permits (E: 1.37M, 1.37M), but barring a big surprise one way or another, the market reaction should be limited as the Fed decision comes into focus.

There is a 4-Month Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET that could prompt a modest to moderate move in short-term Treasuries as traders attempt to gauge the near-term outlook for Fed policy ahead of the FOMC release, but again any market reaction should be limited.

The September FOMC meeting announcement will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET (E: -25 bp rate cut) followed by Fed Chair Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. An as-expected or dovish meeting outcome should support new stock market highs while the biggest risk to the rally is a hawkish surprise that could make for a painful afternoon selloff in the broader equity market.

 

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Chart – The Threshold for “Fed Disappointment” is 75 bp by Yearend
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

Futures are modestly higher this morning thanks to bullish momentum as traders look ahead to the Fed decision.

Economically, Eurozone Industrial Production rose 0.3% vs. (E) 0.5% while the German ZEW Survey’s Current Conditions headline fell to -76.4 vs. (E) -74, however, neither report is materially impacting markets this morning with the Fed decision looming large.

Today, there are multiple important economic reports due to be released including Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.2%, -0.2%), Industrial Production (E: 0.0%), Business Inventories (E: 0.2%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 33).

Additionally, there is one noteworthy earnings release to watch: FERG ($3.01), but with the September FOMC meeting getting underway it is likely that a sense of “Fed paralysis” begins to grip markets as traders position into the decision.

 

September Bitcoin Update and Outlook

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • September Bitcoin Update and Outlook
  • What Yesterday’s CPI Means for Markets

Futures are slightly lower on mixed data and earnings overnight.

ADBE was the latest tech company to post earnings and the results were solid (beat on EPS and revenue and a guidance increase) but concerns about AI sapping demand for software kept gains modest (ADBE is up 3% pre-market).

Economically, data was mixed.  UK Industrial Production badly missed estimates (-1.3% vs. (E) 0.5%) while German CPI and UK Monthly GDP both met expectations.

Today the only notable economic report is University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.0) and focus will be on the inflation expectations.  As long as they don’t move sharply higher, it’ll cap a generally positive week for markets on the inflation front (which has been the main reason stocks are higher this week).

 

How ORCL Earnings Explain the Opportunities and Risks in AI

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How ORCL Earnings Explain the Opportunities and Risks in AI

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet night of news as investors digested the better than expected PPI report and looked ahead to today’s all-important CPI.

Economically, the only notable number was Japanese PPI which was better than expected, rising 2.7% y/y vs. (E ) 2.8% y/y.  Japanese stocks rallied 1% in response.

Today brings the highlight of the week, CPI, and expectations are as follows:  0.3% m/m, 2.9% y/y.  A better-than-expected headline will solidify rate cut expectations and push back on stagflation concerns and that should be a solid market positive.  A “hot” number, however, will put three rate cuts before year-end in doubt and almost certainly pressure stocks.

Other events today include an ECB Rate Decision (E: No Changed), Jobless Claims (E: 234K) and some notable earnings reports:  KR ($1.00), ADBE ($4.21), RH ($3.20).

 

Understanding Where the “Bubble” Is in AI

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Where the “Bubble” Is in AI
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does the Fed Start a New Rate Cutting Cycle?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: Fed is Key, but There’s Important Growth Data This Week, Too

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend and despite negative tech news and economic data from China.

China declared that NVDA had broken anti-monopoly news, escalating existing tech tensions between China and the U.S. (although this move isn’t a total surprise).

Economically, Chinese data underwhelmed as Retail Sales rose 3.4% vs. (E) 3.8% while Industrial Production gained 5.2% vs. (E) 5.6%.

Focus today will be on the first economic reading of September, the Empire Manufacturing Index (4.3) and markets will want to see stability to further push back on slowdown concerns.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • MMT Levels S&P 500 Chart – September Update

Futures are solidly higher this morning thanks to strong tech earnings as traders await key U.S. inflation data.

ORCL shares are surging 30%+ in the pre-market as a measure of future revenue jumped $455B or 359% Y/Y in Q2 thanks to new AI-related cloud contracts.

Economically, Chinese CPI fell -0.4% vs. (E) -0.2% which is helping ease worries about a global resurgence in price pressures due to the trade war.

Today, trader focus will be on inflation data early with the August PPI report due out ahead of the bell (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.3% y/y).

After the open, the Treasury will hold a 4-Month Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and investors will want to see ongoing signs of strong demand for Treasuries to shore up increasingly dovish Fed expectations.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but there is one notable company reporting quarterly results today: CHWY ($0.14).

 

September Market Multiple Table Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Update – What’s Changed Since August?

Futures are slightly higher while overseas equity markets were mixed overnight amid quiet newswires as the global bond rally stalls and investor focus turns to inflation data due later in the week.

Economically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 100.8 vs. (E) 100.5 in August.

There are no additional economic reports in the U.S. today, and no Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

The Treasury will hold a 6-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 3-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, and both have the potential to impact fixed income markets which could reverberate through equity markets (the stronger the demand, the better).

Finally some late season earnings to watch include: SAIL ($0.04), ORCL ($1.15), GME ($0.19), SNPS ($2.76), AVAV ($0.34), however, with the PPI and CPI reports due out tomorrow and Thursday, respectively, markets will more than likely remain quiet today.