Why Falling Inflation Won’t Help Stocks Anymore

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Falling Inflation Won’t Help Stocks Anymore
  • EIA Analysis and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher thanks to better-than-expected tech earnings and despite mixed economic data.

CSCO posted solid earnings and that’s helping extend the tech sector bounce and boosting futures.

Economically, Chinese and UK data was more mixed than good and point to a modest slowing of global growth.

Economic growth is now the main fundamental driver of this market and today is full of important growth updates including, in order of importance: Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Jobless Claims (E: 234K), Industrial Production (E: -0.1%), Philly Fed (E: 5.8),  Empire Manufacturing (-6.0) and Housing Market Index (E: 42).  In-line to slightly underwhelming economic data will be the “best case” for stocks in the near term as it increases 50 bps rate cut chances but doesn’t imply a dramatic growth slowdown.

There are also two Fed speakers today, Musalem (9:10 a.m. ET) and Harker (1:10 p.m. ET) and officials might start to be more explicit about a rate cut following Wednesday’s CPI (Atlanta Fed President Bostic said he was open to a cut in September overnight).

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Two “Smart Market” Recession Signals to Watch For

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Follow-Up Thoughts on the Yield Curve Reversion Process – Two Signals to Watch For
  • PPI Takeaways – Will Falling Inflation Flip from a Tailwind to a Headwind?
  • NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Echoes HD Sales Concerns

U.S. stock futures are flat as traders digest yesterday’s sizeable rally ahead of today’s critical CPI release.

Overseas, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand unexpectedly cut rates overnight citing recession concerns in H2’24 while the EU GDP Flash met estimates at 0.6% y/y helping push back on imminent recession fears.

Today, market focus will be on the key U.S. inflation data due ahead of the bell: CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.0% y/y), Core CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.2% y/y). A “cool” release will be welcomed and likely support an extension of the week-to-date gains while a “hot” print would be negative for risk assets.

There are no Fed speakers today, however there is a 4-Week Treasury Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET which normally wouldn’t pique investors interest, but this one lines up with the September Fed meeting and could shed light on the market’s policy rate expectations.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down with a few noteworthy companies reporting today including: CAH (E: $1.72), UBS (E: $0.12), TCEHY (E: $0.61), CSCO (E: $0.85).

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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, Ugly
  • Chart: 10-Yr Yield Falls to 52-Week Lows

Futures are flat this morning while overseas markets were mixed overnight with Europe underperforming amid soft economic data while Asian shares were mostly higher.

Economically, the August German ZEW Survey saw Current Conditions fall to -77.3 vs. (E) -74.5 and Economic Sentiment drop to 19.2 vs. (E) 34.5 which weighed on stocks and other risk assets.

Domestically, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 93.7 vs. (E) 91.7 which eased recession fears and is helping U.S. equity futures relatively outperform ahead of the open.

Looking into today’s session, trader focus will be on the first inflation data of the week with PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out ahead of the bell.

There is also one Fed speaker: Bostic (1:15 p.m. ET) and one consumer-focused earnings release: HD (E: $4.55) to watch.

Bottom line, PPI could move markets today if there is a big surprise in the release, but markets are likely to remain in wait-and-see mode as investors await the more important CPI release tomorrow.

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How Worried Should We Be About This Market?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • How Worried Should We Be About This Market?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Important Updates on Economic Growth and Earnings
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Stagflation or Not?  (CPI Wednesday, Retail Sales Thursday)

Futures are slightly higher following a quiet weekend of news as investors digested last week’s early swoon and strong rebound, ahead of important updates this week on inflation and economic growth.

Geo-political tensions remained elevated as the world waits for the Iran/Hezbollah retaliation on Israel and expectations for an attack any day remain high.

There was no notable economic overnight and investors’ focus is on Wednesday’s CPI and Thursday’s Retail Sales.

Today is a quiet day on the calendar as there are no notable economic reports and no important Fed speakers.  But, this week provides important updates on inflation and economic growth and the stakes are high:  If inflation cools further and growth is solid, stocks can extend the rally.  If inflation isn’t cool and growth disappoints, brace for stagflation worries (and more volatility).

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Semiconductors: Bull vs. Bear Case (Important for the Market)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Semiconductors (SOX): Bull vs. Bear Case

Futures are modestly higher and are extending Thursday’s gains following a mostly quiet night of news.

Most of the early rally this morning is due to momentum from Thursday’s surge in stocks, but Taiwan Semiconductor (TMSC) also gave a positive July revenue update which is boosting tech/AI sentiment and supporting markets.

Geo-politically, a retaliatory attack from Hezbollah and/or Iran on Israel remains imminent and we shouldn’t be shocked if geo-political risks rise over the weekend.

