Was the Jobs Report an “All Clear” for Markets?

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Was the Jobs Report An “All Clear” for Markets?
  • Is a “V” Shaped Recovery Happening?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Fed Meeting Wednesday
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Jobless Claims Remain the Key Report

Futures are modestly higher thanks to momentum as markets extend Friday’s rally following a quiet weekend.

Economic data was mixed overnight as Chinese exports were better than expected (-3.3% vs. (E) -6.5%) while German Industrial Production missed estimates (-17.9% vs. (E ) -16.2%).  But, neither number was bad enough to turn the bullish momentum.

Protests continued across the U.S. and were mostly peaceful, but this remains largely a non-issue for markets.

Today there are no economic reports and no Fed speakers so re-opening headlines and virus trends will drive trading, and as long as there isn’t any materially negative news on either front, the bulls will likely remain in charge.

Jobs Report Preview

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview
  • ECB Decision Takeaways (The Outlook for Europe Continues to Improve)

Futures are sharply higher thanks to a big rally in European markets, which rose on the hopes for more stimulus.

The rally in Europe didn’t come because of any new headlines, and instead appears to be a delayed reaction to the bigger than expected ECB QE program, combined with the passage of the German stimulus earlier in the week.

Economically, the only notable number was German Factory Orders which fell –25.8% vs. (E) -20%.

Today the focus of markets will be the jobs report, and the estimates for job adds and the unemployment rate are as follows: Job Adds:  -7.725M, UE Rate: 19.8%.

Practically speaking, anything less than 10 million job losses likely doesn’t cause a pullback in stocks, while a number under 5 million job losses could extend today’s early rally, because markets are still solely focused on the incremental changes in economic data, not the historically bad absolute values.  The only other notable economic report today is Consumer Credit (E: -$14.0B).

Combatting FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Rallied Yesterday (There Were Legitimate Reasons)
  • Combatting FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
  • What Happens When Stimulus Checks Stop Coming?
  • EIA and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower as markets digest Wednesday’s big rally, following a quiet night of news.

Germany finalized its stimulus plan, but it didn’t include an incentive program for traditional (non-electric) car purchases and that’s causing mild disappointment and European shares are lower as a result.

Economic data was again better than feared as Euro Zone Retail Sales dropped –11.7% vs. (E) -18.0%.

Today there are two key events that could move markets:

First, the ECB is expected to increase its QE program (called the PEP) by € 500 bln.  If that does not happen, markets will be disappointed because stimulus remains a key driver of this rally.

Next, weekly jobless claims (E: 1.790M) remain very important and we need to see both initial claims and continuing claims fall further this week, and if that does not happen markets will be disappointed, especially given the rally of the past 10 days.

 

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart
  • What Do Protests Mean for Markets

S&P futures are once again up by double digits today as more stimulus chatter by global central banks and good economic data offset intensifying civil unrest in the U.S.

Economically, global Composite PMI data for May was mostly upbeat with Chinese and EU figures coming in ahead of expectations while the EU Unemployment Rate in April was not as bad as feared at 7.3% vs. (E) 8.2%.

Looking into the U.S. session, focus will be on economic data early with three notable reports due to be released: ADP Employment Report (E: -8.663M), Factory Orders (E: -14.0%), and ISM Non-Manufacturing Index (E: 44.0).

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today so investor focus will likely turn back to the protests across much of the country as well as the simmering geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China after this morning’s economic data.

Bottom line, if economic data in the U.S. largely confirms the upbeat data from overseas, the rally could extend higher towards 3,100 in the S&P 500 however the market is becoming near-term overextended and due for a breather.

Market Multiple Update

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table – June Update
  • ISM Manufacturing Index Takeaways

Futures are solidly higher today, rising with international markets thanks to easing geopolitical tensions offsetting COVID-19 worries and historic civil unrest in the U.S.

Chinese firms reportedly purchased multiple shipments of U.S. soybeans on Monday, contradicting earlier headlines that the government had broadly halted ag orders. The positive trade activity is acting as a tentative tailwind this morning.

There were no economic reports overnight but oil prices are up nearly 3% as OPEC+ (including Russia) is expected to extend current policy and output cuts beyond June.

Today, Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 10.0M) is the only economic data due to be released while there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak. That will leave investors largely focused on the simmering trade tensions between the U.S. and China as well as the ongoing, in some cases violent, protests across much of the U.S.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo Finance on May 28, 2020

/in /by

“I think the market has priced in that April is probably the worst of the economic data,” explained Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye. “While it looks like the worst is behind us — which is great — we need to start to see…” Click here to read the full article.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Stock Investor on May 27, 2020

/in /by

To help me unpack the question of whether the ramp-up in the twin “Ds” is going to represent a serious threat to the economy and the markets, I turned to my friend and brilliant colleague, macro analyst extraordinaire Tom Essaye of Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.

Dollar Bill

Tom Essaye Interviewed with Yahoo Finance on May 28, 2020

/in /by

“I think the trade [on the social media stocks] is to stand back a bit and see how this shakes out. It seems like some sort of regulation on the social media and…” said Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye on Yahoo Finance’s The First Trade.

Click here to watch the full interview.

China Press Conference Preview (A New Headwind?)

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • China Press Conference Preview (A New Market Headwind?)
  • EIA and Oil Market Update

Futures are modestly lower as markets digest the week’s gains ahead of the China press conference and Powell speech.

Economic data was mixed overnight as German Retail Sales beat estimates (-5.3% vs. (E) -11%), while Japanese IP and Retail Sales both missed expectations.

U.S./China tensions continue to tick higher as China said it would retaliate to any sanctions over the Hong Kong law.

Today the big event is the Trump/China press conference, and the key is this:  As long as there’s no reason for the markets to think the “trade truce” is in jeopardy, any market fallout from more sanctions on China should be relatively modest.

Away from China, we get two notable economic reports today, Core PCE Price Index (E: -0.3%) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 73.9) and a speech by Fed Chair Powell (11:00 a.m. ET).  But, that’s unlikely to move markets unless there’s a surprise revealed (and that’s not likely as Fed policy is pretty well known at this point).

Bullish Developments on Equity Index Charts

/in /by

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Bullish Developments on the Equity Index Charts
  • Is There A Finally a Rival to Treasuries?  If So, What Are the Short and Long Term Implications?

Futures are little changed following a generally quiet night of news.

China’s legislature approved new security legislation for Hong Kong, further escalating tensions with the U.S. But, for now, markets are ignoring it.

Economically, the only notable number was EU Economic Sentiment which missed expectations (67.5 vs. (E) 70.5).

Today focus will be on economic data as we get multiple important reports including, in order of importance: Jobless Claims (E: 2.050M), Durable Goods Orders (E: -18.5%), Revised Q2 GDP (E: -4.8%), and Pending Home Sales Index (E: -15.5%).   We also get one Fed speaker: Williams (11:00 a.m. ET).

Finally, the administration keeps teasing a “response” to China passing the Hong Kong security legislation, and while markets have been able to ignore the uptick in U.S./China tension, that won’t last forever if tensions continue to rise.