0DTE Options Primer (3 ETF Plays)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Primer (and Potential Plays) on 0DTE Options
  • September Flash PMI Takeaways
  • Chart: The Rally in the “Rest of the Market” Is Losing Momentum

U.S. stock futures are tracking most global equity markets higher after the People’s Bank of China announced new stimulus measures to support economic growth overnight.

The PBOC cut a key policy interest rate, reduced bank reserve requirements, and injected more than $100B into the financial system sending Chinese stocks higher by 4%+.

Today, there are three economic reports to watch: Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 5.9%), FHFA House Price Index m/m (E: -0.1%), and Consumer Confidence (E: 103.0). After last week’s 50 bp rate cut from the Fed, investors are looking for stable and solid economic data so the risk to markets is underwhelming data this morning.

There is one Fed speaker today: Bowman at 9:00 a.m. ET and investors are increasingly hopeful the FOMC will cut rates by 50 bp again in November in order to pull off a soft landing so any pushback on that idea from Bowman could weigh on risk assets.

Finally, there is a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Strong demand (lower yields) will be supportive of a continued rally in stocks while a weak auction (higher yields) could also weigh on equity markets this afternoon.

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Understanding Why the Fed Cut 50 bps

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Understanding Why the Fed Cut 50 bps
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Momentum Keep Pushing Markets Higher?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Focus Turns Back to Growth

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend of news and despite soft economic data overnight.

Economically, the EU flash PMIs were weaker than expected as manufacturing declined to 44.8 vs. (E) 45.7 while services nearly broke 50 (falling to 50.5 vs. (E) 52.3).

Geopolitically, Israeli strikes against Hezbollah continued but for now, markets are ignoring the escalation.

Today brings the two most important economic reports of the week vis the Flash Manufacturing PMI (E: 48.5) and Flash Services PMI (E: 55.3).  Numbers that meet or modestly exceed estimates should keep last week’s rally going while very disappointing readings will modestly increase growth concerns.

There are also several Fed speakers today including Bostic (8:00 a.m. ET), Goolsbee (10:15 a.m. ET) and Kashkari (1:00 p.m. ET).

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Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (Updated)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Hard Landing/Soft Landing Scoreboard (Updated)
  • Post Fed Technical Takeaways

Futures are modestly lower on disappointing earnings results and as markets digest Thursday’s big rally.

Fed Ex (FDX) missed earnings, cut guidance and voiced concern about economic growth and that negative print is contributing to the decline in futures.

The Bank of Japan kept rates unchanged (as expected) and didn’t provide a hawkish surprise, although the BOJ is expected to hike rates again between now and year-end.

Today there are no notable economic reports and just one Fed speaker (Harker (2:00 p.m. ET)) and given that lack of catalysts we’d expect some continued digestion of Thursday’s big rally.

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What the Fed Decision Means for Markets (Near Term vs. Longer Term)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets (Near Term vs. Longer Term)

Futures are sharply higher (up nearly 2%) as the Fed’s rate cut sparked a large global stock market rally (most major global indices are 1% – 2% higher).

Economically, there were no notable reports overnight.

Geopolitically, concerns are rising about a direct Israel/Hezbollah war, although investors are ignoring those increased risks, for now.

Today will be another busy day as there are two prominent central bank meetings and important economic data.  First, there is a BOE Rate Decision (E: No change) this morning but, more importantly, there’s a Bank of Japan rate decision late tonight.  The BOJ isn’t expected to raise rates but if they do (like in July) that could inject volatility into the markets (like it did in July).

Economically, there are two especially notable reports today, Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and Philly Fed (E: 2.0), while we also get Existing Home Sales (E: 3.90 million) and Leading Indicators (E: -0.3%).  With the Fed now having cut 50 bps, the stronger the data, the better, as it’ll increase soft landing expectations.

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Fed-Day Technical Tear Sheet (Negative Divergence from Fundamentals)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Fed-Day Technical Tear-Sheet: Market Technicals Are Diverging Negatively from Still Optimistic Fundamentals
  • Economic Takeaways: Retail Sales and Industrial Production Top Estimates

Stock futures are trading tentatively higher as investors digest mostly as-expected inflation data out of Europe overnight and look ahead to today’s Fed decision.

Economically, Eurozone CPI met estimates at 2.2% y/y in August while the Core figure was also as-expected at an unchanged 2.8% y/y last month.

Today, focus will be on the one notable economic data point due to be released: Housing Starts (1.300M) but it is unlikely to materially move markets with the Fed decision looming this afternoon.

The FOMC Announcement will hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. The consensus expectation is a 25 bp rate cut will be delivered but market-based policy rate expectations are pricing in a 65% chance of a 50 bp rate cut as of this morning.

