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Three Keys to a Bottom Updated

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Keys to a Bottom Updated – Some Progress
  • Economic Data Recap – Soft Landing Hopes Fade
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Focus on PMI Data (Wednesday)

Stock futures are trading lower with global markets following negative Covid headlines out of China.

China reported a spike in Covid cases this weekend including the first Covid-related death in nearly six months which prompted new restrictions and lockdowns in cities that were previously in the process of reopening. That has triggered risk-off money flows this morning with equities declining globally and the dollar rising nearly 1% in early trade.

Economically, the German PPI for October was actually favorable as it fell a steep -4.2% vs. (E) +0.9%. However, in year-over-year terms, PPI remains up more than 30% which is a major headwind for the German economy.

Looking into today’s session, there are no economic reports and just one Fed speaker: Daly (1:00 p.m. ET) which will likely leave the focus on China and any new Covid-related headlines.

In the fixed income space, the Treasury will hold a 2-Yr Note auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 5-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET. And if demand is soft and rates begin to move to meaningful new highs, expect selling pressure on the equity market to pick up moderately.

What the Russia/Ukraine Headlines Mean for Markets

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Russia-Ukraine Headlines Mean for Markets
  • October PPI Data Takeaways
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways
  • Chart: 4,007 Remains Critical Resistance for the S&P 500

Futures have stabilized with global shares as easing geopolitical angst offsets more hot inflation data in Europe.

The AP reported the projectile that killed two in Poland on Tuesday originated in Ukraine (by their air defense systems) and not Russia which has eased concerns about NATO being pulled into the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Economically, U.K. CPI rose to 11.1% vs. (E) 10.6% in October, a fresh 41-year high which rekindled some global inflation fears overnight.

Today, the focus will be on the slew of economic data due to be released: Retail Sales (E: 1.0%), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.4%, 4.0%), Industrial Production (E: 0.2%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 36). The market will want to see a continued slowdown in growth metrics but more importantly, a faster slowdown in any price measures within the data as that dynamic would improve the prospects of a soft landing.

Additionally, the Fed speakers circuit remains active with: Williams (9:50 a.m. ET), Barr (10:00 a.m. ET), and Waller (2:35 p.m. ET) all due to speak over the course of the session.

Bottom line, if economic data and geopolitical headlines remain favorable today, the S&P 500 should be able to make another run at critical technical resistance at 4,007 in the S&P 500. A close above that level would open the door to another leg higher in the latest relief rally in the broader stock market.

What Falls First, Treasury Yields or Earnings?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Key Market Question:  What Falls First, Treasury Yields or Earnings?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  All About Inflation
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  CPI on Thursday is the Key Report

Futures are modestly higher mostly on momentum from Friday’s rally and despite negative COVID news from China and an APPL warning on I-Phone production.

Reports over the weekend pushed back on Chinese authorities abandoning the “Zero COVID” policy, although markets still expect some relaxing of restrictions.

APPL warned that COVID restrictions in China will impact IPhone production, although demand remains strong (so the news isn’t materially impacting the stock).

Today there are no notable economic reports but there are three Fed speakers: Mester (3:40 p.m. ET), Collins (3:40 p.m. ET) and Barkin (6:00 p.m. ET).  If they even slightly push back on the idea that “Terminal” Fed Funds will be higher than expected in September, as Evans did on Friday, then stocks can extend this rebound.

Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Report Preview

Futures are moderately higher on solid economic data and rising hope China could relax its “Zero COVID” policies.

The EU Composite PMI (47.3 vs. (E) 47.1) and UK Construction PMI (53.2 vs. (E) 50.5) both beat estimates, implying economic activity in Europe isn’t collapsing.

In China, an article in the South China Morning Post stated “big and substantive” changes looming for COVID policies.

Today focus will be on the Jobs Report and estimates are as follows:  Job Adds: 210K, UE Rate: 3.6%, Wages: 0.3% m/m, 4.7% y/y.  If markets can get an underwhelming number (say the low 100’s) that will be the first material sign the labor market is starting to deteriorate, and it could spark a rally in stocks as the Fed needs better balance in the labor market before they can “pivot.”

Away from the jobs report, we also have one Fed speaker, Collins at 10:00 a.m. ET but she shouldn’t move markets.

Fed Wildcard to Watch: Dual Risks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Fed Wildcard to Watch: Dual Risks
  • Economic Data Takeaways: A Hot JOLTS Report Offsets a Favorable ISM Release
  • Chart – The Fed Could Make or Break the Gold Market Today

Futures are higher ahead of today’s Fed announcement amid continued China reopening hopes and good earnings.

AMD is up more than 4% after good earnings yesterday evening which is bolstering tech shares this morning.

