At that price, the S&P is aggressively pricing in a lot of good things occurring and virtually zero negative surprises, Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye wrote Tuesday. Click here to read the full article.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Futures are slightly lower following more regional bank turmoil and disappointing earnings.
Pac West (PACW) announced overnight that it’s seeking “strategic alternatives” and the stock dropped more than 30% pre-market and is weighing on other regional banks.
On earnings, EL and QCOM both missed estimates and that’s also weighing on sentiment.
Today focus will initially be on the ECB Rate Decision (E: 25 bps hike) and economic data via Jobless Claims (E: 238K) and Unit Labor Costs (E: 3.9%). Markets will want to see 1) A not too hawkish ECB (so no 50 bps hike), 2) A mild uptick in jobless claims (signaling more balance in the labor market) and 3) A drop in Unit Labor Costs (implying wage pressures are easing). If we get the opposite of those events, expect more declines today.
After the close we get what’s likely the most important earnings report of the season, AAPL ($1.44), and a solid number there would help sentiment.
What’s in Today’s Report:
Futures are little changed despite the Swiss National Bank providing Credit Suisse (CS) liquidity, as that news isn’t eliminating general market anxiety.
Credit Suisse is rallying more than 20% pre-open after it was granted a $54 billion credit line from the Swiss National Bank.
Despite the positive CS news, investors remain very nervous and jittery about U.S. regional banks (especially FRC).
Today is an important day as there are numerous potentially market moving events this morning, with the most important being the ECB Decision (E: 50 bps hike). Markets will want to see the ECB “blink” in the face of market turmoil and hike less than 50 bps. If the ECB sticks to a 50 bps hike, don’t be shocked to see more volatility today.
Economically, the hope that the Fed “blinks” and does not hike 25 bps next week has helped support stock and bond markets this week, so investors will want to see today’s economic data come in soft enough to make no hike more likely next week. Key reports today are, in order of importance: Philly Fed (E: -15.8), Jobless Claims (E: 205K), Housing Starts (E: 1.315M).
What’s in Today’s Report:
U.S. equity futures are trading with tentative gains amid a stable bond market following good data out of Europe as focus shifts to Powell’s Congressional testimony today.
The ECB’s latest consumer survey showed a notable drop from 3.0% to 2.5% in three year inflation expectations which is helping bonds stabilize while German Manufacturers Orders came in at 1.0% vs. (E) -0.6%, underscoring a resilient Eurozone economy.
This morning, focus will be exclusively on Powell testimony before the Senate which begins at 10:00 a.m. ET as investors will be looking for any new insight on the pace of future rate hikes (25 or 50 basis point hike this month?) and/or the expected terminal rate (currently priced in near 5.375%). If Powell strikes a hawkish tone, expect volatility in stocks amid a potentially sharp rise in yields.
Looking into the afternoon, there is a 3-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET which should offer some clues to how the bond market digests Powell’s first day of Congressional testimony (a badly tailing auction could further weigh on stocks), while there is one economic report due out late in the day: Consumer Credit (E: $26.4B), but unless the number comes in well above estimates, it should not move markets.