Bottom line, whether the Fed delivers a 25 bp or 50 bp rate cut today is less important than the guidance provided on future cuts as the market wants to see the framework laid out for a fairly aggressive rate cutting path in the months ahead to shore up soft-landing hopes. So projections and Powell’s speech will be critical for the market reaction late in the session.

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FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Empire State Manufacturing Index Takeaways
  • Chart: Equal-Weighted S&P 500 Index Hits Fresh Record

Futures are rallying ahead of key data on U.S. consumer spending as rates markets continue to price in better odds of a 50 bp rate cut from the Fed ahead of tomorrow’s FOMC decision.

Economically, the German ZEW Survey disappointed overnight with Economic Sentiment plunging more than 15 points to 3.6 vs. (E) 17.5.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: -0.3%) being the most important release to watch, but Industrial Production (E: 0.1%), and the latest Housing Market Index (E: 40) will also be closely monitored.

There is one Fed official on the calendar to speak today: Logan (10:00 a.m. ET), but her remarks have been pre-recorded and therefore should not move markets with the September FOMC meeting getting underway this morning.

Finally, there is a 20-Yr Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that should not materially impact markets unless there is a significant discrepancy between the when-issued yield and yield-awarded that shows weak demand (higher yields), as a subsequent rise in yields could pour some cold water on the so-far-dovish money flows ahead of the Fed decision.

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How to Explain This Market To Clients (September Update)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How to Explain This Market To Clients (September Update)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Two Key Central Bank Decisions (Fed on Wednesday, BOJ on Thursday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Updates This Week

Futures are little changed despite more negative Chinese economic data as investors look ahead to the Fed decision on Wednesday.

August Chinese economic data disappointed as Industrial Production (4.5% vs. (E) 4.7% and Retail Sales (2.1% vs. (E) 2.7%) both missed estimates, raising more concerns about Chinese growth (and global growth more broadly).

Politically, there was another assassination attempt on Trump, although the event shouldn’t alter the current race.

This week will be both busy and important for this rally, but it starts slowly as the only notable number today is the September Empire Manufacturing Index (-4.1).  An in-line to slightly better than expected number would be the best-case scenario for markets today.

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September Market Multiple Table Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • September Market Multiple Table Chart

Futures are slightly higher despite more underwhelming tech company guidance.

Adobe (ADBE) posted solid results but disappointing guidance (like many tech firms recently) and the stock is down 8% pre-market, but that’s not impacting the broader averages like other recent disappointing tech guidance.

Economically, Euro Zone Industrial Production slightly missed estimates although that’s not moving markets.

Today focus will be on inflation expectations in the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and expectations are:  1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 2.8%, 5-Yr. Inflation Expectations: 3.0%.  If we see better than expected numbers, that should further fuel the “dovish” rally that pushed stocks higher on Thursday.

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What CPI Means for Markets (Fed Further Behind Curve?)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What CPI Means for Markets (Fed Further Behind Curve?)

Futures are modestly higher mostly on momentum from Wednesday’s impressive reversal and following encouraging Japanese inflation data.

Economically, the only notable number overnight was Japanese PPI and it rose 2.5% vs. (E) 2.8%. That may take some pressure off the BOJ to hike rates and also weigh on the yen and the Nikkei rose 3% in response.

Today the focus will remain on economic data and rate cuts via the ECB Rate Decision first (E: 25 bps cut) and later Jobless Claims (E: 230K) and PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 1.8% y/y).  If data can meet expectations and the ECB cuts rates and signals more cuts coming, yesterday’s rally can (and likely will) continue.

There are also two notable earnings reports today via Kroger (KR $0.91) and Adobe (ADBE $4.53).  KR will give us insight into consumer spending (especially on essentials) while ADBE will be the latest tech company to post results (and the stronger the guidance, the better for the broader tech sector).

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Is Oil’s Collapse an Anecdotal Warning Sign?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • More Problems With Expectations (This Time Companies)
  • Is Oil’s Collapse an Anecdotal Warning Sign?

Futures are tracking most overseas equity markets lower as investors assess global growth concerns and look ahead to today’s critical U.S. inflation data.

Economically, U.K. data was weak as monthly GDP fell to 0.5% vs. (E) 0.6%, Industrial Production was down -0.8% vs. (E) +0.2% and monthly trade data showed both imports and exports slowed -4.6% and -10.8%, respectively in July.

Looking ahead to today’s session, the most important potential market catalyst is U.S. inflation data: CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y). A “cool” CPI report should bolster hopes for a 50 bp rate cut next week, and in turn, support stocks while a “hot” print could pour cold water on this week’s tentative rebound in equity markets.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today however there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could shed additional light on investor expectations for inflation, growth, and Fed policy going forward. A weak auction outcome would be negative for stocks while solid demand for the 10-Yr Notes should support a continuation of this week’s rally.

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