Today, the focus will be on economic data early with the ADP Employment Report (E: 200K) due out ahead of the bell. The market will want to see some headline weakness to help offset yesterday’s JOLTS data in order for stocks to rebound into the Fed. Motor Vehicle Sales (E: 14.2M) will also be released over the course of the morning.

Then focus will turn to the Fed with the FOMC Announcement at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. A dovish release could trigger a sharp and squeezy rally while a hawkish decision would almost certainly result in investor pain.

Earnings will be on the backburner today but there are still a few notable releases to watch: CVS ($1.99), PGR ($1.48), CHRW ($2.15), QCOM ($3.14), EBAY ($0.93).

FOMC Meeting Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Chart: 3,900 Is a Key Level For the S&P 500

U.S. futures and global stocks are rallying today amid reports that China is forming a “reopening committee” as part of a new push to ease Covid restrictions (however China’s foreign ministry has denied the rumors).

The RBA raised rates by 25 bp overnight, meeting estimates while the U.K.’s Manufacturing PMI was slightly better than feared at 46.2 vs. (E) 45.8.

Today, the focus will be on economic data early with the ISM Manufacturing Index (E: 50.0) and JOLTS (E: 9.875M) both due out shortly after the opening bell. But market reactions to the data are likely to be limited as the November FOMC meeting gets underway.

Earnings will remain in focus today with UBER (-$0.17), PFE ($1.47), BP ($1.94), and SYY ($0.99) reporting ahead of the bell, while AMD ($0.55) and ABNB ($1.46) will release results after the bell.

Bottom line, the combination of mostly favorable market news flow this morning, the calendar, and trader positioning into the Fed are all contributing to this morning’s pre-market gains, however, “Fed paralysis” is likely to set in today and into tomorrow’s morning session as investors await the latest Fed decision.

A Critical Week for Stocks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • A Critical Week for Stocks
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Will the Fed confirm smaller rate hikes in the months ahead?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Is the U.S. economy quickly losing momentum?

Futures are modestly lower following disappointing inflation data and as Russia suspended grain shipments from Crimea.

EU HICP (their CPI) ran hotter than expected, rising 10.7% vs. (E) 10.2% y/y while Core HICP rose 5.0% vs. (E) 4.8%, again showing that inflation pressures are not easing.

Russia suspended grain shipments in response to rocket attacks on Crimea, sending wheat prices sharply higher which will add to inflation pressures.

Today there are no economic reports but there are some notable earnings, especially from the semi-conductor companies and some companies we’re watching include:  ON ($1.31), NXPI ($3.62), CAR ($14.80).

Jobs Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Jobs Day (Abbreviated Jobs Report Preview)
  • Why Price Controls Still Don’t Work

Futures are slightly lower as the looming jobs report helps offset soft economic data and disappointing earnings.

Economically, German Industrial Production, German Retail Sales, and Japanese Household spending all missed estimates.

On earnings, AMD became the latest widely held company to miss earnings, positing a material revenue shortfall.

Today focus will be on the Jobs Report and expectations are as follows: Job Adds: 250K, UE Rate 3.7%, Wages 0.3% m/m, 5.1% y/y.  If the numbers are in the lower end of the “Just Right” range that will spur more hopes of a Fed pivot between now and year-end, and stocks will likely rally.    Away from the jobs report there are also several Fed speakers including:  Williams (10:00 a.m. ET), Kashkari (11:00 a.m. ET) and Bostic (12:00 p.m. ET) but they shouldn’t move markets (expect them to be hawkish in tone but not say anything new).

Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s on October 3rd, 2022

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Dow Rallies to Kick Off October

“If companies are more positive on the outlook than is currently expected (as happened with the Q2 earnings) then that will offset growing worries that earnings expectations are about to fall sharply,” Sevens Report’s Tom Essaye wrote. Click here to read the full article.

Why Stocks Hit New Lows

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Stocks Hit New Lows

Futures are higher on potential improvement in the UK fiscal drama and on better than feared economic data.

UK PM Truss will meet with the UK Office for Budget Responsibility today and the hope is something comes from the meeting to further stabilize markets.

Economically, the September Chinese manufacturing PMI beat estimates and rose back above 50 (50.1 vs. (E) 49.4).

The key event today will be the result of the meeting between UK PM Truss and the Office for Budget Responsibility, as that whole situation needs to stabilize if stocks are going to hold up.  Beyond the UK fiscal drama, today there is an important inflation report, the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.5% m/m, 4.8% y/y) but unless it surprisingly drops, it shouldn’t move markets.

Finally, there are several Fed speakers today but the most important one is Brainard (9:00 a.m. ET) and if she’s slightly dovish, that could help stocks further rally.  Other speakers include Barkin (8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. ET), Bowman (11:00 a.m. ET) and Williams (4:15 p.m. ET).