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Updated Technical Take On the Market

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Updated Technical Take
  • EIA Update and Oil Market Analysis
  • More Bad Consumer Earnings

Futures are solidly higher following better-than-expected economic data and as markets continue to recoup Monday’s declines ahead of the Powell speech tomorrow.

Economic data was better than expected overnight as German GDP beat estimates (1.8% vs. (E) 1.4%) as did the IFO Business Expectations survey (80.3 vs. (E) 78.8).

On the Fed front, Bostic said the September rate hike was a 50/50 proposition between 50 bps or 75 bps, and that’s largely in line with market expectations.

Today’s focus will be on economic data via Jobless Claims (E: 255k) and Revised Q2 GDP (E: -0.9%) and markets will want to see a continued slow rise in jobless claims and a stable GDP report (so not materially worse than expected).

Additionally, while the official Fed speaker calendar doesn’t have any events today, we should prepare for a deluge of Fed commentary via the financial media (CNBC, FT, WSJ, Marketwatch, etc.) as the Jackson Hole conference begins.  Barring any major surprise commentary, though, markets should look past Fed speak today and focus on Powell’s speech tomorrow.

FOMC Minutes: Not as Dovish as the Market Reaction

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Minutes:  Not as Dovish as the Market Reaction
  • Retail Earnings Takeaways
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

Futures are slightly higher on better-than-expected earnings, following an otherwise quiet night of news.

Cisco (CSCO) posted strong earnings and gave positive commentary on tech demand going forward.

Economically, EU HICP (their CPI) met expectations at 8.9% yoy and that reading means a 50 bps rate hike from the ECB is still likely in September.

Today’s focus will be on economic data, specifically the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey (E: -5.0).  If Philly Fed echoes the weak Empire Manufacturing reading and the price indices don’t decline, we’ll see stagflation concerns rise.  Other reports today include Jobless Claims (E: 265K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.85M) but neither should move markets.

We also get two Fed speakers, George (1:20 p.m. ET) and Kashkari (1:45 p.m. ET), and the market will be looking for any insight on a 50 bps vs. 75 bps hike in September (markets are expecting 50 bps).

What Currencies and Bonds Are Saying About the Fed

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Better-Than-Feared WMT and HD Earnings Drive Trading
  • Why Currency and Bond Markets Are Not Signaling a “Less Hawkish” Fed
  • Chart: S&P 500 Quietly Closes at Fresh Highs
  • Economic Takeaways: Housing Starts and Industrial Production

U.S. futures are tracking European shares lower following disappointing economic data out of the EU ahead of today’s release of the July FOMC meeting minutes.

U.K. CPI jumped to a new multi-decade high of 10.1% vs. (E) 9.8% in July while the Q2 Eurozone GDP Flash dipped to 3.9% vs. (E) 4.0%, rekindling concerns about stagflation.

Looking into today’s session, focus will be on economic data early with Retail Sales (E: 0.1%) due out before the bell as well as more retailer earnings including: TGT ($0.71), LOW ($4.63), and TJX ($0.68).

Then there is one Fed speaker, Bowman, at the open (9:30 a.m. ET) before focus will shift to the July FOMC meeting minutes which will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, the market will want to see more good earnings and guidance out of the remaining major retailers due to report quarterly results today as well as a not-as-hawkish-as-feared set of Fed minutes released this afternoon, if this latest leg higher in stocks is going to continue. Otherwise, we could be set up for a pullback into the back half of the week as stocks have become near-term overbought without any new meaningfully positive catalysts.

Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels: S&P 500 Chart
  • Takeaways From a Dismal Empire State Manufacturing Report

Futures are modestly lower this morning as investors digest more downbeat economic data and disappointing earnings out of HD ahead of the Fed Minutes tomorrow.

The German ZEW Survey’s Economic Sentiment reading was -55.2 vs. (E) -52.7, underscoring ongoing concerns about the outlook for growth in the months ahead.

Looking to today’s session, there are two economic reports to watch: Housing Starts and Permits (1.540M, 1.650M) and Industrial Production (E: 0.3%). Data has been disappointing so far this week so any positivity in the releases could help buoy equities in what has been so far a pretty quiet trading week.

There are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but WMT ($1.60) will report earnings in the pre-market and investors will be looking for the massive retailer to reiterate guidance and meet or beat estimates to provide evidence that the consumer remains resilient in the face of extremely high inflation. Any disappointment in the quarterly results could spur volatility given the most recent leg higher in stocks leaving the market overbought.

Market Multiple Table

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • August Market Multiple Table
  • Growth and Inflation – Which One Falls Faster? (It’s an Important Question Going Forward)

Futures are modestly higher as markets digest Wednesday’s big rally and following better than expected earnings.

Disney (DIS) posted better than expected earnings driven by theme park performance and strong Disney+ subscriber numbers and that’s anecdotally adding to the idea that the economy remains resilient.

There was no notable economic data overnight and investors are looking ahead to this week’s claims data.

