Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally, said Tom Essaye, founder at Sevens Report Research. Click here to read the full article.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Futures are flat to start the second half of 2023 following a quiet weekend of news.
Economic data was mixed overnight as the EU Manufacturing PMI slightly missed estimates (43.4 vs. (E) 43.6) while the UK reading slightly beat expectations (46.5 vs. (E) 46.2), but neither number is moving markets.
Saudi Arabia and Russia made separate announcements about further reducing oil supply in the coming months, although they aren’t causing a material rally.
Today focus will be on the ISM Manufacturing PMI (E: 47.2) and at this point, and with yields this high, markets need to see solid data and that means the ISM Manufacturing PMI moving closer towards 50 and beating expectations.
As a reminder, the stock market will close at 1:00 p.m. today ahead of the July 4th holiday.
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What’s in Today’s Report:
Futures are moderately higher mostly on momentum and end of quarter/half positioning, as economic data overnight was mixed but not bad enough to interrupt the rally.
European inflation (HICP) fell to 5.5% vs. (E) 5.7% y/y, although the more important core reading rose to 5.4% y/y from 5.3%, as expected. So, there was some progress on headline inflation, but core inflation remains a problem.
In China, the June Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.0 vs. (E) 49.1, which is increasing expectations for more stimulus.
Today focus will be on inflation via the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.4% m/m, 4.7% y/y). The idea of “No Landing” requires inflation to, at a minimum, stay flat, so any hotter than expected inflation metric will push yields higher and that likely would weigh on stocks today.
Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader who founded “The Sevens Report” newsletter, wrote that the political strife in Russia is likely to have little market impact. Looking forward, obviously this injects more geopolitical uncertainty into the world, but as long as commodity prices don’t spike higher, the markets will largely ignore Russian political volatility, he wrote. Click here to read the full article.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Equity futures are modestly higher this morning as traders weigh renewed optimism about Chinese growth against more hawkish policy speak from multiple ECB officials, including President Lagarde, reiterating the need for a “higher for longer” policy rate path.
Premier Li of China confirmed the government is committed to achieving their 5% GDP target overnight which helped Asian markets outperform and fueled modest risk-on money flows around the globe.
Today’s list of economic data releases is a long one with Durable Goods Orders (E: -1.0%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 0.5%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.4%), Consumer Confidence (E: 103.7), and New Home Sales (E: 663K).
Beyond those economic reports, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak today but there is a 5-Yr Treasury Note Auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could move yields and influence equity market trading.
Bottom line, in order for markets to stabilize here and stocks to resume their 2023 rally, we will need to see signs of slowing, but not collapsing growth in today’s economic data and no surprises in the Treasury auction. Looking ahead, trading may slow down some today as investors position into tomorrow’s Central Bank Forum hosted by the ECB in which Fed Chair Powell will participate.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Futures are slightly lower as markets digest the political volatility in Russia and underwhelming economic data.
A short-lived rebellion by the Wagner private army against the Russian government dominated headlines this weekend, but from a market standpoint this only matters via its impact on oil prices, and they are little changed.
Economically, German IFO Business Expectations fell to 83.6 vs. (E) 88.0, which is the second weak German economic number in the past two trading days.
Today focus will remain on the Russian political situation, so watch oil to cut through the headline noise. If oil rises sharply, the situation is deteriorating and that would weigh on markets.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Stock futures are tracking global equity markets lower this morning while longer duration bonds are rallying after soft PMI data in Europe bolstered recession fears overnight.
Economically, the Eurozone Composite PMI Flash fell to 50.3 vs. (E) 52.5 indicating the EU economy is on the brink contracting.
The Manufacturing PMI was better than feared but the Services PMI dropped to 52.4 vs. (E) 54.7 pointing to a sudden slowdown in the service sector which accounts for the bulk of developed economic growth around the globe.
Looking into today’s session, focus will be on the U.S. PMI Flash data due out shortly after the bell with the Manufacturing PMI Flash expected to come in at 48.5 while the Services PMI Flash is expected at 53.5. If the data meaningfully disappoints, especially in the service sector, expect more risk off money flows amid growing recession worries today.
Finally, there are two Fed officials speaking today: Bostic (7:30 a.m. ET) and Mester (1:40 p.m. ET) but it is unlikely that either materially deviates from the Fed’s narrative from the last week which is continued commitment to reigning in inflation with further policy tightening in H2’23.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Stock futures are falling with global markets and yields are rising this morning after more hawkish central bank decisions overnight as focus turns to the BOE.
In Europe, monetary policy decisions were net hawkish as Norway’s central bank raised rates 50 bp vs. (E) 25 bp to 3.75% while the Swiss National Bank met estimates with a 25 bp hike to 1.75%. The rate hikes are pressuring global bond markets (yields higher) and weighing on sentiment, dragging equity markets lower.
Looking into today’s session, early focus will be on the Bank of England as a 25 bp hike to 4.75% in the benchmark policy rate is expected but there is risk of a 50 bp hike to 5.00% which would be another hawkish surprise for markets and likely result in rising yields and more pressure on overbought equity markets.
In the U.S. there are two economic reports to watch: Jobless Claims (E: 261K) and Existing Home Sales (E: 4.250M). A further rise in claims could bring into question whether or not the labor market is suddenly beginning to deteriorate meaningfully while strong housing data would warrant a hawkish reaction after the much better than expected Housing Starts print earlier this week.
From there, focus will turn to the Fed as Chair Powell continues his semi-annual Congressional testimony at 10:00 a.m. ET while Mester will speak around the same time (10:00 a.m. ET).
Finally, there is a 5-Yr TIPS auction at 1:00 p.m. ET that could offer insight to inflation expectations and move yields, but most of the market-moving news will likely hit before the lunch hour today.
Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, pointed out that the EIA showed that the four-week moving average of gasoline supplied, a proxy for consumer fuel demand, rose to a new 18-month high of 9.24 million barrels a day. That suggests that the trend in gasoline demand is “one that is increasing, and that is a good thing for the time being,” he said. Click here to read the full article.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Stock futures are flat as yesterday’s rally is digested while global markets were mostly higher overnight thanks to continued optimism about AI focused investments and in-line inflation data in Europe.
ADBE shares were up as much as 4% in pre-market trading after strong earnings and AI-related guidance yesterday which is supporting mega-cap tech ahead of the open this morning.
The Narrow Core inflation reading within the Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) fell from 5.6% to 5.3% y/y in May, meeting estimates and offering further confirmation that the global disinflation trend has resumed.
Today, there are no Fed officials scheduled to speak and just one economic report to watch: Consumer Sentiment (E: 60.5), but the consumer inflation expectations components within the release could move markets if they are meaningfully different from the previous release.
Finally, on a derivatives market note, today is a Quadruple Witching options expiration which means volumes will be elevated and volatility could potentially spike due to trader repositioning.