Today there are no notable economic reports nor any Fed speakers so trading should be driven by technical factors and the yen, and as long as the yen doesn’t rally, stocks should be able to hold Thursday’s gains.

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Market Multiple Table: Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart (Scenario Targets Compress)
  • The Most Important Financial Asset in the World (Right Now)

Futures are slightly lower following a generally quiet night of news as markets digest Wednesday’s failed rally.

Japan remains at the center of global markets and the “Summary of Opinions” (think of it as the BOJ minutes) showed officials discussed further rate hikes but also that the BOJ is, for now, on hold (and that’s a mild positive).

Geopolitically, tensions between Israel and Iran/Hezbollah remain elevated and a retaliation is expected any day.

Today focus will be on Weekly Jobless Claims (E: 240K) and a better-than-expected number (so under 240k) will help incrementally ease slowdown fears.  Conversely, if claims jump above 250k, expect recession worries to rise further and stocks to react accordingly (lower).

There is also one Fed speaker, Barkin at 3:00 p.m. ET, but he shouldn’t move markets.

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Market Multiple Table: All About Growth

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – All About Growth
  • Chart – Semiconductor Stocks Bounce, But Long Term Technicals Deteriorate

Stock futures are tracking global equity markets higher as traders shrug off an earnings miss from AI-proxy SMCI (stock down 14% pre-market) and instead focus on a pullback in the yen and sharp drop in the VIX.

Economically, German Industrial Production rose 1.4% vs. (E) 1.0%, further easing global recession worries.

Today, there is one second-tiered economic report due to be released in the afternoon: Consumer Credit (E: $10.0B) but the data is unlikely to move markets.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 10-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Auction results that are strong could bolster recession worries while a weak auction could rekindle “higher for longer” policy rate worries.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down with only a few notable reports today including: DIS ($1.20), CVS ($1.74), LYFT ($0.19).

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What Makes This Stop? (Key Indicators to Watch)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Makes This Stop? (Seven Indicators to Watch)
  • Chart – VIX Spikes to Pandemic Highs

There is a sense of stability in global markets this morning as the yen and VIX, two major sources of the recent volatility, are both pulling back amid easing recession fears.

Economically, German Manufacturing Orders rose a solid 3.9% vs. (E) 0.8%, helping to offset EU Retail Sales which fell -0.3% vs. (E) +0.1%.

Today, there is one economic report: International Trade (E: -$72.5B) but the data shouldn’t move markets while there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak.

Looking ahead to mid-day, the Treasury will hold a 52-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 3-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. Investors will be watching the auction results closely to gauge Treasury demand, and if the auctions are weak, that could see some of the recession fears from the last few sessions ease further and allow stocks to recover a good portion of the losses.

Finally, earnings season is starting to wind down but there are a few notable companies releasing results today including: UBER (E: $0.31) ahead of the bell and SMCI (E: $8.10) and ABNB (E: $0.92) after the close.

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The Growth Scare Is Here (What It Means for Markets)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Growth Scare Is Here (What It Means for Markets)
  • Weekly Market Preview:  How Far Can This Pullback Go?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Important Growth Report Today

Futures are plunging globally on snowballing concerns about economic growth following Friday’s soft jobs report.

Global growth concerns are the main reason behind the stock weakness but technical factors are majorly at play, as the Nikkei fell 12% on Monday (not a typo) despite no real, negative news (other than a continued yen rally).

Economically, actual data was solid overnight as both the EU and UK Composite PMIs slightly best estimates but that’s being ignored in the global selloff.

Today the key number is the ISM Services PMI (E: 51.0) and this number needs to print back above 50 (and ideally above expectations) to help stocks stabilize.  If we see another sub-50 number or it’s worse than last month, expect growth concerns to intensify and for this selloff to worsen.

For the Fed, there is one speaker today, Daly at 5:00 p.m. ET, but she shouldn’t move markets.

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Why Stocks Dropped (What We’ve Been Worrying About)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Dropped (What We’ve Been Worrying About)
  • Jobs Day (Updated Preview)

Futures are sharply lower and are extending Thursday’s losses following more disappointing tech earnings and as worries about economic growth grow.

Tech earnings disappointed last night as AMZN (down 8%), MCHP (down 5%) and INTC (down 20%, not a typo) all posted disappointing earnings or guidance.

Geo-politically, concerns are rising about a direct Israel/Iran conflict and that’s boosting oil and gold prices.

Today focus will be on the jobs report and expectations are as follows: 180K Job Adds, 4.1% Unemployment Rate and 3.7% y/y Wage Growth.  Given Thursday’s poor economic data and the pop in growth concerns, a slightly better than expected number would be the best-case scenario for stocks and help support the “rest” of the market (tech will be under pressure today regardless because of earnings).  A number substantially below expectations (or a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.2% or higher) will increase growth concerns and further weigh on stocks.

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