Today focus will be on Jobless Claims (E: 260k) and PPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 10.3% y/y) and the market will want to see continued moderation in the jobs market (so claims slowly drifting towards 300k) and for the PPI to also signal a peak in inflation pressures (so numbers that a better than expectations).  If the markets get those two readings from the data, the rally can continue.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad and Ugly

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview:  Good, Bad, and Ugly

Futures are slightly lower thanks to more tech stock weakness following a mostly quiet night of macroeconomic news.

Micron (MU) became the second large semiconductor company to produce negative earnings guidance (Monday it was Nvidia) as MU slashed its outlook, and that’s weighing on markets this morning.

Geo-politically, the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago is dominating news coverage, but it has no impact on markets.

Today’s focus will remain on inflation via Unit Labor Costs (E: 9.3%) and if they come to light, that will further strengthen the idea that inflation is peaking and help to support stocks into tomorrow’s CPI report.

Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview (First of Two Key Economic Reports)
  • EIA and OPEC Meeting Analysis

Futures are slightly higher on momentum from Wednesday’s rally and as the market again ignored soft economic data.

Economic data from Europe was again disappointing as German Manufacturers’ Orders slightly missed estimates (-9.0% vs. (E) -8.9%) as did the UK Construction PMI (48.9 vs. (E) 52.0).

Geo-politically, China began massive military drills around Taiwan, although they were previously announced.

Today focus will be on the Bank of England rate decision (E: 50 bps hike) and on weekly Jobless Claims (E: 260K).  Specifically, markets will want to see if the BOE implies more 50 bps hikes are ahead (if so that’s a mild negative for the region).  On jobless claims, will they continue to move methodically towards 300k? (That would be a mild positive as it implies slowing in the labor market, which the Fed needs to get to peak hawkishness).

From a Fed speak standpoint, Mester speaks at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The Latest on Taiwan and China

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • The Latest on Taiwan and China
  • JOLTS Decline But Remain Historically Elevated
  • Big One-Day Reversal in the 10-Year Yield: Chart

Stock futures are trading cautiously higher this morning as geopolitical angst is easing after Pelosi’s departure from Taiwan while economic data was mostly positive overnight.

Chinese and EU Composite PMIs for July topped estimates while Eurozone PPI was no worse than feared and that data is helping some of the hawkish fears from Tuesday unwind.

Looking into today’s session, earnings season is beginning to wind down but there are still a few notable reports due out today: MRNA ($4.50), CVS ($2.16), YUM ($1.08), HOOD (-$0.36), EBAY ($0.89), and MGM ($0.24).

However, the market’s main focus will be on economic data today with ISM Services Index (E: 53.0) and Factory Orders (E: 1.1%) both due out shortly after the open while there is one Fed speaker: Harker (10:30 a.m. ET).

Investors will want to see still solid growth numbers in the data, further easing in inflation readings, and hopefully a less hawkish tone out of the Fed if the July relief rally is going to extend into August.

What Escalating U.S.-China Tensions Mean for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Escalating U.S.-China Tensions Mean for Markets
  • What’s the Fed’s Endgame With Rates?
  • How Low Could Oil Prices Go?

Stock futures are lower and the 10-year yield fell to a 4-month low overnight amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over Speaker Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.

Speaker Pelosi is scheduled to land in Taiwan later this morning despite repeated and stern warnings from China about a potential military response to the visit and the elevated tensions are resulting in equity market weakness and rising demand for safe havens assets such as Treasuries.

Looking beyond geopolitics, there are a few other potential catalysts to watch today including two economic reports: Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 13.5M) and JOLTS (11.0M), as well as two Fed officials scheduled to speak: Evans (9:00 a.m. ET) and Bullard (6:45 p.m. ET).

Earnings season also continues today with results from CAT ($3.00), JBLU (-$0.11), MAR ($1.59), TSEM ($0.52), AMD ($1.03), PYPL ($0.85), and SBUX ($0.77).

Bottom line, markets are trading with a risk-off tone due to the U.S.-China tensions surrounding Taiwan however a meaningful escalation including military action between the U.S. and China remains very unlikely, and as such the pressure on equities is not expected to deepen or last very long and market focus is likely to turn back to Fed policy later in the week as the July jobs report is due out on Friday.

Time to Reduce Commodity Allocations?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is it Time to Reduce Commodity Allocations?
  • Why Q2 GDP Wasn’t as Bad As It Seemed

Futures are moderately higher following a solid night of earnings.

AAPL (up 2%) and AMZN (up 12%) both beat estimates and that’s helping to extend this week’s rally.

Eurozone inflation came in slightly hotter than expected, as EU HICP rose 8.9% yoy vs. (E ) 8.8% yoy, but stronger than expected earnings are helping the market look past the slightly hot number.

Today the focus will be on inflation as we get three notable inflation readings:  Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.5% m/m, 4.7% y/y), Employment Cost Index (E: 1.1%), and the University of Michigan Five Year Inflation Expectations (E: 2.8%).  Markets have aggressively priced in a near term peak in inflation, and the data needs to start to confirm that, starting today.  If these inflation stats run hot, don’t be surprised to see stocks decline.

On the earnings front, the season is starting to wind down but there are still a few more days of notable results.  Some reports we’re watching today include: XOM ($3.80), CVX ($5.02), PG ($1.23) and CL ($0.71).