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Curve Steepening: Buy Banks?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • 10’s-2’s Showing Signs of Life – Good for the Banks?

S&P futures are indicating stocks will open at all-time highs today thanks to strong earnings and Fed optimism after President Trump mentioned rate cuts and QE yesterday.

AAPL beat on earnings and revenue in Q1 but also notably revised guidance solidly higher citing improvement in Chinese markets. The company’s shares are trading up roughly 6% in the pre-market.

Most overseas markets are closed for holidays today and the market’s main focus will be the Fed events this afternoon: FOMC Meeting Announcement (2:00 p.m. ET), Fed Chair Press Conference (2:30 p.m. ET).

There are a however a few important economic reports that could move markets this morning: ADP Employment Report (E: 180K), ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 55.0), and Construction Spending (E: 0.2%).

Bottom line, the market is looking for more dovish rhetoric out of the Fed today and if Powell delivers, another set of closing highs in U.S. stock indexes is likely.

Tom Essaye Interviewed with Fox Business on April 15, 2019

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Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye says the market can still rally despite disappointing bank earnings. Watch the full clip here.

The Easiest Way to Explain This Market To Clients

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Easiest Way To Explain This Market To Clients
  • Technical Market Update (Volume Not Confirming The Rally)
  • A More “Hawkish” Fed than we think?

Futures and global markets are moderately higher as global economic data beat expectations, furthering hopes of a global growth rebound.

March Chinese exports handily beat estimates, rising 14.2% vs. (E) 8.4% while EU Industrial Production wasn’t as bad as feared (-0.2% vs. (E ) -0.6%).

Focus turns to earnings this morning as all eyes will be on three big banks:  JPM ($2.32), WFC ($1.08), PNC ($2.59).  If they post solid numbers, then combined with the good Chinese economic data, we could see an extension of this rally.

Outside of earnings, we do get Import/Export Prices (E: 0.4%/0.3%) and Consumer Sentiment (E: 98.0).  Plus, Powell speaks to House Democrats but no comments on policy are expected and none of those events should move markets.

New Earnings Risks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why the Stronger Dollar and Commodity Prices Matter to Stocks
  • Housing Market Data Update
  • More Evidence a Rate Cut Might Be Coming

S&P futures have turned negative in pre-market trading as bond yields continue to bleed lower with the benchmark 10-yr yield hitting fresh lows in the mid-2.30% range overnight.

Economically, Chinese Industrial Profits were down -14.0% YTD, falling from -1.9% in December.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand was the latest central bank to turn decidedly dovish overnight citing concerns about the global economy while Brexit angst also persists amid new votes in Parliament today.

The list of catalysts in the Wall Street session is a short one today with only one economic report due out: International Trade (E: -$57.4B) and just one Fed speaker later in the evening: George (7:00 p.m. ET).

That will again leave the market primarily focused on the bond market and to a lesser degree the dollar. Recession fears are front and center right now with Fed funds futures pricing in more than 80% odds of a rate cut in the next 10 months as of this writing.

Bottom line, without a rebound in yields and at least a steady dollar (a pullback would be more favorable) then it will be very difficult for stocks to mount any sort of rally today.

Pre-Fed Technical Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Pre-Fed Technical Update: Levels to Watch
  • Why Did Tech Lag so Badly Yesterday?

Futures are drifting modestly higher this morning as investors focus on the Fed, U.S.-China trade talks, and earnings.

News flows were slow overnight although the well-received AAPL earnings from late yesterday are helping US futures rally.

Today, primary focus will be on the Fed with the FOMC Meeting Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Chair Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

There are two economic reports due out this morning: ADP Employment Report (E: 174K) and Pending Home Sales (E: 0.3%). The former will be closely watched but it is unlikely we see any sort of material move in markets ahead of the Fed.

Earnings season is reaching its peak so there are a slew of reports to watch today with: BABA ($1.65), BA ($4.52), T ($0.85) before the open and FB ($2.17), MSFT ($1.09), TSLA ($2.15), V ($1.25), and QCOM ($1.09) all due to report after the close.

Again, earnings and data will be followed today and ultimately will be digested by the market accordingly, but the Fed this afternoon will be the major focus and whether or not the outcome of the meeting is as dovish as recent Fed commentary has been will decide whether the S&P breaks higher towards 2700 or retests initial, key support at 2600.

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview

U.S. equity futures are little changed this morning after a generally quiet night as investors focus turns to the Fed.

Late yesterday, the DOJ officially accused Huawei with financial fraud, stealing trade secrets, and sanctions violations and formally requested the extradition of the CFO from Canada which mildly pressured stock futures o/n.

Today, there are two, second tiered economic reports due to be released: S&P Case-Shiller HPI (E: 0.4%) and Consumer Confidence (E: 124.6), and the FOMC meeting begins which will likely bring a sense of “Fed paralysis” over the markets.

Earnings season remains in full swing and there are a few notable corporate releases on the calendar today: VZ ($1.09), MMM ($2.27), PFE ($0.63), AAPL ($4.17), AMD ($0.09), EBAY ($0.68).

If earnings are generally in-line (especially AAPL after the close) then the market will likely remain fairly choppy into tomorrow’s Fed Announcement and Powell’s press conference.

A Sector With Relative Clarity (and Opportunity)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Sector With Relative Clarity (and Opportunity)

Futures are slightly higher as momentum from yesterday’s positive earnings offset more disappointing economic data.

January flash PMIs in Japan and the EU were disappointing.  The Japanese manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 vs. (E) 52.4 while the EU Composite PMI dropped to 50.7 vs. (E) 51.4.  But, markets haven’t traded off Japanese data in over a year, and the “Yellow Vest” disruptions are weighing on French PMIs, which dragged the composite EU PMI lower, so these disappointing numbers aren’t weighing on markets as much as they normally would.

Today the big number is the U.S. Flash Composite PMI (E: 54.2), as markets are looking for more signs of economic stabilization following the loss of momentum in December.  Anything that implies stabilization will be stock positive.

We also have an ECB Rate Decision (E: No Change to Rates) and the ECB Press Conference (8:30 a.m. ET) and the key will be whether ECB President Draghi is very dovish given more disappointing economic data (he’s not expected to be materially dovish).

Finally, earnings continue and generally the season, so far, has been better than expected.  Some results we’re watching today include: INTC ($1.22), NSC ($2.30), SBUX ($0.65), WDC ($1.50).

Key Earnings Week

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Earnings Update and Outlook

U.S. futures are tracking global shares lower on renewed economic growth concerns after Chinese GDP hit a near three-decade low of +6.6% in 2018 while the IMF reduced 2019 global economic growth forecasts to 3.5% from 3.7%.

Furthermore, news that the U.S. is pursuing formal extradition of Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou from Canada is further weighing on sentiment towards the delicate political relationship between the U.S.-China right now.

There was more underwhelming economic data o/n as the German ZEW headline whiffed (27.6 vs. E: 43.2), underscoring deterioration in analyst confidence in the EU’s largest economy.

Today there is just one economic report to watch: Existing Home Sales (E: 5.240M) and there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak.

That will leave investor focus on earnings and U.S.-China relations. Notable earnings today include: JNJ ($1.95) before the open and IBM ($4.81), COF ($2.40) after the bell.

Valuation Update (Better, But Not Good)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Equity Risk Premium Update – Better, But Not Good
  • Updated Oil Outlook

Futures are marginally weaker following a quiet night as markets as markets further digest the 2019 rally.

Economic data was sparse although Euro Zone Core HICP (their CPI) met expectations at 1.0%, which remains near multi-month lows.

Today focus will remain on earning and we get some notable consumer companies reporting (in addition to more banks).  Some reports we’ll be watching include:  MS ($0.90), PPG ($1.10), NFLX ($0.25),and AXP ($1.79).  As has been the case so far in earnings season, the commentary on the economy will be just as important as the actual results.

We also get two notable economic reports, including Jobless Claims (E: 216K) and the Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey (E: 10.0) plus one Fed speaker: Quarles (10:45 p.m. ET). Bottom line, if earnings continue to beat low expectations, stocks can grind higher for now.

Brexit Vote Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Citi Earnings: Not a Bad Start to the Season
  • Brexit “Meaningful Vote” Preview

U.S. futures are modestly higher this morning, tracking gains in Asian shares thanks to chatter of further stimulus measures by the Chinese government.

EU markets are underperforming however as focus remains on today’s Brexit vote and more key bank earnings.

Looking to the Wall Street session, the major focus will be on earnings as JPM ($2.20), WFC ($1.17), and DAL ($1.27) all report before the bell. The banks will be the main focus after C’s results were received well yesterday.

Economically, PPI (E: 0.2%) is due out ahead of the bell while the Empire State Manufacturing Survey (E: 12.0) will print at the top of the 10 o’clock hour. The Empire number could potentially move markets as survey-based data badly underwhelmed in December, contributing to the last wave of significant volatility in 2018.

Lastly, there are three Fed speakers today: Kashkari (11:30 a.m. ET),  Kaplan (1:00 p.m. ET), and George (1:00 p.m. ET) but their comments should not materially move markets as they are expected to reiterate a more dovish stance on future policy.